About

Provided by Goodmans LLP

Goodmans Commercial Real Estate Group is one of the most extensive and comprehensive real estate law practices in Canada, with a deeply rooted Municipal and Land Development practice. Goodmans was named 2025 “Law Firm of the Year” for Real Estate Law by Best Law Firms - Canada.

We are regularly involved in acquisitions, sales and financings of large office buildings, shopping centres, industrial parks and portfolios of properties and mortgages. We handle land purchases and sales, construction, financing, leasing, zoning and tenant negotiations. We are also involved in bond financings, project financings, synthetic lease-based financings, P3 projects, privatizations, real estate syndications and securitizations, REITs, loan syndications, co-tenancy agreements, general partnership and limited partnership agreements, as well as structuring transactions involving complex tax, corporate law, withholding and income tax components.

Representing both private and public sector interests, Goodmans works with developers, owners and managers, contractors, consortiums, leading financial institutions, investment dealers and intermediaries, governments, government agencies and crown corporations.

We regularly appear before municipal committees and councils, administrative tribunals and courts in respect of development appeals, property tax assessment disputes, expropriation proceedings and a wide range of other municipal and regulatory matters.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use - Ontario

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Goodmans has a widely revered Ontario land use and zoning practice, acclaimed for regularly assisting developers with approvals and other land development matters in the City of Toronto and Greater Golden Horseshoe. Its clients in this area include government bodies, municipalities, major developers and advocacy groups. The group is also very well respected for assisting public and private companies with significant real estate transactions, including large portfolio acquisitions and complex financings. It represents an impressive roster of pension funds, asset managers, REITs and other institutional players.

Work Highlights

  • Goodmans LLP represented Welltower on the winding down of its 11-year joint venture with Chartwell Retirement Residencies, having partnered together on the ownership of 40 Canadian retirement residencies across Canada.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Roslyn Houser
S
Roslyn Houser
S
Senior Statespeople

Roslyn Houser enjoys an excellent reputation at the forefront of the market for her knowledge of planning and land use regulations. She often assists both public and private sector clients with large-scale development matters in southern Ontario.

David Bronskill
1
David Bronskill
1
Band 1

David Bronskill assists developers and REITs with municipal law issues. He has significant experience appearing before councils and tribunals throughout Ontario in appeals against plan policies.

He has a wide range of experience with many clients which allows him to think like a developer and he provides excellent legal advice.

He combines passion for his work with deep knowledge and realism.

He has worked on many different files with varying degrees of complexity and has always delivered first-rate service.

Andrew Wiseman
2
Andrew Wiseman
2
Band 2

Andrew Wiseman leads the real estate group at Goodmans and possesses a sterling track record of handling real estate transactions, as well as mortgage financings.

Andrew is exceptionally smart and very practical.

Andrew is an awesome technical lawyer.

He is a phenomenal practitioner.

Bram Green
2
Bram Green
2
Band 2

Bram Green is particularly well known for his representation of joint ventures in development projects.

Bram is very thoughtful, practical and creative.

Bram is very knowledgeable in his field.

He is extremely smart, experienced and keeps things simple for clients.

Robert Howe
3
Robert Howe
3
Band 3

Robert Howe is a talented lawyer with experience representing both public and private sector entities in development mandates, particularly those concerning the GTA.

He wins respect from all parties in a transaction as a thought leader in moving the file forward to a resolution.

Anne Benedetti
4
Anne Benedetti
4
Band 4

Anne Benedetti is a member of the firm's executive committee, who is active in representing clients in land use, re-zoning and development approvals. She also represents clients in expropriation compensation claims and regularly practices before the OLT.

She always provides us with pragmatic advice.

Anne is a pleasure to work with and very knowledgeable. She's a great strategy adviser as well.

She is a terrific lawyer who is our go-to for all matters because of her outstanding skills, experience and knowledge.

Ian Andres
4
Ian Andres
4
Band 4

Ian Andres is head of the firm's municipal and land development group, and his municipal expertise spans by-laws and planning applications, as well as advising on natural heritage issues. He also acts on behalf of clients before councils, committees and tribunals.

He is legally wise and practically smart.

His level of service and knowledge is exceptional.

Fred M Rubinoff
5
Fred M Rubinoff
5
Band 5

Fred Rubinoff has a broad transactional practice operating out of Goodmans' Toronto office. His experience particularly covers joint venture transactions and redevelopment projects.

Fred is very responsive and smart.

Ira Berg
5
Ira Berg
5
Band 5

Ira Berg is well placed to advise on commercial real estate and infrastructure development matters.

Ira is business-minded and solution-focused.

Max Laskin
U
Max Laskin
U
Up and Coming

Max Laskin is a valued adviser on land development applications and municipal approvals. He is a member of the firm's municipal and land development group.

Max is incredibly strong in all areas.

Ranked Lawyers at
Goodmans LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Ontario

Real Estate

Andrew Wiseman
2
Andrew Wiseman
2
Band 2
Bram Green
2
Bram Green
2
Band 2
Fred M Rubinoff
5
Fred M Rubinoff
5
Band 5
Ira Berg
5
Ira Berg
5
Band 5
Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use

Roslyn Houser
S
Roslyn Houser
S
Senior Statespeople
David Bronskill
1
David Bronskill
1
Band 1
Robert Howe
3
Robert Howe
3
Band 3
Anne Benedetti
4
Anne Benedetti
4
Band 4
Ian Andres
4
Ian Andres
4
Band 4
Max Laskin
U
Max Laskin
U
Up and Coming