Atty. Richard Butler
Richard Butler, BSc (Hons.), MSc, LLB, is a partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Richard practises advocacy before all levels of court and tribunals, including civil litigation, administrative appeals, and defence of environmental prosecutions.
Profile Summary
About Richard Butler at a glance
Richard Butler is a environmental attorney based in Toronto, Ontario, practicing at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Environmental Law (2026) and Best Lawyers in America — Mining Law (2026). Serands clients in Toronto, ON and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Richard Butler, BSc (Hons.), MSc, LLB, is a partner at Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP. Richard practises advocacy before all levels of court and tribunals, including civil litigation, administrative appeals, and defence of environmental prosecutions
- He provides advice and support to clients on all aspects of environmental law including regulatory compliance and approvals, contaminated land investigations and remediation and spills response, wastewater discharges, and waste management
- Richard assists clients to secure mining rights and approvals, develop mining infrastructure, and manage mine waste and wastewater issues
- Richard works with clients to clarify insurance coverage of environmental claims, including during governmental investigations and civil litigation concerning some of the largest environmental disasters in Canada
- Richard frequently works with clients in the land development, municipal, construction, food processing, mining and exploration, and insurance sectors
- Richard is leading the firm’s cannabis practice, including regulation at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels
- Richard’s experience also includes Environmental Risk Assessments for food producers, farming properties, and greenhouses
- Richard is called to the Bar in Ontario
Practice Areas Explained
Richard Butler's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Richard Butler handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Environmental attorneys for regulatory compliance, contamination, land use, and natural resource law.
Richard Butler is one of 56,434 environmental attorneys indexed nationally. Browse environmental attorneys in Ontario →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Ontario
Practicing law in Ontario. Legal matters in Ontario are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Toronto are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Ontario state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Ontario brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Ontario courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Ontario attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Toronto or all attorneys in Ontario.
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