About Sylvia Adriano

Buying, selling and financing commercial property sits at the centre of Sylvia Adriano's work as a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office. The deals take in retail, commercial and industrial sites along with stratified properties, and the client list runs from large developers and railway companies to hotel owners and foreign investors.

Called to the Ontario bar in 2001, Adriano joined Gowling WLG's Real Estate Group as a partner in Toronto in November 2018. Best Lawyers has recognized the partner in Real Estate Law since 2024, including in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada.

Air space and complex stratified properties are a particular strength, and clients bring Adriano tangled title questions and unusual property problems to sort out. Retail is another long thread: big box shopping centres and other retail facilities, from development through day to day operation. Representative work includes acting for Clubhouse Developments Inc. on its purchase of The Country Club Golf Course in Woodbridge and handling an air space sale for a national railway company.

Away from the deal table, Adriano mentors with Toronto CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), has chaired its Community Outreach and Giving Committee, and has sat on the advisory board of the Canadian General Counsel Awards. Over the years Adriano's written for The Lawyers Weekly and spoken to the OBA's Real Property Section on the anti-money laundering duties that apply to real estate developers.

Practice areas

Commercial real estate transactions

Acquisitions, dispositions and financings of retail, commercial, industrial and stratified properties, for clients such as developers, retail chains, institutions and asset managers.

Land development agreements

Drafting and negotiating the property agreements a site needs with the municipality and with neighbouring owners, including reciprocal easements, restrictive covenants, cost sharing arrangements and site plan agreements.

Retail and big box development

Big box shopping centres and other retail sites, from first build to ongoing operation, including acting for a major big box retailer on buying and building out its Ontario store portfolio.

Air space, stratified property and title

Transfers and development of air space and layered, stratified property, plus untangling difficult title questions and unusual property issues.

Education & credentials

  • LLB, Osgoode Hall Law School (1999)
  • BA (with High Distinction), University of Toronto (1996)
  • Called to the Ontario bar (2001)

Awards & recognition

Publications & speaking

  • Test yourself with the land transfer tax quiz (with Bradley McLellan), The Lawyers Weekly (2011)
  • Damage to property prior to closing (with Bradley McLellan), The Lawyers Weekly (2011)
  • Anti-Money Laundering Regime Now Includes Real Estate Developers, The Lawyers Weekly (2009)
  • Real Estate Developers Must Comply with Anti-Money Laundering Legislation, Canadian Apartment Magazine (2010)
  • New Requirements for Developers under the Proceeds of Crime (money laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, OBA Real Property Section (2008)

Memberships & affiliations

  • Toronto CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women): Active member and mentor; has chaired the Community Outreach and Giving Committee.
  • Ontario Bar Association: Member.
  • Canadian Urban Institute: Member.
  • Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association: Member.
  • Women in Capital Markets: Member.

In the community

  • Has served as an advisory board member for the Canadian General Counsel Awards.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm Sylvia Adriano’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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