Tara Piurko

With a robust 15-year trajectory in the realms of planning, development, real property assessment, and municipal law, Tara Piurko stands out as a preeminent figure. Her knack for pinpointing both challenges and prospects, alongside her acumen in navigating risks, problem-solving, and value creation, positions her at the forefront of her field. Tara helms the Planning, Development & Condominium Group at Miller Thomson with a keen strategic vision.

Her role involves delivering pivotal advice and backing to property stakeholders, encompassing both public entities and private developers. Tara shines in her ability to guide them through the intricacies of development approvals and land entitlement issues, as well as matters related to property assessment and taxation. Recognized for her negotiation prowess, she adeptly clinches development approvals, facilitating official plan amendments, zoning bylaw changes, and various development pacts.

Tara’s contributions significantly bolster the financial health of her clients, be they corporate bodies or institutions, especially through her expert handling of property assessment appeals and taxation queries. Her expertise further extends to dealing with expropriations, navigating the nuances of Ontario’s Retail Business Holidays Act, managing payments-in-lieu of taxes, and resolving ground rent arbitration and property tax recharge conflicts. Her presence is noted in various legal arenas, where she represents her clients before courts, tribunals, and municipal bodies on a slew of assessment, taxation, and land development issues.

In 2018, Tara marked a milestone by becoming the inaugural Canadian President of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, subsequently earning the title of the 67th CREW Foundation Visionary. Her leadership journey includes serving as the 2014 Past President of Toronto CREW, an active chapter within the CREW Network, and partaking in the Urban Land Institute’s Women’s Leadership Initiative Toronto Championship. Her expertise has not gone unnoticed, with recognition as a leading lawyer in "The Best Lawyers in Canada" across multiple categories, including Municipal Law.

Her professional accolades are extensive, with notable mentions in "The Best Lawyers in Canada" for Administrative and Public Law, Municipal Law, Real Estate Law, and Environmental Law over several years. Chambers Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory have also acknowledged her contributions to real estate, specifically in zoning and land use in Ontario.

Tara's academic foundation is equally impressive, holding a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Carleton University, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, and an LL.B. from Queen’s University. Admitted to the Ontario bar in 2002, her educational background and professional milestones paint a picture of a dedicated and impactful leader in her field.