N. Jane
Pepino

Counsel
Call to Bar:
Admitted to the Ontario Bar: 1973
PEPINO_Jane-12031-web

Jane’s experience of more than 50 years allows her to guide her clients through the unpredictability of municipal law and land use planning. There is little she hasn’t seen before, and her strategic and flexible approach puts her clients on the best possible footing to face factors that are beyond their control. Known for her creative approach to difficult situations, Jane derives great satisfaction from providing practical, principled solutions to complex municipal and land use planning issues. In her volunteer work, she has been widely recognized for her contributions to healthcare governance, politics and the broader community.

Jane is the founder of the firm’s Municipal, Land Use Planning & Development Group. Her practice includes providing advice on all aspects of the statutory scheme for planning, zoning and land development throughout Ontario, as well as on a broad range of municipal and provincial licensing and other regulatory matters. She advises governments, landowners and lenders on maximizing the value and utility of land in light of rapidly changing economic and political agendas. Jane’s clients include provincial, regional and local governments or agencies, large development corporations, small landowners, and citizen and special interest groups.

She regularly appears before various decision-making bodies controlling land development, including local planning committees and councils, conservation authorities, the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) and the courts.

Jane has been with the firm since 1982 and was a member of the firm's Executive Committee from 1989 to 2000. 

Memberships

  • Canadian Urban Institute, Director (1992-1998)
  • International Women's Forum of Canada
  • Lambda Alpha International Simcoe (Toronto) Chapter
  • Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD)

Community Involvement

  • Women's College Hospital, Board of Directors (1995-2000; 2010-present); Honorary Life Member; Chair (1997-2000), (2011-2013)
  • Appointed to the University of Toronto's Governing Council as a Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council (2011-2020); Executive Committee (2012-2020); Business Board and Design Review Committee (2014-2020; Vice-Chair (2016-2020)
  • Order-in-Council Appointment to the Board of Directors of Infrastructure Ontario, Chair of Governance and Compensation Committee (2018-2021) 
  • Member, Chairs’ Advisory Council, Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (2010-2018)
  • Board Member, LIFT Philanthropy Partners (2009-2016); Chair (2012-2016)
  • Toronto Lands Corporation, Board of Directors (2008-2013)
  • Victoria University Property Committee (2008-2014)
  • Board Member, Habitat for Humanity (2006-2010)
  • Province of Ontario Women's Health Council, Founding Chair (1998-2007)
  • Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Board of Directors (1998-2004)
  • The Bishop Strachan School, Director and Chair (Finance Committee) (1995-2003)
  • Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, Board of Directors (1994-1997)
  • Mayor's Committee on Employment Equity (1985-1991)
  • Metro Action Committee on Public Violence Against Women and Children, Founder and Past President (1985-1995)
  • Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women (1984-1990)
  • Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, Past Member (1982-1989) and Vice Chair (1987-1989)
  • Canadian Council of Christians and Jews (1982-1986)
  • Ontario Human Rights Commission, Past Member (1980-1982)

Teaching Engagements

  • Occasional lecturer, Law Society of Ontario Continuing Legal Education, Ontario Bar Association, the Advocates' Society, Osgoode Hall Law School, Insight, and other private lecture providers, on all aspects of planning and municipal law, including Official Plan Amendments, zoning by-laws, site plan approvals and agreements, plans of subdivision and implementing subdivision agreements, and various additional implementing agreements