Panel of Officers

John Mascarin, who heads the Aird & Berlis Accountability Services team, is widely recognized across Ontario as a leader in the area of municipal law. He is a partner in the firm’s Municipal & Land Use Planning Group and the lead lawyer for all of our Closed Meeting Investigator and other accountability officer appointments. John was named the Best Lawyers’ 2016 Municipal Law “Lawyer of the Year” for Toronto and is a Certified Specialist in Municipal Law: Local Government and Land Use Planning and Development by the Law Society of Ontario. He is an Adjunct Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School.

John has spent his legal career practicing almost exclusively in the area of municipal law, and more recently, specializing in matters relating to accountability and transparency, including councillor conduct. He is respected by his municipal clients for taking a hands-on, common-sense approach to his closed meeting investigator work, while at all times maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality when dealing with these always sensitive matters.

Meghan Cowan is a member of the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group, Workplace Law Group and Privacy & Data Security Group. She works closely with the firm’s Municipal & Land Use Planning Group and often advises and litigates on municipal issues and matters. She advises on a variety of litigation matters, with a focus on privacy and labour and employment law, including wrongful dismissal litigation, human rights and labour relations, municipal code of conduct and ethical investigations. Meghan has undertaken several municipal-related investigations.

Laura Dean is a member of the firm’s Municipal & Land Use Planning Group. She provides advice and representation to both private and public sector clients on municipal governance and accountability regimes, land use planning matters, and the development and implementation of a wide array of municipal by-laws and policies. Laura has advised a number of municipalities on various governance and accountability-related issues, including matters related to closed meetings.

Meaghan Barrett is a member of the firm’s Municipal & Land Use Planning Group. She advises on various municipal accountability matters, including drafting codes of conduct and complaint procedures, and investigating and reporting on code of conduct complaints. She also provides expert advice to clients regarding all aspects of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Matthew Helfand is a member of the Municipal & Land Use Planning Group. His practice focuses on municipal matters across Ontario. He regularly provides advice to both private and public sector clients with respect to the Municipal Act, 2001 and various other statutes impacting local government.

John Pappas is a member of the firm’s Municipal & Land Use Planning Group. He advises public and private sector clients on all aspects of municipal law, with a focus on accountability matters. John has worked extensively on a number of accountability mandates, including numerous closed meeting and code of conduct investigations and inquires under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.