Ranking tables

Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use | Canada

Ontario

Zoning and land use specialists often form an identifiable category. They perform an important role in major developments, advising on zoning regulations and municipal restrictions used by some cities to control development within their borders. Easement and eminent domain (or condemnation) is also covered.

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

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Band 1
  1. Aird & Berlis LLP
    1
    Aird & Berlis LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    Aird & Berlis is a stalwart Toronto law firm with an eminent municipal and land use planning group, offering impressive expertise in planning, zoning and land development. The team has an enviable client roster consisting of municipalities, landowners and developers, and is frequently asked to negotiate development agreements, subdivisions and easements. It offers extensive experience of OLT hearings and appearances before other administrative boards, and is well placed to handle official plan appeals and by-law amendments. The firm is also well respected for its broad transactional real estate practice.
  2. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    1
    Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    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, M&A and leasings. The firm's notable clients also include funds, developers, portfolio managers and healthcare companies.
  3. Goodmans LLP
    1
    Goodmans LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 1 | 7 Years Ranked
    Goodmans has a widely revered Ontario real estate practice, acclaimed for the breadth of its experience and prestigious client base. The firm assists public and private companies with significant transactions, including leasing and construction mandates, as well as large portfolio acquisitions and complex financings. It is frequently mandated on major hotel deals and represents an impressive roster of pension funds, asset managers, REITs and other institutional players. The group is also very well respected for its land use and municipal law expertise, 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.
  4. Davies Howe Partners LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 1
2
Band 2
  1. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
    2
    Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked
    Cassels Brock & Blackwell is a respected Toronto-based law firm with an impressive aptitude for real estate financing, including mortgage lending matters. The team offers extensive expertise assisting REITs, institutional investors and commercial lenders with transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions and commercial leasing mandates. It also regularly acts on joint venture developments and portfolio transactions, and is further equipped to advise on development approvals, subdivisions and other land use planning matters. The team acts for clients in an array of sectors, including energy, education and hospitality.
  2. Stikeman Elliott LLP
    2
    Stikeman Elliott LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked
    Stikeman Elliott is recognised for its impressive strength in managing large real estate transactions, including purchases, sales and financings. Its lawyers frequently assist clients entering into co-ownership and joint venture agreements, as well as demonstrating strong expertise in complex commercial leasing and sale-leasebacks. The team's experience covers a wide range of product types, including commercial, retail and mixed-use properties. It is further equipped to handle issues surrounding land development, including zoning approvals and official plan amendments. The group demonstrates notable experience in OLT hearings. Its clients include public and private companies and REITs.
  3. WeirFoulds LLP
    2
    WeirFoulds LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 2 | 7 Years Ranked
    WeirFoulds has a skilled group with considerable experience acting for municipalities on significant expropriations and OLT appeals, in addition to its engagement on mid-market transactions in Ontario. The team acts for landowners and developers, providing advice and representation in connection with planning approvals and other development matters. It counsels clients on ownership structures and purchases and sales. The firm is highlighted for its visibility on leasing mandates.
  4. Kagan Shastri DeMelo Winer Park LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 2
3
Band 3
  1. Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
    3
    Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Gowling WLG has a well-regarded real estate group with a strong track record in commercial leasing, as well as advising on acquisitions, developments and financings. The group is well equipped to handle broader real estate mandates, such as fund formation and advice on defaulted loans. The firm represents a number of international brands with regard to office and industrial real estate matters in Canada. The group has further capabilities with clients at the Ontario Court of Appeal and the OLT.
  2. McCarthy Tétrault LLP
    3
    McCarthy Tétrault LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 3 | 4 Years Ranked
    McCarthy Tétrault is universally recognised as a real estate powerhouse in Toronto, offering the full suite of services to financial institutions, pension plans, REITs and large infrastructure developers. The team is admired for its expertise in leaseback transactions, substantial acquisitions and real estate fund formation work. It is also well regarded for its experience in construction and bond financing agreements, as well as large commercial developments. The group is frequently mandated on highly sophisticated transactions, assisting clients with portfolio acquisitions, infrastructure developments and co-ownerships. The firm additionally represents clients in obtaining rezoning and site plan approvals, including appearing before the OLT.
  3. Overland LLP
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 3
  4. Soloway Wright
    Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
    2024 | Band 3