Municipal Land
Planning
We deliver strategic, tailored legal solutions across the full spectrum of land use, planning, and development. We understand the complex interplay between local regulations, public interest, and private development goals. Whether you are a property owner, developer, municipality, consultant, Indigenous group, or institution, our team works alongside you to help turn land use plans into legally sound, approved, and implementable projects.
We assist clients at every stage, from initial feasibility reviews and regulatory approvals to the negotiation of development agreements, appeals, and project execution. With deep experience in Ontario municipal law, we are well-equipped to guide you through the legal challenges that can arise during any planning process.
Land Use and Zoning
- Zoning Due Diligence and Compliance
- Rezoning and Minor Variance Applications
- Site Plan Control Approvals
- Subdivision Planning and Approvals
- Conditional and Special Use Permits
Development Agreements
- Negotiation and Drafting of Development Agreements
- Amendments to Existing Agreements
Advocacy
When planning decisions don’t go your way, we can step in to represent your interests before municipal councils, the Ontario Land Tribunal and the courts.
- Zoning and Bylaw Disputes
- Ontario Land Tribunal Advocacy
- Council and Committee Representation
We advocate for clients before municipal councils, committees of adjustment and other local decision-making bodies to support or oppose planning applications and policy changes.
Contact Us
If your project involves municipal planning, zoning, or land development, we can help. Our team is ready to provide the legal clarity and support you need to make informed decisions and reach your goals.
Fertility Law
Fertility law governs the legal relationships that arise when families are created through assisted reproduction, including sperm and egg donation and surrogacy. In Ontario, these arrangements are permitted but strictly regulated, making it important to have clear, legally compliant agreements in place before conception.
Our fertility law practice focuses on preparing and advising on donor agreements, surrogacy agreements, and parentage issues, helping intended parents, donors, and surrogates understand their legal rights and obligations.
Donor Agreements
While it is illegal in Canada to purchase sperm, eggs, or embryos, donation is permitted under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act. A donor agreement is a pre‑conception contract that sets out the terms of a donation arrangement and clarifies parentage intentions.
These agreements typically address the use of donated genetic material, whether the donor will have any role in the child’s life, confidentiality, information sharing, financial matters such as permitted reimbursements, and potential legal liabilities. A properly drafted donor agreement can help ensure that a donor is not considered a legal parent.
Surrogacy Agreements
Surrogacy arrangements are legal in Canada, provided they comply with federal and provincial law. Although payment for acting as a surrogate is prohibited, certain out‑of‑pocket expenses may be reimbursed.
A valid surrogacy agreement must be in writing, made before conception, and entered into with independent legal advice for all parties. These agreements outline the parties’ intentions regarding parentage, custody, post‑birth contact, medical decision‑making during the pregnancy, confidentiality, and financial matters permitted by law.
Parentage and Birth Registration
Ontario law allows parentage to be determined through valid pre‑conception donor and surrogacy agreements. Intended parents may be recognized as legal parents regardless of biological connection or marital status, and donors are not considered parents where a valid donor agreement is in place.
In most cases, adoption or a court declaration of parentage is not required when a valid surrogacy agreement exists, though some families choose to pursue additional steps for personal or international reasons.
We assist intended parents, donors, and surrogates with clear, legally compliant agreements that reflect their intentions and comply with Ontario and Canadian law. From drafting donor and surrogacy agreements to advising on parentage and birth registration, we provide practical guidance at each stage of the assisted reproduction process to help lay a strong legal foundation for growing families.