Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP excels in all facets of real estate, from colossal developments, leasing and cross-border investments through to REIT-related activities, financings and securitisations. The practice enjoys an in-depth knowledge of office, retail, hotel, industrial, development and leisure assets, among others, and is co-chaired from Toronto by Thomas Von Hahn, whose practice covers acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures, alongside John Hutmacher, a lawyer with a track record in significant retail, office and industrial developments; the pair are based alongside Silvana D’Alimonte, who leverages three decades worth of experience in market leading transactions, as well as Chris Huband, a key port of call for pension and mutual funds, life insurance companies and other institutional investors involved in high-value property deals. Daniel Kofman, another star name, runs a broad practice spread across leasing, development project, transactional and financing affairs.

A team with a formidable presence in the Ontario and Quebec markets, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP thrives in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development and financing, operating across a broad breadth of asset classes such as multi-residential towers, industrial and mixed-use schemes. Gregory Howard leads the Toronto offering, brining over 35 years’ worth of domestic and multinational transactions and developments to the table, meanwhile, Anthony Arquin leads from the Montreal office and is distinctly well-versed in mixed-use complexes and commercial co-ownerships. David Reiner is frequently involved in significant sales, purchase, joint ventures, financings and projects and the practice is also able to call upon the wisdom of market veteran Robert Bauer; his track record includes a number of transformative development projects, both in Canada and abroad, at a diverse range of sites including mixed-use, airports, tunnels, toll roads, hospitals and casinos.

Home to a notably broad offering, McCarthy Tétrault operates at the top-end of development, property dispute and management, transactional, financing and leasing affairs, acting at a varied array of asset classes including offices, shopping centres, hotels, apartment buildings, resorts and infrastructure projects. John Currie leads the national practice from Toronto, acting on everything from mid- and large-scale secured financings through to development agreements and joint ventures, and is supported by market veteran Abraham Costin, a widely renowned name among developers, pension funds and financial institutions; the pair are based alongside Jamie Orzech who is adept in the acquisition of all asset classes, in addition to ground and sale-back leasing transactions. Over in Vancouver, Keith Burrell KC holds extensive experience in the pre-sale of large residential and mixed-use projects.

Stikeman Elliott LLP leverages a presence across Canada, which includes a presence in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary, as well as overseas offices in New York, London and Sydney, to support on a broad spectrum of national and international real estate matters. The practice is particularly formidable within the hospitality and retail fields, frequently acting on assets such as hotels, resorts, shopping malls, restaurants and convenience stores, and also boasts a prominent record in significant national developments and land use matters. In Toronto, Eric Carmona  is frequently involved in apartment building, retirement home and office complex transactions, operating alongside project and acquisition finance specialist, Melissa Schyven, and Mario Paura  who is especially knowledgeable of industrial, multi-residential and entertainment sites. Paura and Schyven co-lead the practice alongside Vancouver-based leasing expert, Michael Dyck, as well as Greg Plater who is reputed for his project work, including PPP developments, and Stefan Fews, a Montreal lawyer who serves as a go-to for REITs and pension funds.

Bennett Jones LLP’s team is geared to handle matters of national and international significance, including cross-border mandates and sizeable portfolio deals, and is also well-versed in developments, transactions, leasing and financings, in addition to the real estate aspects of M&A. The group is co-led nationally by Jane Helmstadter , Ron Barron, Robert Bothwell and Larry Sandrin, a specialist in government approval processes for major development and infrastructure projects. Simon Crawford  is among the standout names within the Ontario market and is often active at retail, sports, entertainment and residential sites, as is Paul Mantini  who leverages a track record of having handled the development and financing components at some of Canada’s most iconic sites. John van Gent  provides the group with formidable financing and work-out transaction capabilities, including syndicated and secured lending, meanwhile, Calgary-based Alixe Cameron delivers distinct expertise in condominium, industrial and farm assets.

