John Dent

Lawyer

P: (416) 762 5143
E: jdent@lfdlaw.ca

For over 20 years of practice John has delivered legal savvy, meticulous preparation, and an unrelenting commitment to the success of each client. 

John’s practice has spanned administrative law, civil law, and criminal law.  He has acted for CEOs, private companies, condominium boards, tribunals, colleges, discipline committees, doctors, nurses, lawyers, paralegals, social workers, and other regulated professionals.  He has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, and at numerous administrative tribunals.

Currently, John’s practice is focussed heavily on professional discipline.  John represents professionals who are being investigated by their professional regulatory bodies, defends professionals at discipline hearings, prosecutes professionals accused of wrongdoing, conducts investigations on behalf of professional regulatory bodies, and provides legal advice to adjudicators presiding over professional discipline and good character hearings.

Prior to starting his own practice, John was a member of the Litigation Department at McCarthy Tétrault LLP.  He was called to the bar in 2002, upon completion of a clerkship to the judges of the Ontario Court of Appeal.  He obtained his B.A. from the University of Waterloo in 1991, his M.A. from York University in 1994, and his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2001.

John has presented in Canada and in England on topics of administrative law, professional regulation, privacy law, criminal law, and international human rights law.  He is a member of the coaching team for the Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals offered by Osgoode Professional Development and SOAR, and teaches volunteer adjudicators at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

John’s honours and awards include the Cassels Brock Centennial Prize in Constitutional Law, the McMillan Binch Prize in Contracts, the LL.M. Programme Award in Constitutional Law and the Charter, the Harley D. Hallet Renewable Entrance Scholarship at Osgoode Hall Law School, and the Law Society of Upper Canada Award for Academic Excellence.  John has co-authored a text on the human rights of refugees and has authored a monograph and journal articles on the topics of international human rights law, criminality, and immigration law. 

John is a member of the Advocates Society and the Toronto Lawyers Association.

Select Reported Cases

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  • ·Counsel for a lawyer accused by the Law Society of misappropriating client funds while acting as estate trustee (2022).

  • Counsel for a paralegal on an abuse of process application and appeal against the Law Society, on the basis that the Law Society breached the paralegal’s right to procedural fairness during its investigation of allegations of improper advertising (2021, 2018).

  • Counsel for a lawyer in the contested hearing of allegations that the lawyer misappropriated client funds, involving 5 hearing days at the Law Society Tribunal during which the credibility of the complainant was effectively undermined (2020).

  • Counsel for a lawyer in a motion against the Law Society of Ontario for the production of an expert report on Syndicated Mortgage Investments in which costs were sought against the Law Society of Ontario (2020).

  • Counsel for lawyers at motions for interlocutory suspensions sought by the Law Society of Ontario (2020, 2017, 2016, 2015).

  • Counsel for applicants seeking admission to the Law Society of Ontario in contested hearings at the Law Society Tribunal, whose applications were opposed by the Law Society on good character grounds (2019, 2016).

  • Counsel to a paralegal facing allegations by the Law Society of Ontario of incivility and failure to cooperate (2018).

  • Counsel to a lawyer facing allegations by the Law Society of Ontario of failing to cooperate with the Law Society of Ontario (2017).

  • Counsel for a lawyer facing allegations by the Law Society of Ontario of conduct unbecoming for failing to report a criminal charge (2017).

  • Counsel for a lawyer facing allegations by the Law Society of Ontario of knowingly assisting a company in dishonest conduct (2017).

  • Co-counsel for the former CEO of Nortel Networks in the criminal fraud trial in the Superior Court of Justice and related proceedings (2013, 2012, 2011, 2009).

  • Counsel for a physician on an application in Divisional Court challenging the constitutionality of a provision of the Regulated Health Professions Act (2008).

  • Counsel on a Court of Appeal hearing of a Charter challenge to a provision of the Health Insurance Act (2008).

  • Counsel for a physician in criminal drug trafficking trial at the Superior Court of Justice (2007).

  • Counsel for a physician at Coroner’s Inquest into the death of an inmate (2006).

  • Counsel for a physician in a Federal Court application respecting the interpretation of privacy legislation (2006).

  • Counsel for a physician on an application to Divisional Court for a stay of proceedings based on delay, applying the principles set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in Blencoe (2005).

* Although case law is public and searchable, these references have been anonymized and are posted without links in an effort to avoid unnecessary exposure of our clients’ names and matters. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

Select Teaching Activities

At the Hearing – Available Outcomes

CPA Ontario Training for Adjudicators,
December 2023

Hearing Simulation Coach

Osgoode Professional Development and SOAR Certificate in Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards & Tribunals (2019-2023)

Privacy Issues in the Internet Era

Professionalism and Practice Management Issues for Administrative Lawyers, Law Society of Ontario, September 2016