Marc Lean has focused his practice in commercial and multi-unit residential real estate for more than 25 years. As a sole practitioner early in his career he represented small family and mid-market businesses, many of whom continue today as valued clients. As those businesses have grown, his practice has grown along with them. Marc's clientele has now expanded to include large national and international companies and financial institutions, and his experience has broadened to include development, leasing, municipal and administrative law.
Education & Credentials
Education
Victoria College at the University of Toronto
Bachelor of Arts, 1982Queen’s University
Bachelor of Laws, 1985Called to the Bar of Ontario
1987Acknowledgements
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Best Lawyers in Canada®
- Real Estate Law, 2025
Prominent Assignments
- Development
Mr. Lean represents large condominium developers and national REITs. A considerable portion of his development work revolves around his particular experience in urban development - redeploying aged buildings, in particular, aged multi-residential rental buildings, into modernized co-ownerships and condominiums. Marc is one of Ontario's foremost legal authorities on co-ownership conversions, having developed and instituted much of what is now the official process.
Mr. Lean has one of the largest condominium conversion practices in the Province. Current projects include the conversion of over 500 units in the City of Hamilton for national REITs in Toronto and Victoria; the conversion of 220 units in the City of Mississauga for a private developer and a private equity REIT; the conversion of 32 townhouses in the City of Oshawa for a private developer; and the conversion of over 300 units in the City of Kitchener for a Toronto-based REIT - the largest conversion in a single project ever developed in that city. Municipal law experience includes land severances and multi-party cost sharing agreements, and Marc is currently acting on various multi-residential sale and purchase transactions with values exceeding $15,000,000.
- Banking and Financing
Mr. Lean has worked with all major, national banks in Canada. Marc represents international banks from Asia and is on the priority list for the largest bank in India. His banking law experience includes lending, financing, mortgage and security enforcement for receivers, banks and private investors. More recently, Marc has acted on enforcement of security related to hotels, student residence portfolios, landfills and commercial office and retail properties.
Professional Involvement
Community Involvement
Charitable Organizations:
- Ontario March of Dimes - fund-raiser for over a decade
- Community Association of Riding for the Disabled
- United Way of Ontario
- Ride for Heart and Stroke
- Coaching for minor league soccer, baseball and hockey
Publications/Presentations
- The Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario
- LAW - Lawyers Associated Worldwide - Philadelphia Annual North American Meeting
- LAW - Lawyers Associated Worldwide - Washington - General Assembly
- City of Hamilton - Housing Policy and Development
- In-house lectures - India's largest bank
- In-house speaking engagements for numerous Real Estate Brokerages