Neil M. Smiley

Neil M. Smiley specializes in complex real estate transactions, planning and development. Having a unique dual expertise as an experienced 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 support for all types of real estate transactions including negotiation of joint ventures, co-ownerships, partnership agreements, easements and governmental development agreements. His expertise also extends to municipal planning and development law, where he assists clients with the maximizing the value of real estate by securing development approvals, including severances, variances, subdivisions, condominiums, official plan amendments, zoning amendments and site plan approvals and where required on appeal, in litigating such cases before the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly LPAT and the OMB) or other local appeal body.

Further to his real estate development practice, Neil also has experience in land assemblies, hospital/institutional and energy projects. He has been involved in property regulation, site selection and approval/appeal process in respect of such projects for over 30 years.

Prior to his legal career, Neil worked as an urban planner with a former Toronto municipality and maintains close connections to that discipline. As a result of this, Neil is able to draw on his planning experiences and contacts to provide value-added advice in connection with his broader legal practice.