Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP continues to be a leader in the real estate space, drawing on its deep bench of national offices in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa and abroad in London and New York, to advise a broad client base of domestic and international institutional and private entities, developers, banks, pension funds, fund managers, insurance companies, REITs, retail and commercial property owners and occupiers, hotel owners and government agencies, on a diverse spectrum of real estate matters. The practice, which displays particular strength in the retail and financial services spaces, is led in Toronto by Thomas von Hahn, an expert in the acquisition and disposition of real property and mortgage portfolios, and John Hutmacher, who utilizes extensive experience advising clients on acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, sales and leaseback transactions. Other key figures include Silvana D’Alimonte, who specializes in complex financings involving investors, fund managers and asset managers; Daniel Kofman, who brings expertise acting as real estate lead on multi-billion-dollar acquisitions in the financial services sector; and Garth Anderson in Calgary, who brings over 25 years in the real estate arena assisting life insurance companies, REITs and utility companies. Key support is provided by senior associate Jean-Simon Lamarre in Montreal. Unless noted, all lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

The real estate team at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP remains a force in the marketplace, harnessing the bench strength of offices in Toronto, Montreal and New York, to advise institutional investors, managers, pension funds, developers and REITs (including Ivanhoé Cambridge and The Blackstone Group), on a diverse spectrum of matters, ranging from acquisitions, dispositions and long-term ground leasing to financing, construction and development. The team is jointly led by Gregory Southam, who brings expertise in private-public partnership (PPP) and infrastructure projects; Steven Martin, who brings strength in the sale and purchase, leasing and development of major commercial and residential projects; Gabriella Lombardi, who brings extensive experience acting for pension funds and public companies; and Anthony Arquin, who specializes in mixed-use complexes and commercial co-ownerships in Montreal. Other figures of note include David Reiner, who manages complex joint ventures and acquisitions and dispositions involving stabilized properties and development projects; Gregory Howard, who draws on 35 years in the practice space; and Sylvie Samson in Montreal, who excels in negotiations and the drafting of commercial agreements. Key support is provided by associate Katrina Brazzell. Robert Bauer retired in January 2024. Unless noted, all lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

The powerhouse practice at McCarthy Tétrault remains a market leader, leveraging a nationwide presence and offices abroad in London and New York and the experience of its team to advise private and publicly traded investors, major lenders, pension funds, REITs, developers and governmental bodies, on a comprehensive range of real estate matters. With a client base that features such key market clients as the City of Calgary and the Bank of Nova Scotia, the group’s full service covers project development and finance, acquisitions and dispositions, access agreements and leasing, in addition to public-private joint ventures, securitization and property management. The practice is headed by real estate industry authority John Currie, who brings extensive experience in large and mid-scale secured financings, construction contracts and asset management and development agreements. Danny Grandilli, who brings expertise to real estate private equity fund formation and the structuring of real estate joint ventures. Other key figures include Jamie Orzech, who employs experience in acting for clients in ground lease and sale leaseback transactions; acquisition specialist Annie Gagnon-Larocque in Montreal; and Sarit Pandya, who advises clients on syndicated bank facilities, construction financings and mortgage lending. All lawyers, unless noted, work in the Toronto office. Keith Burrell KC retired in December 2023.

Stikeman Elliott LLP continues be a key leader in the real estate space, drawing on the bench strength of offices in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, as well as in New York and London, to assist major pension funds, REITs, institutional real estate clients, developers, asset managers, property managers and lenders, on a diverse spectrum of matters. They range from financing and regulatory compliance, construction and procurement, land use planning and development approvals to tax restructuring and environment issues. The firm’s client roster spans such sectors as renewables, infrastructure and retail. The practice is headed by Mario Paura in Toronto, who brings over 25 years of experience to the purchase, sale, financing and development of retail, industrial and office properties; project finance specialist Howard Rosenoff in Montreal; Greg Plater in Vancouver, who brings expertise to pre-purchase transactions, acquisitions, financings, dispositions and various development projects; and Michael Dyck in Calgary, who specializes in advising landlords and tenants on office, industrial and retail leases. Another key figure is Eric Carmona, who handles joint venture structuring and portfolio acquisitions in Toronto. Miguel Manzano joined the Montreal office in May 2024. Melissa Schyven departed the firm in September 2024. Stella Di Cresce and Eric Choi joined the firm from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP in September 2024.

