Jonathan Cheng

Jonathan Cheng serves as an associate within the Municipal & Land Use Group, where he offers comprehensive advice and advocacy on a spectrum of land development, planning, and municipal law issues. Renowned for his insightful grasp of intricate policy and regulatory shifts, Jonathan is a go-to advisor for property developers, landowners, and various industries. His achievements include facilitating zoning approvals for diverse development projects ranging from expansive, transit-oriented communities to high-density mixed-use redevelopments.

Jonathan's extensive advocacy background covers planning and land development appeals, zoning enforcement, and provincial offenses. He has represented clients before the Ontario Land Tribunal, the Toronto Local Appeal Body, and courts at all levels in Ontario.

In his professional engagements, Jonathan is affiliated with several key organizations including the Urban Land Institute, the Building Industry and Land Development Association, and the Canadian Urban Institute. He is also a valued member of the Ontario Expropriation Association and currently holds a position on the executive committee of the Ontario Bar Association's Municipal Law Section.

Before his current role, Jonathan gained significant experience through articling at a notable national law firm's Toronto office and summering at a prestigious litigation boutique in Calgary.

Jonathan's areas of expertise are diverse, covering:

- Municipal & Land Use

- Real Estate

- Government Relations

- Litigation & Dispute Resolution

- Environmental matters

Jonathan's academic credentials include a J.D. from the University of Toronto and a B.A., with a history medal, from Queen's University. His admission to the Ontario Bar was in 2015.

Among his recent accomplishments, Jonathan facilitated land use approvals for a meditation and retreat center on Greenbelt lands, assisted Almadev in obtaining approvals for a master-planned community at Victoria Park and Lansing Square in Toronto, and aided Devron Developments in securing approvals for a mixed-use building on Spadina Avenue and Adelaide Street in Toronto.

His expertise and dedication have been recognized in Chambers Canada 2024 as an "Associate to Watch" in Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use - Ontario and in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2024 as a "One to Watch" in Municipal Law.

Jonathan has also contributed to the legal discourse with publications on critical topics, including co-authoring an article on the Ontario housing crisis for Lexpert in March 2022 and discussing proposed legislation's impact on municipal red tape in The Lawyer’s Daily in January 2019.