John Peters

About John Peters

Employers in every sector turn to John Peters for advice on the people side of their business, and federally regulated undertakings are a particular focus. A partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, Peters works within the Employment, Labour and Equalities Group, where the day-to-day work includes letting an employee go and sorting out what severance is owed, as well as carrying a workplace investigation from start to finish. Peters also drafts the mutual respect policies and related protocols that sit underneath those investigations.

Called to the Ontario bar in 1993, Peters joined Gowling WLG in 2020 after more than two decades at Export Development Canada. As EDC's principal litigation counsel, Peters headed its Litigation Management team and took the lead on employment, access to information and privacy files. That role meant advising the corporation's board, executives and HR department whenever litigation was underway or on the horizon.

Teaching is part of the practice too. Peters runs training and awareness sessions on labour and employment topics for employers in both the private and public sectors.

Outside the office, Shepherds of Good Hope has been a constant. Peters has sat on its board since 1993, including a turn as chair, and has also chaired the board of the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation. The charity's Grinch Dinner grew out of a small gathering Peters hosted as a young articling student, and it eventually became a fundraiser built around local chefs. Volunteer Ottawa has recognized Peters with a VOscar Volunteer Award in the Leadership in Skilled Volunteering category.