Best Lawyers in Canada for Real Estate Law

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...

Lisa Mackie is the leader of Alexander Holburn's Strata Property Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Insurance and Real Estate Practices. Her primary areas of practice are Strata Property Law and Residential Tenancy Law. At Alexander Holburn, Lisa was the 2019/ 2020 chair of the Women’s Forum , a group dedicated to promoting business development and networking opportunities among our female lawyers, paralegals and female clients. Prior to joining Alexander Holburn, Lisa work...

Wayne Kerrick is a partner in the firm’s Ottawa office, practising in the areas real estate, secured lending and construction law. Wayne has completed numerous purchase, sale and financing transactions of all manner and size and has developed a substantial expertise in the area of construction financing and the review and interpretation of construction contracts. Wayne was the managing partner of the Ottawa office from 2008 until 2011.

Stephen J. Nicholson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Stephen J., who practices law in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sonny Mirth has practiced law in Alberta for over 50 years. His practice focuses on property and contract law including property development, financing, sales, purchases, leasing, preparation and analysis of mortgages, debentures and other security documents, condominiums, mortgages and other security remedies and actions, builders’ liens, and landlord and tenant matters. He has appeared in all levels of the courts of Alberta and in the Supreme Court of Canada and has served on arbitrat...

Ed practices in the areas of real estate and municipal law, with a focus on real estate development. He advises clients on a wide range of projects, including industrial site development, heritage designation and density bonusing arrangements, shopping centre rezonings and redevelopments, office and industrial parks, condominium projects, strata title hotels, and mine site development. His experience also includes the subdivision and sale of pulp and saw mills, municipal downtown redevelopmen...

Maria Holder is an experienced real estate partner who advises clients on a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, with a focus on complex acquisitions and dispositions, joint-ventures and financings. With 15 plus years of practicing in this space, she is focused on the business objectives of clients and is sought out for her experience and her practical advice. Maria acts on behalf of several of the largest real estate investors and developers in Canada, which includes pension f...

Karsten Lee practises in the area of commercial leasing law. He is co-chair of the firm's Commercial Leasing Practice Group. Karsten advises and assists national, individual and entrepreneurial clients with respect to all leasing-related matters. He has extensive experience with drafting and negotiating commercial leases and all ancillary documentation, as well as providing advice on a broad range of leasing-related issues relating to redevelopments, real estate acquisitions and dispositions,...

Zev practices in the area of real estate and corporate commercial law and is also a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee. Zev acts for owners, developers, lenders, landlords, property and asset managers and tenants of all types of multi-residential, office, retirement home and retail properties in regards to negotiating acquisitions and sales, sophisticated commercial leases and related agreements as well as the structuring of such transactions. He also acts on behalf of Tier 1 l...

Nick Dimitropoulos is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Nick, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nick is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A partner in our Commercial Real Estate Group, Ken specializes in commercial leasing and the sale, acquisition and financing of commercial property. He acts for leading developers, retailers, landlords, and tenants in retail, office and industrial properties, including leasing of build-to-suit office and industrial properties, shopping centre leasing and acting on sale and lease-back transactions. Ken also has expertise negotiating construction contracts, having negotiated the construction co...

Kamil Umar is a commercial real estate lawyer based in Calgary. He takes a business-minded and market-driven approach to his practice, ensuring clients receive practical and thoughtful advice on matters including property purchase and sale, land development and land use planning, condominium and strata development, leasing of all asset classes, and financing and public infrastructure work. Kamil acts for diverse clients, including residential, commercial and industrial developers, privately a...

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...

Kevin J. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Real Estate Law. Kevin J., who practices law in Edmonton, Alberta, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ray Mikkola’s practice focuses on all matters relating to commercial real estate, acting for a broad range of lenders, borrowers, land developers, sub-dividers, builders, condominium developers, condominium corporations, municipalities, and other entities. A recognized authority in real estate, Ray has over 30 years of experience in acting on property sales and purchases, land development, condominium development and administration, expropriation, sales and purchases from and by court a...

Charmaine Panko K.C. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family Law, Family Law Mediation and Real Estate Law. Charmaine, who practices law in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charmaine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.