Jean-Simon Schoenholz

Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Ottawa
Canada
T:+1 613 780 1537
Ottawa
Canada
T:+1 613 780 1537
Jean-Simon Schoenholz

Jean-Simon Schoenholz

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Biography

Jean-Simon Schoenholz is a versatile litigator with a bilingual, national practice focusing on public law strategy, appellate advocacy, and commercial litigation. Jean-Simon regularly appears before the federal courts and the Supreme Court of Canada, including in high-profile and high-stakes matters. In doing so, he brings to bear his perspective as a former judicial law clerk in both courts. Jean-Simon also acts before all levels of court in Ontario and is licensed in Québec.

Jean-Simon is regularly engaged when clients are affected by government and government agency decisions, including to challenge government regulation. He also acts for public institutions, including Crown corporations, airport and port authorities, and universities, where their decisions are challenged. As part of his public law practice, Jean-Simon is regularly called upon to advise clients on complex matters of statutory and regulatory interpretation. This notably includes lending support to clients engaged in government consultations and as part of broader government relations strategy. He also advises Crown corporations on governance matters. Jean-Simon has unique experience participating in high-profile public inquiries, most notably as commission counsel to the Emergencies Act inquiry.  He has been ranked "One to Watch" in public and administrative law since 2022.

Jean-Simon is one of a small group of lawyers who regularly act for federal institutions with respect to their obligations under the Official Languages Act. He regularly assists them in responding to investigations by the Commissioner of Official Languages, improving compliance, and representing them in the federal courts to respond to claims for damages.

Jean-Simon is the firm's Supreme Court of Canada Agent. He is also chair of the Canadian Bar Association's Supreme Court Liaison Subcommittee. Jean-Simon is regularly called upon to represent clients on appeals in a wide range of industries and subject matters, including commercial, insurance, employment and labour, and public law. He has successfully obtained leave to appeal and leave to intervene before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Jean-Simon is very involved in the firm and the legal community. He is a member of the Ottawa Student Committee. He sits on the executive of a number of Canadian Bar Association sections, including the national Administrative Law section. He teaches Administrative Law and Civil Procedure. In 2022, he co-coached the University of Ottawa's team in the Laskin Moot (administrative and constitutional law) to a third place finish. Jean-Simon regularly volunteers with Pro Bono Ontario's Supreme Court Leave Application Assistance Program.

Professional experience

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  • J.D., University of Ottawa, 2016
  • M.A. (International Affairs), Carleton University, 2016
  • B.Soc.Sc. (Hons.), University of Ottawa, 2012
  • Québec 2022
  • Ontario 2017

Jean-Simon Schoenholz has recently acted as counsel or co-counsel in the following types of matters:

  • Commission counsel to the Public Order Emergency Commission inquiring into the circumstances that led the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act in February 2022
  • Challenging the Air Passenger Protection Regulations on behalf of the airline industry at the Supreme Court of Canada
  • Defending the decision by the Minister of Labour to intervene in a 2024 national rail labour dispute
  • Obtaining an urgent injunction on behalf of a national retailer and opposing a request for injunction on behalf of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
  • Counsel for the Canadian Superior Courts Judges Association and the Canadian Judicial Council before the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission
  • Challenging decisions by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Transport Canada, Health Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and by municipal authorities
  • Successfully responding on behalf of federal Crown corporations, airport authorities, port authorities, and post-secondary institutions to challenges before the Federal Courts and the Divisional Court
  • Intervening on behalf of national associations on matters of constitutional and administrative law and statutory interpretation at the Supreme Court of Canada and in the Federal Courts
  • Successfully obtaining summary judgment on behalf of defendants on multiple occasions, including claims over $1M
  • Acting for an international construction company in an arbitration relating to an investment in South America
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada: Administrative and Public Law, 2023-2025; Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2025
  • "Administrative Law and the Charter - Commission Scolaire and the Dore duty: Is deference imperilled?" CBA Administrative Law, and Labour and Employment Law Conference, Ottawa, ON, November 29, 2024
  • "Administrative Powers & Oversight," Public Law Conference, Ottawa, ON, July 4, 2024
  • "Insights into Advocacy at the Supreme Court of Canada," Ontario Bar Association, June 12, 2020
  • "Red light, green light: Uber, TELUS and arbitration clauses," AJEFO 2019 Annual Conference, Sudbury, ON, June 22, 2019
  • Part-time professor, Civil Procedure, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa (2023 to present)
  • Contract instructor, Administrative Law, Department of Law and Legal Studies, Carleton University (2018 to present)
  • Chair (current) and member, Canadian Bar Association, Supreme Court of Canada Liaison (2020 to present)
  • Secretary (current) and member, Canadian Bar Association, Administrative Law Section Executive (2023 to present)
  • Member at large, Canadian Bar Association, Air and Space Law Section Executive (2023 to present)
  • Member, The Advocates Society, Young Advocates Standing Committee (2020 to 2024)
  • Coach, University of Ottawa, Laskin Moot (2021 to 2022)
  • Member at large, Ontario Bar Association, Administrative Law Section (2021 to 2022)
  • Association des juristes d'expression française de l'Ontario
  • County of Carleton Law Association
  • English
  • French

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