Kristi M. Ross

First Year of Call
Ontario, 2004

Areas of Practice
Environmental Law

Description
Kristi leverages her scientific knowledge, technical skills and extensive experience in environmental law to help clients understand and navigate complex regulatory regimes and requirements. The landscape of environmental and planning law is rapidly evolving and Kristi consistently stays on top of changes to legislation, regulations and case law.

Kristi is a member of the firm’s Environmental and Litigation Groups. She advises private and public sector clients including businesses and corporations, property developers, community housing developers, energy producers, not-for-profit and community groups, and government bodies and municipalities on a wide range of matters. Her work includes providing environmental advice in relation to infrastructure projects, social governance initiatives, environmental remediation and regulation, hydroelectric generation, renewable energy projects, climate change and recycling requirements. Kristi advises Indigenous Groups on environmental and planning laws, and has experience negotiating Impact Benefit Agreements in the context of natural resource development.

Kristi’s experience advising on ESG matters includes disclosure obligations and practices, green marketing claims and supply chain transparency. She is also experienced in advising corporations and Boards of Directors on environmental liabilities, environmental management systems and director and officer liability.

Kristi regularly appears before boards and tribunals, including the Ontario Land Tribunal, the former Environment Review Tribunal and the Ontario Municipal Board and the Assessment Review Board, as well as before the Ontario and Federal courts. She obtained a unique perspective of the judicial process working as a Law Clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal.

Kristi understands the interaction between environmental and planning laws and advises municipalities on environmental and planning matters with respect to infrastructure projects and the drafting of by-laws. She also works with developers, non-profit housing developers and community groups on land-use planning approvals, frequently appearing before municipal councils and the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Kristi’s passion for environmental law is driven by her desire to give back to her community in a positive way and make the world a more sustainable place. She sits on the board of EnviroCentre, an Ottawa not-for-profit that scopes, designs, delivers and scales practical solutions to reduce climate emissions where she holds the position of Secretary and is also a member of the Governance Committee.