Johnstone & Cowling LLP
4 lawyers · City of Toronto, Middlesex County (London)
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 478 handling Employment & Labour Law.
About Johnstone & Cowling LLP
Johnstone & Cowling LLP is a Toronto law firm with a second office in London, Ontario. Its four lawyers act as counsel before all levels of Ontario courts and numerous administrative tribunals, including the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. The practice centers on labour and employment law, acting mainly for management and employers, along with human rights law, police law, occupational health and safety, information and privacy law, public and administrative law, civil litigation, and property assessment law, with clients including police services, police chiefs, and police services boards.
The firm's partners bring backgrounds in both policing and labour relations. Ian Johnstone worked as a police officer with Peel Regional Police before entering law and has since taught labour and employment law at the University of Western Ontario and the University of New Brunswick faculties of law. David Cowling was called to the Ontario bar in 1992, after earning a law degree from the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from McGill University, and has more than 25 years of experience acting for management in labour arbitration and Ontario Labour Relations Board matters. In 2016, the firm represented the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service in a case that reached the Supreme Court of Canada.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- In 2016, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled, in a decision the Supreme Court of Canada declined to disturb, that a First Nations police service's labour relations fall under provincial rather than federal jurisdiction. Johnstone & Cowling represented the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service in the case, Nishnawbe-Aski Police Services Board v Public Service Alliance of Canada.
- Partner Ian Johnstone co-founded and co-chairs the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's Police Labour Conference and is a regular lecturer at the Ontario Police College.
- Partner David Cowling was called to the Ontario bar in 1992 and has more than 25 years of experience appearing as counsel for management in arbitration hearings, Ontario Labour Relations Board hearings, and court proceedings involving judicial reviews and labour injunctions.
- Allison Johnstone earned a Master of Laws with honours from Cornell Law School in 2017 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Windsor in 2016, receiving the highest grade in the class in Criminal Law.
In the community
- Partner Ian Johnstone has taught labour and employment law courses at the University of Western Ontario and University of New Brunswick faculties of law.
- Alexander Boissonneau-Lehner coordinated the University of Calgary's Pro Bono Students Canada program while in law school.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
By appointmentLawyers 4
Alexander Boissonneau-Lehner
Barrister & Solicitor
Employment & Labour LawCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Allison Johnstone
Barrister & Solicitor
Employment & Labour LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law
David Cowling
Partner
Employment & Labour LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law
Ian B. Johnstone
Partner
Employment & Labour LawAdministrative & Regulatory Law
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1992 · median 34 years in practice 1 of 4 lawyers
- Law schools
- University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick, University of Toronto, University of Windsor 4 of 4 lawyers
Who handles what
Offices 2
The neighbourhood
Johnstone & Cowling's Toronto office is at 441 Jarvis Street, the A. J. Mason House, a heritage property built in 1881 in the Gothic Revival style by the architectural firm Bond and Smith. Jarvis Street was originally laid out as a residential enclave for Toronto's wealthy in the mid 1800s, and many of its surviving Victorian era mansions have since been repurposed for restaurants or commercial use, a pattern this address follows.
The firm's second office occupies the third floor at 284 Dundas Street in downtown London, Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Johnstone & Cowling represent employees or employers in workplace disputes?
- The firm acts as counsel for management, representing employers in collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, and matters involving discipline, termination, and employment standards.
- Can Johnstone & Cowling represent a police service, police chief, or police services board?
- Yes. The firm represents police services, police chiefs, and police services boards, including prosecutions and discipline hearings under the Police Services Act and appeals before the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
- Does the firm handle property assessment appeals?
- Yes, property assessment law is part of the firm's practice, including matters before the Assessment Review Board.
- Where are Johnstone & Cowling's offices located?
- The firm's main office is at 441 Jarvis Street in Toronto, with a second office at 284 Dundas Street, 3rd floor, in London, Ontario.
- What areas of law does the firm handle?
- The firm's practice covers labour and employment law, human rights law, police law, occupational health and safety and workers' compensation, information and privacy law, public and administrative law, civil litigation, professional discipline and regulation, and property assessment law.
- Does Johnstone & Cowling represent professionals facing discipline or regulatory hearings?
- Yes, professional discipline and regulation is one of the firm's practice areas, alongside its work in administrative and tribunal proceedings.
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Employment & Labour LawAdministrative & Regulatory LawCivil Litigation & Dispute ResolutionListing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