Department profile
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Real Estate

Canada Guide 2026 : Ontario


Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

BLG's commercial real estate lawyers across our offices form a united national team, providing local insights and a nationwide presence to Canada's foremost real estate investors, developers, lenders, and tenants.

Our Commercial Real Estate Group facilitates transactions for diverse clients, including national and international businesses, investors, pension funds, developers, governments, governmental agencies, and lending institutions. We've played integral roles in some of the nation's most substantial and intricate real estate transactions, boasting expertise that spans the entire commercial real estate industry.

In the realm of Zoning/Land Use in Ontario, our group excels in municipal, planning, development, and expropriation matters. We offer counsel to a wide spectrum of clients, including private sector entities, municipalities, provincial governments, health care institutions, and school boards.

Our extensive expertise encompasses everything from advancing intricate development applications to defending municipal plans. Our lawyers are experienced in representing clients before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and all levels of the court system.

BLG's preeminent expropriation practice continues to provide essential support for major infrastructure projects and sets new legal precedents through arbitrations and appeals.

With one of Canada's largest planning, development, and expropriation practice groups, BLG remains at the forefront of these fields.

Clients (12)

  • City of Ottawa
  • City of Kingston
  • City of Vaughan
  • City of Woodstock
  • Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
  • Metrolinx
  • Region of Durham
  • Region of Halton
  • Bell Canada
  • Ivanhoé Cambridge
  • Oxford Properties
  • QuadReal Property Group and Insurance Corp of BC (ICBC)

Industries (8)

  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Private Clients / Individuals
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Transportation
  • Utilities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Real Estate - Ontario

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

Borden Ladner Gervais has a national real estate department with a significant footprint in Ontario. The team is especially well regarded for its prowess in municipal and land use planning, frequently assisting large municipalities with expropriations, OLT hearings and approvals. It is equally well versed in matters relating to infrastructure project development, as well as handling office, condominium and industrial mandates. The commercial real estate group serves major institutional clients and has notable experience of complex financing, transactions and leasings. The firm's notable clients also include funds, developers, portfolio managers and healthcare companies.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Borden Ladner Gervais represented Asahi Kasei in connection with its acquisition of vacant lands in Port Colborne, Ontario for the construction of a CAD1.7 billion integrated lithium-ion battery separator plant.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • BLG has an innate understanding of key trends.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Borden Ladner Gervais is very effective on complex issues.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Borden Ladner Gervais has excellent knowledge, exceptional advice and access to a comprehensive suite of lawyers.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • The team has a very high level of knowledge and understanding in the area of land use law.

    Real Estate respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Pitman Patterson
    Band 1Pitman Patterson

    Pitman Patterson

    Pitman Patterson possesses notable expertise in land use and planning matters, with broad experience appearing before tribunals. His knowledge also includes expropriation issues.

    • He is very well entrenched in his area of practice; he sends me updates on cases and things that are happening in other regions.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • He is the first lawyer I go to when I need an opinion or advice on a complex matter.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • He is an excellent lawyer.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 3Frank S. A. Arnone
    Band 3Frank S. A. Arnone

    Frank S. A. Arnone

    Frank Arnone is well regarded for his work on high-profile real estate deals. He is consulted by investors and developers for his expertise in acquisitions and dispositions, particularly in the hospitality sector. He also advises on development projects.

    • Frank provides us with very specific and important knowledge as part of the team. He is effective and great to deal with.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 4Isaac Tang
    Band 4Isaac Tang

    Isaac Tang

    Isaac Tang advises municipalities, cities and resident groups on contentious planning matters, including opposing developments and defending decisions.

    • His commitment to his clients and his ability to navigate intricate legal challenges with grace and creativity makes him a standout.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Issac provides us with excellent advice in an extremely practical manner.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • He is very creative in supporting our positions and provides updates.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Associates to watchLee English
    Associates to watchLee English

    Lee English

    Lee English showcases strong activity for public sector clients in contentious planning and zoning matters.

    • Lee is a thoughtful and attentive lawyer and consistently provides strong advice with skill and dedication.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • He is able to provide opinions and advice very quickly.

      Real Estate respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (4)

Ontario

Members

Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership