Best Lawyers in Canada for Municipal Law

Seasoned litigator Marc Beauchemin is a key player on Montréal’s municipal and legal scene. As Chair of De Grandpré Chait's Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Marc Beauchemin plays a central role within the firm. His legal practice has two foci. In his first area of practice, municipal law, he represents the private interests of his clients, particularly major property owners, in the context of real estate developments throughout Québec. He and his speciali...

Mark practices municipal , land use planning and development law. His experience includes appearances before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the OMB) in matters concerning Growth Plan Conformity, Official Plan and Zoning Amendments, Site Plan Approval and Development Charges. He is also experienced in the negotiation and preparation of development agreements and condominium documents and drafting of municipal regulatory by-laws. Mark articled with Loopstra Nixon LLP and joined th...

Aaron is a partner at Loopstra Nixon LLP where he practices various aspects of real property law with a focus on land use planning and development issues. Through his early career as a transaction solicitor, Aaron has developed broad skills – particularly where planning and real estate law issues intersect. In 2009, Aaron was seconded to the City of Toronto’s Planning and Administrative Tribunal Law Department and worked closely with the City’s legal, planning, building, tec...

James Goulden is a senior member of our litigation group. His practice is focused on trial and arbitration work in commercial and administrative disputes. James is also a member of our special situations team that deals with public company disputes, such as proxy fights and takeover bids. Mr. Goulden has appeared before all levels of court in British Columbia, as well as the Federal Court and various administrative tribunals. He has acted as counsel in a broad range of commercial cases involv...

Jim is a senior litigator with a focus on municipal, real estate, and administrative law, and is widely recognized as a leading practitioner in property taxation, expropriation, and related matters. He advises government bodies, utilities, Crown corporations, private entities, and First Nations on a wide range of land and tax-related issues. His practice includes advising on the imposition and management of property taxes, property transfer taxes, mineral taxes, and similar levies affecting v...

PRACTICE OVERVIEW Frank Sperduti is a leading expropriation lawyer, and contributing author to the most comprehensive textbook on expropriation law. He has been engaged as counsel in the largest infrastructure projects within Ontario, by both landowners and all levels of government. Frank is a past president of the Ontario Expropriation Association and has written extensively about issues arising in the context of expropriation. He has acted as counsel and appeared before the Ontario Superior...

Real estate has been instrumental in making Vancouver the burgeoning world city it is today, and developers have been instrumental in building the very foundations of where we live, work, come together and enjoy life. Sarah is pleased to be a part of these contributions by representing clients in the commercial real estate sector. Sarah admires the dedication and pride our clients put into their work and our community. Sarah provides strategic legal advice based on which clients can make time...

Practices in the areas of health law, appellate litigation and commercial litigation with focuses on commercial arbitrations, business and contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, administrative and public law, tribunals and commissions, professional negligence discipline, employment disputes, and appeals Professional Achievements and Recognition Certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada Recognized and recommended by Lexpert as a leading lawyer in the...

Lauren’s practice is firmly rooted in the belief that strong legal representation extends far beyond a deep understanding of the law itself. Her people-centered approach puts her clients’ needs at the forefront of her work, finding solutions that fit the unique challenges of their individual circumstances. She assists both employers and employees to resolve disputes and manage issues related to employment. This includes wrongful and constructive dismissal claims, as well as other ...

Chantal deSereville is a Partner in the Municipal, Planning and Land Development Practice Group at WeirFoulds. She assists both private entities and public bodies in navigating municipal, land use planning, environmental, public, and administrative law issues. In addition to helping clients obtain and respond to development applications and appeals, Chantal provides legal opinions on planning policy matters and assists clients with a variety of court applications and provincial offences proce...

Katryna Vergis-Mayo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Katryna, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katryna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Audrey-Anne Béland specializes in the commercial litigation group and, more specifically, in municipal and administrative law. Audrey-Anne acts for both private sector companies and public organizations such as municipalities. In this capacity, she advises and assists clients in the development and urban planning, expropriation process and the environment. Audrey-Anne is also involved in municipal taxation mandates, particularly in appeals regarding the contestation of property assessm...

Gaëlle Obadia is a lawyer with the Environmental Law group in our Montreal office. Her experience is focused in environmental, municipal, and administrative law and on lobbying and access to information issues. She advises clients on a wide range of contentious and strategic issues, and represents them before various courts and tribunals in civil, environmental criminal law, and administrative matters as well as in their disputes and dealings with government agencies. Gaëlle has als...

Laurence Gaudreault is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Laurence, who practices law in Saguenay, Quebec, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laurence is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Yannick Pomerleau is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law and Municipal Law. Yannick, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Yannick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Philip joined Soloway Wright in 2015 and began practicing municipal and planning law immediately after his call to the Bar in 2017. As a member of our Municipal, Land Development & Expropriation Group , he regularly represents developers, businesses, homeowners and municipalities navigating land use regulations and a full range of development approvals. Phil enjoys collaborating with his clients’ land use planners, architects, engineers and other professionals to develop innovative ...