Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Municipal Law
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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...
Jeff Wilker focuses his practice on land use law and routinely develops novel approaches to resolve complex legal problems. The provision of top-shelf legal guidance to his clients is a hallmark of his practice. Jeff acts on cutting edge matters and prides himself on his ability to “think outside of the box.” Jeff’s practice involves all aspects of municipal and planning law, including land use litigation, expropriation, environmental and constitutional matters. He appears b...
Quinto practices municipal, land use planning and development law. He has over 30 years of experience as an advocate, appearing before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the OMB) in hundreds of cases. He has practiced his entire career as a lawyer at Loopstra Nixon . Quinto is an accomplished author and lecturer, frequently speaking at conferences throughout North America. He is the author of a Thompson Reuters publication entitled “Municipal Lands: Acquisition, Management and...
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...
Bruce Engell's practice focuses on land use and environmental issues, disputes and related litigation matters. His practice focuses on issues respecting the development, use and ownership of land, including municipal, planning, and environmental matters, title and lease disputes, industrial contamination, waste management facilities, road allowances and building permits. He has appeared as counsel in many significant court and Ontario Municipal Board matters.
Neil M. Smiley is a leading lawyer in complex real estate transactions, planning and development. Having a unique dual experience in commercial real estate lawyer as well as a planning and development lawyer, Neil advises clients regarding the acquisition, financing, leasing and disposition of real property, as well as in connection with the myriad of approvals and entitlements required of governmental authorities to maximize value and/or develop such real property. Neil provides corporate su...
Denise Baker is Chair of WeirFoulds LLP. Her practice focuses on municipal and land use planning issues and related litigation. She has acted on behalf of municipalities, private landowners and resident groups. She predominantly advises landowners and municipalities with respect to land use planning and development matters including municipal finance matters, Planning Act applications and appeals and Heritage Act matters. Denise appears regularly before municipal councils, Committees of Adjus...
Peter Gross is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law and Municipal Law. Peter, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rod Northey is a partner in the Toronto office of the firm and a member of the firm’s Environmental Law Group. He is in his 29th year of private practice and certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a specialist in environmental law. Rod's practice focuses on regulatory approvals, hearings and appeals across the full range of approval regimes involving the environment — including environmental assessment, land use, endangered species, cultural heritage, energy, resource ext...
Paul has been an expropriation lawyer for over 30 years. His practice has provided him with insights from all perspectives; in fact, he has even been expropriated personally - twice. Paul successfully acts as legal counsel for landowners, local municipalities, cities and regional governments throughout the Greater Toronto Area and across Ontario. He works to resolve real estate acquisitions/expropriations, infrastructure projects and development issues of all complexities. Paul’s appear...
Abbey Sinclair is a Partner in the Municipal, Development and Land Use Planning Practice Group at WeirFoulds. Her practice focuses on expropriation and municipal law. Abbey provides practical and strategic advice to municipalities and public authorities on various land, expropriation, and infrastructure related issues. She also represents landowners throughout Ontario in a wide range of expropriation and real property litigation matters. She regularly appears before the Ontario Superior Court...
Michael S. Polowin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. Michael S., who practices law in Ottawa, Ontario, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
A founding partner of the Firm, Chuck Loopstra has practised law in Toronto since 1969 and was appointed King's Counsel in 1985. Highly adept at navigating complex legal issues, Chuck has built an enviable reputation over the years as a public law expert and litigator. He regularly acts as counsel to private and public sector clients, including all levels of government. With many published papers to his credit, he frequently lectures at legal conferences. In addition to providing strategic di...
Stephen’s practice is centred on municipal, planning, environmental and expropriation law. He regularly appears before municipal councils, tribunals (such as the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) and the Environmental Review Tribunal) and Courts on behalf of municipalities, public agencies and institutions, land developers and ratepayers’ associations. His portfolio includes a wide range of matters including Federal and Provincial environmental assessments, approvals related t...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.