John De Vellis

John’s multi-faceted practice includes condominium law, commercial litigation, and employment law. His experience includes everything from counselling investors in major fraud cases to serving clients in wrongful-dismissal actions.

As a partner in Shibley Righton LLP’s condominium law group, John acts for condominium corporations throughout south and southwestern Ontario on all aspects of condominium law including compliance and governance issues, general litigation including oppression applications, construction deficiency issues, arbitration of shared facilities disputes, and commercial matters such as contract review and drafting and general governance issues. 

John is a frequent contributor to condominium industry publications and has spoken and taught on a number of condominium law topics. He is a member of the Canadian Condominium Institute (Toronto) and sits on its Education Committee. 

John also has significant experience in employment law. He frequently provides advice to condominium corporations and other employers on a breadth of employment and labour law issues including those related to hiring and termination, human rights and employment standards legislation.

John has also acted as litigation counsel in a number of complex commercial litigation and professional negligence matters.  

John has appeared as counsel in arbitrations and before all levels of court in Ontario including the Superior Court of Justice and Court of Appeal, as well as a number of administrative tribunals including the Ontario Energy Board and Licence Appeal Tribunal.

John graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and also holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from York University and a Master of Industrial Relations from the University of Toronto. Prior to law school he worked as an Economist with the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Arbitration Services

In addition to his experience as counsel in arbitrations, in June 2022, John completed the Gold Standard Course in Arbitration offered by the Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society. The course qualifies for a Q. Arb. (Qualified Arbitrator) designation.

John is available to serve as arbitrator for all condominium disputes including shared facilities matters.