Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use | Canada

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.

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.

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.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell is a respected Toronto-based law firm with an impressive aptitude for development approvals, re-zoning applications and other land use planning matters. The team offers extensive expertise assisting REITs, institutional investors and commercial lenders with transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing and commercial leasing mandates. It also regularly acts on joint venture developments and portfolio transactions. The team acts for clients in an array of sectors, including energy, education and hospitality.

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.

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.

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.

The Ontario arm of global firm Dentons is able to draw on the firm's vast international network to service clients requiring cross-border real estate expertise. The firm also acts on large local transactions, notably acquisitions, financings and commercial leasings, from its Ottawa and Toronto offices. The group is involved in a number of development projects, advising on partnership structures and lending.

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.