Bennett Jones LLP channels the deep bench strength of offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and New York to advise a broad client roster of developers, investors, portfolio managers, landlords, tenants, retailers, financial institutions and municipal districts, on a comprehensive range of matters across the practice space. They range from joint venture development and purchases, financings and leasings to asset transactions and M&A. In addition, the team brings expertise to the real estate and construction aspects of energy and infrastructure projects. The practice is jointly headed by Jane Helmstadter in Toronto, a specialist in transactions involving office, retail and industrial property, multi-family residential developments and renewable energy projects; Alixe Cameron in Calgary, an expert in the development of bareland and conventional condominium projects; and Mark Lewis in Vancouver, who manages senior housing transactions, rail and aviation transportation-related transactions, as well as work in such areas as forestry, pulp, energy and mining. In Toronto, Simon Crawford draws on extensive experience to advise on private equity matters, fund formation, income trusts, joint ventures and the purchase and sale of real estate assets and real estate companies; and John van Gent acts for both landlords and tenants on commercial leasing, sub-leasing and land leasing arrangements. Other key figures include Paul Mantini (also in Toronto), who specializes in lending and project finance matters, and Larry Sandrin in Vancouver, who brings over 40 years in the practice area to manage complex, government-funded infrastructure projects. Richard Burgos joined the Montreal office in August 2023.

Based in Toronto, Goodmans LLP provides expertise in real estate, capital markets, REITs, municipal and tax law to advise developers, owners, managers, financial institutions, pension funds and governments, on a diverse spectrum of matters across the practice area, ranging from acquisitions and sales to joint ventures and the financing of properties at the domestic and international levels. The team is jointly led by Ira Barkin, who brings experience to financing, development, restructuring and securitization transactions, with a particular focus on the energy sector; and Tyler D’Angelo, who brings strength to assisting buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, lenders and borrowers across the nation. Other key figures include Bram Green, an expert in public-private infrastructure projects; Fred Rubinoff, who handles complex matters involving financial institutions and institutional and private investors; Andrew Wiseman, who manages construction contracts financings, student housing, senior housing and sale leaseback transactions; and Jeffrey Shore, who advises on acquisition facilities, operating facilities and mezzanine financings. Juli Morrow departed the firm in April 2024.

The real estate group at Torys harnesses the combined experience of teams in Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Calgary and New York, to advise owners, investors, developers, government bodies and lenders (including such clients as Metrolinx and Toronto Metropolitan University) on projects involving large-scale multi-use developments, joint venture ownership, energy and infrastructure projects and phased development arrangements, throughout their entire lifecycles, from initial acquisition through development, management and disposition. The practice is headed by Sabrina Gherbaz and Graham Rawlinson, who both bring expertise to acquisitions, joint ventures and project finance. Other figures of note include Andy Gibbons, a specialist in the energy and infrastructure areas; Simon Knowling, who heads real estate investment trust (REIT) group; real estate private equity expert Charlene Schafer; and Rose Bailey, who brings extensive experience in commercial real estate, renewable energy assets and securitizations. All lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP employs the full bench strength of over 800 lawyers in 5 national locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, to advise pension funds, life insurance companies, utility companies, institutional investors, family offices, public sector clients, developers, commercial landlords, tenants and REITs, on wide range of matters across the practice area. Aaron Bowler heads the team in Calgary and brings experience to high-value acquisitions and dispositions, financings, developments and restructurings, across such asset classes as office towers, hotels, shopping centres, railways and resorts. Other figures of note include senior partner Sylvie Bouvette in Montreal, who represents sellers and purchasers in joint ventures; Frank Arnone in Toronto, a specialist in complex investment structures; and David Longcroft in Vancouver, an experienced specialist in high-value, mixed-use projects. Associate Peyman Ghaemi provides key support in Toronto.

Leveraging the bench strength of its global network, Dentons provides a comprehensive service to real estate companies and developers, entrepreneurs, owners and tenants of commercial retail, office and industrial buildings, shopping centres and hotels, in addition to purchasers, sellers and investors (financial institutions, pension funds, REITs), on a wide range of real estate matters. The practice is headed by Clark Kassian in Calgary, a specialist in acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, land development and commercial leasing; and Katarzyna Sliwa in Toronto, an experienced negotiator in approval processes for development and redevelopment projects. Other key figures include Philip M. Rimer in Ottawa, who brings expertise to real estate and infrastructure transactions with Indigenous stakeholders; Scott H. Wilson in Vancouver, who handles complex acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations and energy and infrastructure projects; Marie-Andrée Thibault, who leads the firm’s team in Montreal; and Jillian Shortt, who operates out of the Toronto and Calgary offices and who assists with the creation of single and two-tier joint venture structures and limited partnerships. Roberto Aburto joined the Ottawa office from Gowling WLG in January 2024.

Fasken channels the bench strength of 7 national offices and the experience of its real estate team to advise pension funds, REITs, financial institutions, public organizations, public hospitals and developers involved in a broad span of matters across the practice space. The team is jointly headed by Andrea Centa in Toronto, who brings expertise to acquisitions, dispositions and real estate finance and the development of large-scale projects through joint ventures and co-ownerships; Carmine Boskovich in Vancouver, who assists with major infrastructure projects, and who specializes in matters across the energy, mining and transport sectors; Mariella Lo Papa in Montreal, who draws on extensive experience assisting property managers, brokers, landlords and tenants with commercial leasing; and Paul Logan in Calgary, who assists clients with mortgage financings and purchase and sale transactions of office, industrial and retail properties. Other key figures include senior partner Richard Clare and project development specialist Nicolas Leblanc in Montreal; Sarah Batut in Vancouver, who handles matters involving master-planned communities; and Allyson Roy, who manages complex transactions in Toronto.

