Overview

### Bio
Michael Polowin is one of Ontario's leading lawyers in municipal and real property law. An Ottawa-based Gowling WLG partner with more than 30 years' experience, he provides strategic advice and representation in the areas of development, municipal and planning law, and commercial real property, through the full spectrum of the acquisition, financing and development process.
He has acted for some of the largest developers in Canada and has been involved in developments throughout Ontario, appearing in Court and at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. Michael also has extensive experience in development-related agreements, including subdivision, cost-sharing agreements and expropriation matters. Michael has also acted on real estate and land use issues for companies in the cannabis industry.
He has been ranked by *The Best Lawyers in Canada* in the areas of municipal law and real estate, and is named a leading practitioner in the area of property development by the *Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory*. He has also been ranked by *Chambers Global* Practice Guide for Real Estate: Zoning/Land use, at the highest levels, and is regularly featured in various publications, electronic media and Canadian newspapers, providing commentary on key municipal and planning issues.
Michael has written extensively on municipal and planning law matters, and is the co-author of Manual for Elected Municipal Officials - Ontario, a comprehensive reference tool for municipal council members to consult when issues arise in the course of their duties.
Michael believes in giving back. He is a member of the Ottawa chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association, where he also serves as a member of the Government Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association, serving as a member of the Builder-Developer Council and the Urban Infill Council.
Michael is regularly invited to the (by invitation only) Cambridge Forum on land use.
He is active in the community, sitting on the Boards of a number of charitable organizations and acting as a fundraiser for others. Michael was chair of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa from 2019-2021. For 10 years, he was the chair of the Board of Directors for Camp B'nai Brith of Ottawa, from 2007-2017; he was president of the Ottawa Jewish Community School from 2017-2019, and chair of the annual fundraising campaign for the Jewish Federation of Ottawa for 2016 and 2017. He was recently honoured for his community service with the presentation of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
In 2025, Michael joined the Ottawa Police Services Board as one of three provincial appointees. As part of this civilian oversight body, he contributes to governance and decision-making to support effective policing in the city.
### Career & education
#### Education
1983
Osgoode Hall Law School, LLB
1980
University of Ottawa, Bachelor of Social Science
#### Languages
English
##### Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Building Owners and Managers Association
- Canadian Bar Association
- International Council of Shopping Centres
- Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land
- Ontario Bar Association's Real Property Section and Municipal Law Section
### Publications & speaking engagements
- *[The Manual for Elected Municipal Officials - Ontario](http://www.cch.ca/product.aspx?WebID=4356 "")*, Wolters Kluwer, 2015
- "[What's Reasonable? Grounds for Adding Parties](https://brandconnect.gowlingwlg.com/m/61519088804e49e6/original/whats_reasonable_grounds_for_adding_parties_michael_polowin.pdf "What's Reasonable? Grounds for Adding Parties")," *The Digest of Municipal & Planning Law* (ISSN 1181-9006), (2010), Volume:4, Series 2d, Issue 24
- "[The Evolution of Legal Non-Conforming Rights](https://brandconnect.gowlingwlg.com/m/52c53597623841c6/original/PolowinM_Jan2010_evolution_legal_non-conforming_rights.pdf "null")," *The Digest of Municipal & Planning Law* (2010), 4D, M.P.L. (2d), January 2010, Issue 13
- "[Official, but illegal: Are Official Plans being used in a manner that is a 'bridge too far](https://brandconnect.gowlingwlg.com/m/704087071fd57f54/original/Official_but_illegal_michael_polowin.pdf "null")'?" *The Digest of Municipal and Planning Law* (2011), August 2011, Issue 8

Practice Areas

• Banking/Finance
• Municipal Law
• Corporate & Commercial Law
• Real Estate
• Corporate Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1985 (ON)

Professional Details