Debbie Bellinger is a partner with Nelligan O’Brien Payne, and leader of the Real Estate and Development practice group and the Business Law Group.
Debbie started with the firm as a title searcher and law clerk following first year law school and has remained with the firm ever since. She now has over thirty years of experience in land development and the creation, construction and administration of integrated mixed-use developments. Her real estate experience allows her to take projects from land acquisition, contracting, financing, development and severance to the ultimate sale to end user and is very well served by her background in complex title issues, easements and shared property interests. Her background in these areas was very well served by over 25 years’ experience acting for hundreds of registered condominium corporations on matters of building deficiencies, reserve funds, status certificates, owner meetings, Tarion coverage, and all issues that arise in condominium and shared property environments.
Debbie provides solicitor support to our municipal law lawyers on the appeal of applications under the Planning Act as well as the appeal of warranty decisions issued by Tarion. She has appeared as an expert witness before the Ontario Superior Court on matters related to real estate and development matters.
Debbie has been involved in the preparation of all forms of construction documents for significant projects in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area and has provided support to commercial and construction litigators in the resolution and settlement of construction disputes. Through this experience, she has a strong understanding of the background behind the standard construction forms (CCDC, CAA and OAA), the circumstances that justify supplementary conditions, and the relationship between the various parties involved in each of the contractual models.
An understanding of planning, engineering and construction issues and the relationship between the members of a project team, allows Debbie to anticipate and articulate solutions to issues that threaten to disrupt the project budget or schedule, or otherwise pose risk in development. Debbie has recently been asked to serve on a committee with the City of Ottawa to explore new applications of condominium concepts to shared property ownership of private roads and services for multi-unit residential and mixed-use development projects, following her work with the City and Windmill Dream on the creation of one of the country’s largest and most complex mixed use developments on shared private services (Zibi/Chaudiere Island).
Debbie has also acted for various not for profit and business corporations and is a frequent speaker on matters of land development and construction law.
Debbie is currently recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers for her exceptional work in the real estate and development industry.