Gowling WLG channels the global bench strength of its 7 national locations to advise multinational development companies, financial institutions, national retailers, Canadian and international pension funds, First Nations, Crown corporations, REITs, private utilities and health care institutions, on a diverse spectrum of matters across the practice area. They range from real estate acquisitions and dispositions, master planned community developments (an area in which the firm shows particular expertise), joint ventures and construction to land-use planning and large-scale industrial, airport and shopping centre redevelopments and the leasing of commercial, retail, industrial and hotel properties. The practice is led by Mark Giavedoni in Hamilton, Ontario, who brings extensive experience to condominium structures and developments, commercial leases and purchase and sale transactions. In Vancouver, Murray Braaten provides expertise to developers and lending institutions in major commercial, real estate and resort investment and development matters, along with Paulina Kam, who, additionally, advises on site acquisition, land assemblies rezoning and subdivision and servicing requirements.

The real estate team at Norton Rose Fulbright draws on global reach (over 50 locations worldwide and offices in Calgary, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City) to advise developers, major lenders, landlords, tenants and government agencies involved in project development, finance, acquisitions, dispositions, commercial leasing, in addition to construction and infrastructure matters, ranging from contracts to litigation. The firm’s full client roster spans such industries as financial services, education, sports, retail, chemicals, telecoms, aviation and insurance. Michael Bolitho in Calgary leads the practice, bringing expertise to the buying and selling of office properties, and to advising on infrastructure projects. Other key figures include senior partner Annette Lambert (also Calgary); experienced real estate negotiator Tina Peters (in Vancouver), who joined the practice from McCarthy Tétrault in November 2023; Jean-Nicolas Prévost in Quebec City, who specializes in the management of partnership structures for investors; Kamil Umar in Calgary, who joined in May 2023; and senior associate Nadia Guizani in Montreal. Former practice co-head Miguel Manzano departed in May 2024.

The experienced real estate team at Toronto-based Aird & Berlis LLP brings strength to advising public and private companies, government bodies, REITs, builders, domestic and multinational lenders, landlords and tenants involved in the purchase, sale and development of real property and leasing transactions. The practice also assists clients with the development, construction and management of office buildings, hotels, condominiums, residential rental projects, retirement homes and shopping centres. The team is headed by Monty Warsh, an expert in assisting landlords, tenants, lenders and property managers in the drafting, negotiating and concluding of lease documentation. Other key figures include Nili Goldman, a specialist in transactional and real estate financing; Kyle Genga, who draws on 25 years of experience in the structuring of REITs; Daniel Mahler, who advises on matters involving joint ventures, partnerships and pension funds; and Ethan Eisen, who provides expertise in real estate acquisitions and dispositions.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP leverages the bench strength of locations in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary to advise financial institutions, real estate investment trusts, national retailers, commercial real estate investors, owners, developers, municipalities and educational and public institutions (including the Canada Life Assurance Company and the University of Toronto) on a diverse spectrum of matters. They range from real estate financing and joint ventures to commercial acquisitions and dispositions, land development and leasing. The team is headed by Jonathan Freeman, a specialist in the financing of senior housing projects, office buildings, hotels, shopping centres and multi-family residential apartment complexes. Other key figures include leasing expert Armen Khajetoorian and Ardy Mohajer, who brings strength to real estate financing transactions. All lawyers identified work in Toronto.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP leverages the bench strength of its global network and national offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver to advise developers, builders, land and building owners and lenders, across the retail, transport, municipal, health and infrastructure sectors, on a wide range of matters, including acquisitions and sales, financings, joint ventures and limited partnerships, public-private partnerships (PPP) and commercial leasing. The team is led by Mark Schmidt in Vancouver, an expert in residential and commercial developments, and Daniel Shapira in Toronto, a specialist in real estate capital markets, who joined in August 2023 from Wildeboer Dellelce LLP.

The Vancouver-based real estate practice at Lawson Lundell LLP advises institutional and private investors, contractors, developers and government agencies, across such sectors, on a diverse spectrum of matters, ranging from acquisitions and divestments, development, financing and leasing to litigation, Indigenous law, tax and environmental issues. The team is headed by Peter Tolensky, who draws on over 20 years of experience to assist utility, mining and pipeline companies, pension funds and a wide range of private entities. Tolensky also brings expertise to the negotiation of retail, office and industrial leases for landlords and tenants. Other key figures include veteran sector authority Jack Yong and commercial and residential development specialist Scott Anderson.