Department profile
McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Real Estate

Canada Guide 2027 : Ontario


McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by McCarthy Tétrault LLP

As Canada's largest commercial real estate practice, we close more deals than any other firm.

We love a challenge and we excel at advising you on all of your real estate matters, whether acquiring an entire portfolio of properties, selling a single property, forming a real estate investment fund, supporting the development of a large project, negotiating a complex lease agreement, or refinancing a loan.

Our Real Property & Planning Group helps you jump on opportunities and conquer obstacles as they arise. Our lawyers’ breadth of knowledge of the Canadian commercial real estate market is unsurpassed, enabling us to advise you on the complete spectrum of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, financing, development and municipal properties across Canada. Among our roster of clients are pension funds, public and private companies, REITs, private equity firms, governments, financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds.

Our clients value our exceptional team strength, experience, proactive and practical approach, creativity, negotiating skills and responsiveness. With the rapidly changing landscape of the real estate market in Canada and abroad, our Real Estate practice is equipped to continue to be a leading and relied upon advisor. 

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Real Estate - Ontario

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

McCarthy Tétrault is universally recognised as a real estate powerhouse in Toronto, offering the full suite of services to financial institutions, pension funds, REITs and large infrastructure developers. The team is admired for its expertise in substantial transactions and joint venture formation work. It is also well regarded for its experience in construction and bond financing agreements. In addition, the firm assists clients with development projects, representing them in obtaining re-zoning and site plan approvals, including appearing before the OLT.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • McCarthy Tétrault LLP advised Costco Wholesale Canada on land purchases, site development and a long-term lease for a new Costco Business Centre.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • McCarthy Tétrault has an excellent track record in finding solutions and solving problems. The mindset of the real estate team is definitely one of problem-solving, making them one of the most business- and commercially aware real estate firms in Canada.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • The team is well-resourced, with strong and capable lawyers who are responsive and proactively flag potential issues so we can address them early.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • McCarthy Tétrault has the ability to suggest practical solutions that take into consideration the business and commercial side of the file, not only the legal one.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • The real estate department has deep sector experience and brings in partners from other areas to help support transactions.

    Real Estate respondentCanada
  • The firm is a leader in zoning and land use. I respect their expertise, their advice and their up-to-date knowledge of ever-changing situations.

    Real Estate respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Cynthia Macdougall
    Band 1Cynthia Macdougall

    Cynthia Macdougall

    Cynthia Macdougall heads the firm's municipal group in Toronto. She routinely represents clients before the relevant land use and planning tribunals and committees, in addition to advising public bodies on development projects.

    • Cynthia is the best. She has technical expertise matched with commercially oriented advice.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Cynthia is a top lawyer in the field.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • She is very sophisticated and attentive to client needs.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • She is a giant in this industry and knows all of the possible solutions to problems.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Cynthia knows everything you need to know about zoning.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 1Danny C Grandilli
    Band 1Danny C Grandilli

    Danny C Grandilli

    The market-leading Danny Grandilli is valued for his ability to assist clients with the acquisition and divestment of real estate portfolios and single assets.

  • Band 1John C Currie
    Band 1John C Currie

    John C Currie

    John Currie is sought after for his market-leading expertise in commercial real estate, and his skill set covers the entire development process, including financing.

    • His level of expertise and experience in large real estate financing are unique in this country.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 1Tzen-Yi Goh
    Band 1Tzen-Yi Goh

    Tzen-Yi Goh

    Tzen-Yi Goh is an esteemed lawyer who is often consulted on commercial real estate matters concerning project finance and secured lending deals.

    • He is highly respected and a pleasure to work with.
      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Tzen-Yi Goh is a trusted adviser and always a go-to person for legal questions.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Tzen-Yi demonstrates strong commercial awareness, particularly in aligning legal advice with business objectives.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 2Jamie Orzech
    Band 2Jamie Orzech

    Jamie Orzech

    Jamie Orzech is involved in high-profile commercial mandates, frequently advising on the sale of real estate assets.

    • He is extremely business-oriented, very responsive and creative in thinking of strategies.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Jamie is absolutely top drawer, and his personal and relationship skills are among the best.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 3Paul Galbraith
    Band 3Paul Galbraith

    Paul Galbraith

    Paul Galbraith has a strong reputation in the market for acting for syndicate lenders. Based in Toronto, his practice focuses on handling real estate financing mandates.
    • In an industry where precision and agility are critical, Paul sets a benchmark for what exceptional legal counsel should be.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 4Jeffrey Knowles
    Band 4Jeffrey Knowles

    Jeffrey Knowles

    Jeffrey Knowles has a wide-ranging commercial real estate practice, which sees him act for pension funds and other investors on joint venture agreements and real estate investments.

    • Jeff does great work; he has excellent legal abilities and a great commercial perspective.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • His support, business sense and legal expertise help us navigate several complex matters.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 5Dana Shen
    Band 5Dana Shen

    Dana Shen

    Dana Shen has a broad real estate practice that covers leasing, transactions and joint ventures.

    • Dana is highly efficient, extremely responsive and provides forward-thinking advice that anticipates issues rather than just responding to problems.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • She is incredibly technically literate and an exceptionally creative lawyer.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • She has a great level of depth and commercial awareness.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 5Isabel Henkelman
    Band 5Isabel Henkelman

    Isabel Henkelman

    Isabel Henkelman garners strong market support for her work on real estate transactions.

    • She is constantly thinking of legal risks and assessing options to ensure we are consistently making the right call.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Band 5Sarit Pandya
    Band 5Sarit Pandya

    Sarit Pandya

    Sarit Pandya receives particularly strong market support for his work on real estate financing matters.

    • He provides strong legal guidance and is very attentive.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • Sarit helps us navigate and resolve complex legal issues and is proactive in identifying potential challenges. His strengths include his responsiveness, thoroughness and ability to walk us through issues clearly while proposing practical solutions.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
  • Up and ComingMatthew Schuman
    Up and ComingMatthew Schuman

    Matthew Schuman

    Matthew Schuman is a partner in the firm's municipal law group and an excellent adviser on land use approvals and appeals.

    • Matt has been a great partner, providing guidance that has helped us successfully meet our company goals and objectives.

      Real Estate respondentCanada
    • He is acutely aware of the ever-changing regulatory requirements and provides proactive, strategic advice. Matt is an excellent problem solver.

      Real Estate respondentCanada

Ranked Individuals at McCarthy Tétrault LLP (11)

Ontario

Members

Provided by McCarthy Tétrault LLP

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