Goodmans LLP is a stellar outfit for acquisition, joint venture, sale and financing transactions, counting its commanding position within the REIT and hospitality markets among its key points of differentiation. The team is co-led from Toronto by Ira Barkin, an expert in senior housing, mixed-use and clean energy developments, acquisitions and financings, alongside Tyler D’Angelo who counts leasing, joint ventures, portfolio deals and the real estate aspects of corporate transactions among his core strengths. Counsel Juli Morrow is adept on a number of fronts, including development and management agreements, though is distinctly knowledge of financing and refinancing matters such as mortgage transactions and sale/leasebacks, whereas Fred Rubinoff is famed for his prowess in both residential and commercial development projects. Further standouts include Andrew Wiseman who provides build-to-suit, office, retail and ground leasing capabilities, as well as Bram Green who serves foreign investors, pension funds and development funds on the full array of commercial property matters

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP offers its knowledge to a broad spectrum of industry players, from pension funds, REITs, property owners and real estate companies through to retailers, energy companies, hospitality companies, healthcare providers and senior housing entities. The practice is chaired by Paul Morassutti, who supplements his commercial property know-how with expertise in contaminated land and environmental affairs, and is especially reputed for its handling of restructuring and insolvency transactions, joint ventures, development projects and financings. Savvas Kotsopoulos is a household name within the retail field, with a prominent record in joint ventures, whereas Stella Di Cresce is particularly active in overseeing sizeable portfolio deals while also delivering an in-depth knowledge of office, retail and industrial leasing.

Torys serves a roster of owners, developers, investors and lenders, supporting on sales, purchases, joint ventures, large-scale developments and major infrastructure projects. Sabrina Gherbaz is well-regarded for her work on transit-oriented and mixed-use schemes, in addition to her leasing and investment trust work; she serves as practice co-head alongside Graham Rawlinson, an expert in all facets of real estate with specialist knowledge of the retail, hospitality and office sectors. David Dell brings 30 years’ experience in overseeing shopping centre, mixed-use commercial and recreational development projects to the table, meanwhile Andy Gibbons is a star practitioner for real estate matters within the energy field. Named lawyers are based at the Toronto office.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP thrives on transactional, financing, development and leasing, include ground leases, subleases, sale-leasebacks and built-to-suit arrangements. The practice is led by David Longcroft, a specialist in relation to the sale, purchase, management and development of hotel assets with the wider team also exceedingly knowledgeable of retail, office, industrial and residential properties.

Dentons, one of the globe’s largest firms, is particularly reputed for its planning and development work, though also handles transactional, leasing and financing affairs. The practice, which caters to investors, developers, pension funds and REITs, among others, is headed nationally from Calgary by Clark Kassian, a specialist in asset management, joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions. Asset knowledge encompasses retail, office, condominiums, industrial, hotels, shopping centres and industrial sites.

Fielding practitioners in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, Fasken is active on an array of sale, purchase, joint venture, seal leaseback, leasing and financing mandates. The group is co-led by Andrea Centa, who works from Toronto and is adept in supporting both domestic and overseas investors, as well as Montreal-based Mariella Lo Papa who delivers formidable retail leasing capabilities; she is based alongside market veteran Richard Clare whose expertise encompasses portfolio transactions, financing, joint venture structures and major developments.

A global firm headquartered in Canada, Gowling WLG serves a roster of development companies, domestic and international pension funds, national retailers, REITs and financial institutions, among others; its team is adept in a plethora of matters from leasing, transactions and developments through to land-use, joint venture and co-ownership structures. Practice head Joel Camley is based in Vancouver, and is well-versed in mixed-use, office tower, airport and hotel assets. In Ottawa, Michael Polowin leverages a track record in providing support at all stages of significant development projects.

The team at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP is particularly accomplished within the Ontario market, routinely acting on an array of financing, commercial acquisition and disposition, land development, leasing and joint venture affairs. Jonathan Freeman leads the practice, calling upon his expertise in senior housing, office, shopping centre and multifamily residential assets. Clients of the group include educational and public institutions, Crown corporations, commercial investors, REITs and national retailers.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP possesses an in-depth knowledge of the retail, transport, forestry, health, port and infrastructure sectors, leveraging its extensive international footprint and cross-sector capabilities to provide a comprehensive real estate service. The group acts on sales, acquisition, development, joint venture, financing and commercial leasing affairs and is led from Vancouver by Mark Schmidt, a lawyer with expertise in both corporate/commercial and real estate law.

Operating from Vancouver, Lawson Lundell LLP’s real estate team is acclaimed for its transactional, leasing, development, redevelopment, real estate litigation, property tax, financing and ownership structuring capabilities. Practice head Peter Tolensky is a key port of call for office, retail and industrial leasing and is likewise relied upon by utility, mining, and pipeline companies.