About John S. Doherty

Municipal and commercial litigation sit at the centre of John S. Doherty's work as a partner in Gowling WLG's Waterloo Region office. Doherty leads the firm's National Expropriation Law Group and also belongs to its National Municipal Law Group. Private clients include landowners, tenants and businesses facing planning, zoning or expropriation questions, whether the trigger is a new development or a public project that needs their land. Developers and municipalities bring Doherty land use and valuation matters too.

Much of that work happens in hearing rooms. Doherty appears before municipal councils and boards, before tribunals such as the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, and in court, arguing commercial cases in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Talking to Canadian Lawyer in 2020, the Kitchener partner pointed out that infrastructure building at every level of government was generating a lot of expropriation work. Owners are far better off learning early whether a public body wants their land, Doherty said, since that uncertainty makes it hard for businesses especially to plan.

Called to the Ontario bar in 1984 after earning an LLB at Dalhousie, Doherty was managing partner of the Waterloo Region office from 1999 through 2009 and sat on the firm's national executive committee over those same years. In the expropriation field, Doherty's time on the Ontario Expropriation Association board stretched past 20 years and included a term as chair, plus chairing its Legislative Reform Committee. The writing and teaching run from seminar panels on business loss valuation to the group's annual year in review paper, which Doherty also presents on video. Best Lawyers in Canada recognizes the practice regularly and named Doherty 2022 Lawyer of the Year for municipal law in Hamilton.

Away from law, Doherty's civic roles have included chairing the Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region and the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

Practice areas

Administrative & Regulatory Law Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Municipal planning and land use

Doherty acts for developers and for municipalities on land use and valuation files, appearing before councils, municipal boards and planning tribunals. Past mandates include representing the Town of Oakville through eight proceedings in its successful opposition to a proposed power plant, and advising the County of Brant in boundary adjustment talks with Brantford.

Expropriation and compensation

Property owners, tenants and business owners turn to Doherty when public projects or land acquisitions affect their property. Results include a successful claim against the Minister of Transportation seeking compensation for business losses and delay, and an injurious affection award in a case where no land was taken (R. Jordan Greenhouses Limited v. Town of Grimsby, 2015).

Commercial litigation

On the commercial side, Doherty argues cases in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

Our guide: Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Toronto

Education & credentials

  • LLB, Dalhousie University (1982)
  • BA Hons., University of Western Ontario (1979)
  • Called to the bar, Ontario (1984)

Awards & recognition

Publications & speaking

Memberships & affiliations

  • Ontario Expropriation Association: Former chair and a board member for more than 20 years, who also chaired the association's Legislative Reform Committee.
  • Canadian Bar Association: Member.
  • Lambda Alpha Land Economics Society, Simcoe Chapter: Member.
  • Waterloo County Law Association: Member.

In the community

  • Chaired the Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region from 2009 to 2018.
  • Chaired the board of Canada's Technology Triangle Inc. from 2008 to 2010.
  • Served on the Barnraisers Council of Waterloo Region from 2010 to 2016.
  • Past chair (2001 to 2002) and honorary life member of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.
  • Past member of the board and executive committee of the United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries.
  • Past president of the Cambridge Volunteer Bureau.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm John S. Doherty’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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