Meet Dianne

Dr. Dianne Saxe is one of the world’s top 25 environmental lawyers, according to Best of the Best, 2008 (the latest edition re environmental lawyers). Certified Specialist in Environmental Law, Ph.D. in Law. Heads an experienced, effective and practical environmental law firm boutique. Widely published and respected:

Thank you, Dianne, for speaking to the OBA. You were, as always, compelling, thorough and succint.  You deserve the very high regard in which you’re held and we appreciate  your generosity.

A lawyers’ lawyer. 37 years practical experience. Listed as one of the top environmental practitioners in Toronto and Ontario by Lexpert, as “highly qualified” by Martindale-Hubbell and as one of the world’s leading environmental lawyers by several international rating services. Highly recommended on LinkedIn. Osgoode Hall Gold Key award for lifetime achievement in law.

Click DianneSaxe business card to download my business card.

Civil, criminal and administrative environmental litigation, opinions and advice (including claims against lawyers and engineers for professional negligence). Core practice areas: brownfields, due diligence, compliance, enforcement, renewable energy approvals, source protection, environmental assessment, ISO 14000, approvals and climate change. Regularly consulted by governments, business, individuals and environmental groups, relied upon by corporate counsel and general practitioners.

Tributes to Dianne:

• I’ve always supported you as one of the most innovative lawyers in Canada.  Not just in terms of enviro law. You are a treasure.
• What more can I say?  Few are so deserving.
• It is quite simply amazing how you can remember the details and put the pieces in a coherent package that also protects our interests.  You could probably replace several of us in your spare time, but I won’t tell my bosses that.
  
• Over the years, I learned that you were competent, fair, knowledgeable, poignant and caring. These are not easily recognized attributes of your typical lawyer. You are a true professional and serve your profession with honor and dignity to the highest standards.
• It was always a pleasure to serve with you in the past, and to receive your insights, expertise and guidance … The OBA Award, like others on your wall, reflect not only your dedication and expertise but the esteem held by peers and many others of your valued contributions to conserving, improving and better managing our environment.
• I’ve had the good fortune to work with Dianne Saxe on environmental matters involving sampling, analysis and assessment of water, sediment and soil quality. Dianne is a lawyer and is also a certified Specialist in Environmental Law as well as certified mediator. She practiced law as a senior legal counsel at the Ontario Ministry of Environment, and has headed her own law firm for the past 21 years. Besides having a thorough and expert understanding of environmental law, Dianne is technically astute and is at ease with the chemistry, mathematics and physics that underpin many of today’s environmental problems.
  She develops her cases by combining the the above skills into strategies based on logic and demonstrable facts, and she presents her case with confidence, grace and great resolution. It’s easy to understand why she’s ranked as in the top tier of environmental lawyers in the world.
  In addition, Dianne is considerate, ethical and a pleasure to work with.
• This is an expression of our gratitude for helping us with what I now know are your characteristic passion, competence, incisive intelligence and compassion. Working for the integrity of creation is obviously a vocation for you. Thank you is not goodbye, and I hope we will stay in touch.
• You have done more for environmental law than any other lawyer in Canada!

Honoured member of City of Toronto External Panel on Climate Change Risk Management.

Certified as a Specialist in Environmental Law by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Ph.D. in Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, 1991. Ontario Bar, 1976. LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1974. A certified, experienced mediator. Former senior legal counsel, Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Head of her own law firm since 1991.

Author of Ontario’s standard environmental law reference, Ontario Environmental Protection Act Annotated, plus award-winning columns in Hazardous Materials Management and Municipal World and numerous articles, chapters, and texts, including:

• Contaminated Land, a study for the Law Reform Commission of Canada
• Buyer’s Guide to Contaminated Land
• Environmental Offences: Corporate Responsibility and Executive Liability
• Environmental Protection Legislation – Guidance & Recommendations for Boardroom Practice

Regular contributor to leading blogs such as SLAW and Huffington Post.

Substantial pro bono commitments, including Director, Evergreen. President of Windshare. Long time volunteer for Algonquin Ecowatch. Public Affairs liaison: Ontario Bar Association, Environmental Law Section Executive. Member: Investment Committee for the $3M OBA portfolio; Strategic Steering Committee on the Environment, multi-stakeholder advisory committees for ISO 14000 and Canadian voluntary environmental standards. Founding member: Environmental Specialist Certification Committee, Law Society of Upper Canada. Life Member: Bruce Trail Conservancy.

When she’s lucky, Dianne gets a little time away from work. She’s the proud wife of Stewart Saxe and mother of Rebecca Saxe, David Saxe, and Shoshanna Saxe. And she loves to go to the wild and beautiful places of the world, preferably by paddle or pedal: