John C. L. Ritchie founded the firm in 1982 that has evolved into the present day Ritchie Ketcheson Hart & Biggart LLP. John has been a litigator throughout his 40 year career.
John has acted for individuals (including Delores Horton in trying to get back her half of the Tim Hortons chain and neighbours of the Islington Golf Course in preventing golf balls from hitting their home), corporate entities, including numerous municipalities, such as the former City of Etobicoke, for which the firm acted from 1982 until Etobicoke’s amalgamation into the City of Toronto in 1997, the County of Grey, the Towns of Orangeville, Ajax, Oakville and New Tecumseth.
John has also acted as counsel for a number of Ontario First Nation communities, including Mishkeegogaming (Osnaburgh) First Nation, Muskrat Dam First Nation and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake)First Nation.
John has acquired extensive experience in a variety of regulatory matters, including those related to Shortline Railways. He negotiated the purchase of a railway line and has acted as counsel in connection with Canadian Transportation Agency applications for both the Towns of Orangeville and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
John has extensive experience in all levels of Courts in Ontario, and as well, has successfully defended Applications for Leave to Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
John has been a speaker at various conferences on a number of legal subjects.
Education and Accreditations
•Called to the Ontario Bar in 1973
•Designated Registered Professional Engineer, 1972
•University of Toronto - Faculty of Law (Juris Doctor), 1971
•Princeton University (B.Sc. Eng.), 1968
Memberships
•Law Society of Upper Canada
•Toronto Lawyers Association (Past President)
•Professional Engineers of Ontario
•Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
Contact John
416.622.6601 | jritchie@ritchieketcheson.com
Bruce C. Ketcheson specializes in Administrative and Municipal Law.
Bruce has extensive experience in appearing before municipal councils and other administrative tribunals on issues related to the Ontario Municipal Board and acts almost exclusively in planning and land use matters, including all manners of approvals under the Planning Act and related legislation. He has appeared on behalf of numerous municipalities and public agencies before the Ontario Municipal Board for complex hearings involving major and controversial developments, such as:
- representing the City of Toronto with respect to various planning matters before the Ontario Municipal Board, including the Central Waterfront area;
- acting as lead counsel for the Cities of Toronto and Burlington and the Town of Oakville in connection with Ontario Municipal Board appeals resulting from adoption of new Official Plans; and
Bruce’s cases are reported in the Ontario Municipal Board Reports. His well-earned reputation as one of the leading planning lawyer in Toronto has resulted in various municipalities, developers and ratepayer groups retaining him to represent them on planning matters.
Education and Accreditations
•Called to the Ontario Bar in 1983
•Queens University - Faculty of Law (LL.B.), 1981
•Queens University (B.A. (Honours)), 1978
Memberships
•Law Society of Upper Canada
•Canadian Bar Association
Contact Bruce
416.622.6601, Ext. 238 | bketcheson@ritchieketcheson.com
416.622.6601, Ext. 238 | bketcheson@ritchieketcheson.com
Contact Bruce’s Clerk, Elizabeth Smyj
416.622.6601, Ext. 242 | esmyj@ritchieketcheson.com
John R. Hart practices in both the private and public sector, focusing on general litigation in business and commercial matters, real estate transactions and estates disputes.
John has acted for various municipalities for more than 20 years, during which time he has been involved with virtually all aspects of municipal government, ranging from corporate governance to by-law enforcement. John has prepared and submitted reports to both Council and its committees, and has appeared before Council and committees on numerous occasions.
John’s experience and versatility allows him to understand and respond to legal issues emanating from any municipal department. John has completed real estate transactions; commenced enforcement proceedings in connection with the responsibilities that are placed upon municipalities (including the Fire Code, the Building Code and Property Standards By-laws); and litigated as counsel both at all levels of court in Ontario and before various administrative tribunals.
John’s cases have been reported in the Ontario Reports, the Municipal Planning Law Reports, the Estate Law Reports and the Business Law Reports.
John has spoken about enforcement matters at conferences held by the Municipal Prosecutors Association and the Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association.
Education and Accreditations
•Called to the Ontario Bar in 1982
•Osgoode Hall Law School (LL.B.), 1980
•Queens University (B.Comm. (Honours)), 1977
Memberships
•Law Society of Upper Canada
•Toronto Lawyers Association
Contact John
416.622.6601, Ext. 224 | jhart@ritchieketcheson.com
Contact John’s Clerk, Doriana Di Biase
416.622.6601, Ext. 241 | ddibiase@ritchieketcheson.com
R. Andrew Biggart practices mainly in the areas of Land Use Planning and Civil Litigation, including Insurance Defence Litigation.
