Land use disputes, permit delays, expropriation claims, contaminated sites—these issues are often treated as procedural. But behind every regulatory challenge is a strategic opportunity: a chance to question assumptions, reframe the narrative, or carve out a smarter path through familiar rules.
At Gowling WLG, we help municipalities, developers, planners, institutions, and public bodies across Canada resolve complex land use and regulatory issues with confidence and creativity. As a trusted legal and business advisor, our goal is simple: remove barriers, create leverage, and deliver results—whether that means finding common ground or standing your ground.
Our favourite files are the ones where other lawyers have said, ‘It can’t be done.’ That’s when we get to work. We take pride in finding innovative solutions that help our clients achieve their goals—especially when the path forward isn’t obvious.
— Michael Polowin, Partner and Leader, National Municipal Law Group
In this area of law, routine can pass for logic and process can overshadow purpose. We approach each matter with a fresh outlook, combining technical insight with legal ingenuity to uncover better ways forward. Here’s what sets us apart:
Creative by design, strategic by instinct: Our best work often starts with a foundational question: Can a municipality even do that? Rather than accepting assumptions or default interpretations, we examine the legal foundation of each issue and identify where it can be tested or reimagined. This isn’t creativity for its own sake; it’s a disciplined approach that gives you more options when conventional tactics fall short.
Depth that shapes outcomes: Clients count on us for clarity, experience, and informed perspective. Our team includes lawyers who have worked at the centre of Canadian municipal law for years—shaping policy, resolving precedent-setting disputes, and building trusted relationships with regulators, local officials, and private stakeholders. That deep history brings context, efficiency, and credibility to every file.
Personal service, tailored to your world: Every project is different—and so is every client. Whether advising a developer, municipality, planner, engineer, appraiser, or brokerage, we take the time to understand how your operations work and what success looks like from your perspective. Our service is personal, pragmatic, and designed to align with your goals.
Full-service support, coast to coast: From remote rural lands to urban intensification zones, we work with public and private sector clients across Canada in both official languages. As part of one of the country’s largest full-service firms, we draw on national strength across environmental law, Indigenous law, tax, litigation, construction law, and other practice areas to connect the dots across your legal needs and deliver clear, coordinated results.
We support clients at every point where land, law, and local authority intersect. Our services cover the full scope of municipal and planning law, from securing approvals to resolving complex disputes. Explore our services:
