Municipal Law
Municipal Law
Municipal Law
The expertise you need
Unlike the private sector, you are accountable to the people, providing services for their benefit, and using their hard-earned dollars. Public confidence in your actions and ongoing consideration of doing what is right both in the short-term and long-term drives your decisions.
Our Clients
For more than 40 years, Lerners has had the privilege of acting for municipalities and public entities across Ontario.
Our firm is proud to serve a diverse range of public sector and community-focused clients. These include municipal services corporations and service boards, lower-, upper-, and single-tier municipalities, as well as various agencies, boards, committees, and commissions.
We provide legal support to essential services such as police, fire, and paramedic departments, and work closely with public health units and conservation authorities. Our client base also extends to not-for-profit organizations, utility companies, and public libraries — each playing a vital role in shaping resilient and well-governed communities.
Our Work
Clients entrust us with a wide range of matters, including:
Municipal law
Administrative and public law, including judicial reviews and applications
Integrity and ethical accountability
Good governance
By-law and regulatory compliance, enforcement, and prosecutions
Tax, finance, and property assessment appeals
Privacy, technology and cybersecurity
Corporate and commercial, including contracts and shared services
Procurement and project advice
Labour and employment, including workplace investigations
Real estate, encroachments, easements, and expropriation
Insurance, risk, tort, liability, constitutional, and coverage
Litigation and dispute resolution, including class actions, appeals, mediations and arbitrations
Environmental
Building Code
Land use planning and development, including Ontario Land Tribunal
Training and presentations to councils, boards, and committees
general counsel retainer
If your municipality does not have an in-house lawyer, or your legal or clerks departments need a team to help with timely overflow work, then leverage our full-service firm’s capability and capacity. As General Counsel, we can integrate with your senior leadership team, developing a deep understanding of your operations and institutional policies. That allows us to provide rapid advice, helping to mitigate risk and potential liabilities as they are identified. In addition, we have innovative fee structures that help manage your overall legal budget.
Representative Work
We offer a wide range of services in Canada and UK, including:
Accelerating procurement practices and negotiating a multi-million-dollar software agreement in 1/3 of the typical timeline.
Establishing the first municipal services corporation in Ontario to own water and wastewater assets.
Acting for a local municipality in connection with a proposed $25 million sewage plant.
Serving as breach coach for a major library system experiencing a ransomware attack.
Serving as counsel to a local municipality in the construction of new municipal offices and public library.
Successful representation at the Divisional Court on behalf of a municipality on a tax assessment review appeal.
Acting for a local municipality in connection with the approval and development of an ethanol plant.
Acting for an emergency management services local board for the construction and development of several ambulance stations.
Representing municipalities in response to judicial review applications and Charter challenges.
Defending municipalities against claims of all types, including those related to road authorities, building inspections, infrastructure, parks and recreational trails, occupiers’ liability, development, privacy/technology, and errors and omissions (E&O).
How Can We Help?
At Lerners, we do not just help leaders and municipalities — we partner with our clients to deliver clear, confident strategic action. Whether you are navigating a new, complex regulatory scheme announced by the province (e.g., Strong Mayor Powers), need a skilled litigator to take a principled stance, or a trusted legal advisor with strong political acuity, our experienced team is here to help.
Let’s move forward together. Contact us today.
Our Municipal Lawyers
Our Municipal Lawyers
Our Municipal Lawyers
Latest Insights
Latest Insights
Latest Insights
Reach Out
Everyone at Lerners is committed to ensuring your matters are addressed with the attention and care you expect.
Toll free
Reach Out
Everyone at Lerners is committed to ensuring your matters are addressed with the attention and care you expect.
Toll free
Reach Out
Everyone at Lerners is committed to ensuring your matters are addressed with the attention and care you expect.