Andrew has acted for municipal and private clients for more than 15 years. Over this time, Andrew has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Assessment Review Board and other tribunals. Andrew has also submitted reports to and appeared before municipal Committees and Councils to provide advice for both public sessions and in camera meetings.
With respect to Land Use Planning, Andrew has appeared before the Ontario Municipal Board on matters such as the approval of new Official Plans, rezoning appeals, site plan appeals and challenges to the legislative authority of municipal Councils. This experience has provided Andrew with the ability to analyze a broad spectrum of legal issues quickly and respond in a manner that best represents his clients’ interests in a cost-effective manner. As part of his Civil Litigation practice, Andrew has gained extensive experience in dealing with all manner of Litigation ranging from multi-million dollar insurance claims to trust claims commenced as against directors of a corporation.
Andrew’s cases have been reported in the Ontario Reports, Ontario Municipal Board Reports, the Municipal Planning Law Reports, the Dominion Law Reports and the Business Law Reports.
Education and Accreditations
•Called to the Ontario Bar in 1997
•University of Toronto - Faculty of Law, 1996
•Called to the Florida Bar in 1994
•Stetson University (Attorney-at-Law, Juris Doctor Cum Laude), 1994
•York University (B.A. (Honours)), 1990
Memberships
•Law Society of Upper Canada
•Florida Bar
•Toronto Lawyers Association •Phi Delta Phi, Legal Fraternity
Contact Andrew
416.622.6601, Ext. 227 | abiggart@ritchieketcheson.com
Contact Andrew’s Clerk, Bernadette Castellvi
416.622.6601, Ext. 222 | bcastellvi@ritchieketcheson.com
Effie Lidakis practices mainly in the areas of Civil Litigation and Land Use Planning Law.
Effie joined our firm in 2009 and since that time has assumed various duties with our firm’s involvement with the Towns of Oakville, Orangeville, Whitby and most recently the City of Toronto Official Plan, as well as the City of Toronto Central Waterfront Secondary Plan.
In acting for the Town of Orangeville, Effie has acquired experience in a variety of legal matters including those related to planning law, employment, by-law enforcement, and the Orangeville Railway Development Corporation Shortline Railway matters.
With respect to Civil Litigation, Effie regularly attends before various Ontario Courts, including the Superior Court of Justice, to represent a variety of clients in matters related to real property disputes, contracts, insurance defence litigation and personal injury. Prior to joining our firm, Effie articled with the City of Toronto’s Legal Division where she gained valuable experience related to litigation, land use planning, municipal law, employment, prosecution, and real estate in Ontario and in Toronto, specifically while acting under the supervision of the City’s in-house lawyers.
Effie speaks Greek fluently.
Education and Accreditations
•Called to the Ontario Bar in 2008
•York University (B.A. (Honours) and B.Ed.), 2002
• University of Ottawa (LL.B.), 2006
Memberships
•Law Society of Upper Canada
Contact Effie
416.622.6601, Ext. 231 | elidakis@ritchieketcheson.com
Contact Effie’s Clerk, Maxine Nelson
416.622.6601, Ext. 234 | mnelson@ritchieketcheson.com
Joshua Silver, Associate
Joshua Silver practices mainly in the areas of Civil Litigation, Insurance Defence, Wills and Estates, and is expanding his practice in Municipal Law.
Joshua joined our firm in 2013 and has assumed various duties in connection with our firm’s involvement with the Towns of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Georgina, as well as Orangeville, and has taken carriage of files from some of our larger institutional clients.
Joshua has appeared before various Ontario Courts including the Superior Court of Justice to represent a variety of clients in matters involving contract disputes, estate litigation, real property issues, personal injury disputes and insurance defence matters.
Prior to joining our firm, Joshua articled with a downtown full-service firm, where he gained valuable experience related to civil and commercial litigation. He also served as an associate in a small downtown practice where he practiced real estate, wills and estates, and corporate/commercial law.
In his spare time, Joshua likes to play several sports, including baseball, football and golf, and is an avid reader of popular fiction and biographical works.
Education and Accreditations
•Called to the Ontario Bar in 2012
•Passed the Michigan Bar in 2011
•University of Windsor (B.A. (Honours)) 2007
•Wilfrid Laurier University 2008 (Candidate for M.A.)
•University of Detroit Mercy (Juris Doctor) 2011
• University of Windsor (LL.B.) 2011
Memberships
•Law Society of Upper Canada
•Canadian Bar Association
Contact Joshua
416.622.6601, Ext. 239 | jsilver@ritchieketcheson.com
Contact Joshua’s Clerk, Maxine Nelson
416.622.6601, Ext. 234 | mnelson@ritchieketcheson.com
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