Partner

W. Thomas Barlow, KC is a founding member, and former Leader/Chair of the firm’s infrastructure & projects and municipal, land use planning & property tax practice groups.

He is a founding member of Fasken’s national security, procurement, government relations & strategy, and political law practice groups. He also has broad knowledge in dispute resolution, with extensive experience acting for public and private sector clients in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), administrative tribunal and court proceedings. Tom’s practice combines a strong counsel background in business, commercial and administrative law matters with a sensitivity to policy considerations and unparalleled insight in his areas of practice.

Tom has led and advised on numerous infrastructure, project finance and PPP projects and other procurements in multiple jurisdictions and sectors over many years, for authorities, bidders and consortium members, including developers, constructors, operators, and lenders. He is currently acting on matters involving the procurement and provision of public services, systems and infrastructure, both in Canada and internationally. Efficiently balancing public and private interests and risks, Tom has been integral to the development and implementation of new infrastructure procurement models, including progressive projects, since the earliest PPP projects in Canada. Recent examples include acting for Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx on the Ontario Line Subway Project, the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and Infrastructure Ontario on its Redevelopment Project, and the Government of Canada and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority on the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project, which has been awarded recognition by Lexpert, Project Finance International and Project Finance & Infrastructure Journal (IJ Global) IJ and the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships. The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships and other industry organizations have recognized many of the public-private projects on which he has acted, several of which have been named “Deals of the Year.”

Tom has advised on municipal and community infrastructure development, land use and financing in the local and regional contexts, including First Nations and community benefits.

As part of his municipal, regulatory and administrative law practice, Tom has also provided advice on planning law, municipal assessment and taxation, applications and approvals, by-law interpretation and other municipal and compliance matters as well as national security issues related to infrastructure. He has frequently negotiated with or represented municipalities and public agencies across Ontario, as well as representing clients before administrative boards and tribunals.

Tom’s practice has also included representing clients on matters pending before courts at all levels in Ontario, at the Federal Court and in the Supreme Court of Canada.