WeirFoulds LLP closes an important chapter in the firm’s history as it bids farewell to Brad McLellan, one of the most prominent figures in its real estate, infrastructure and public projects practice.
Brad’s career at WeirFoulds spans 44 years and is marked by a series of impressive achievements. His contributions have strengthened not only WeirFoulds’ expertise and the culture at the firm, but they have helped shape the practice of real estate law in Ontario.
Joining the firm in 1982, Brad has become a trusted leader in commercial real estate law with expertise in procurement, risk allocation, public-private partnerships, concession agreements, ground leases, design-build agreements, operation and management agreements and more.
Brad has consistently been named one of Toronto’s leading real estate lawyers in a wide range of professional directories and was awarded the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Real Estate in 2011.
Some of the highlights of Brad’s career include supporting multiple municipalities in Ontario: acting for York Region in relation to its Rapid Transit Project (VIVA) since 2002, acting for the City of London in the John Labatt Centre project, for the City of Oshawa in its General Motors Centre project and for the City of Guelph on its Baker District redevelopment project.
Beyond his practice, Brad has also been a mentor and guide for generations of young lawyers, having held teaching positions at both the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Osgoode Hall Law School, as well as co-authoring the seminal book Real Estate Law (4th edition, 1992), and co-authoring Condominium: The Law and Administration in Ontario (1st edition, 1981).
“Over the course of his career, Brad continually set new standards of excellence in his real estate and infrastructure practice,” said Denise Baker, Chair of WeirFoulds. “But in addition to his extraordinary practice, Brad was a mentor and friend to many at the firm and was very generous with his time in teaching the next generation.”
Brad leaves behind a reputation for kindness, generosity and integrity and has laid the foundation for an open, collaborative culture that continues to inform WeirFoulds’ practice to this day.
“I’ve known Brad for my entire legal career and, even more than his achievements, it’s his graciousness, his patience and his commitment to clients that continually inspire me,” said Wayne Egan, Partner at WeirFoulds. “Whether it’s a project, a coworker, or a young mind looking to enter the legal profession, Brad leaves them better off than he found them.”
WeirFoulds congratulates Brad on a sterling career and wishes him all the best in his life post-retirement.