Municipal Law

Canada

Acting for property owners, developers and municipalities, as well as an array of private stakeholders that regularly interface with municipal bodies, Gowling WLG's Municipal Law Group applies a creative, practical approach to a range of challenges - from nuanced development and planning issues to complex civil litigation actions, and much more.

Private sector advice you can count on

Whether developing land, forging public-private partnerships or fine-tuning your land-use planning strategy, you need an experienced legal partner that can provide exceptional service and practical solutions to keep your municipal project on the right track.

Gowling WLG works closely with a range of private-sector clients - including developers, landowners, rate-payer groups, urban planners, appraisers, engineers and brokerage firms - on a host of municipal/planning law issues. Whatever your objective, we help you navigate the municipal/planning landscape and work to ensure your project has the best chance of success.

Helping Canada's municipalities grow

Gowling WLG is the trusted adviser to many of Canada's major municipalities, and we have multiple retainers that cover a suite of key strategic legal services. These include matters relating to codes of conduct, municipal liability, municipal planning, environmental assessments, expropriation, contaminated lands and reclamation, environmental regulatory approvals & orders, and public tenders.

Multidisciplinary expertise

Operating in both official languages, our Municipal Law Group works within one of Canada's largest and most respected full-service law firms. Members of our team represent a diverse range of practice areas - including environmental law, expropriations law, Indigenous law, civil and commercial litigation, infrastructure, real estate and government relations.

Personal service, efficient results

Gowling WLG is guided by the belief that the best way to serve our clients is to be in tune with their world, aligned with their opportunity and ambitious for their success. That's why our team is always focused on your evolving needs and demands, helping you anticipate opportunities and obstacles well in advance.

We're collaborative, flexible, responsive and available - whenever and wherever you need us. We're also committed to conducting business in the most efficient, effective way possible, ensuring that you get the maximum value out of your legal spend.

Areas of expertise

  • Appellate and real property related litigation
  • Civil claims involving municipalities
  • Conservation authorities
  • Construction law
  • Contaminated lands
  • Development
  • Development charges
  • Environmental reviews & assessments
  • Environmental planning
  • Expropriation
  • Government relations
  • Heritage
  • Indigenous law
  • Infrastructure
  • Judicial reviews
  • Lobbying
  • Local Planning Appeal Tribunal appeals
  • Municipal conflict of interest
  • Municipal finance
  • Municipal law
  • Municipal privacy matters
  • Municipal project management
  • P3 contracts
  • Planning and zoning
  • Property tax assessment and appeals
  • Regulatory matters
  • Real estate & urban development
  • Rural property