How big is Gardiner Roberts LLP?

Gardiner Roberts describes itself as a full-service firm with the dexterity of a mid sized practice, positioned between a small practice and one of Canada's largest national firms.

How long has Gardiner Roberts been practising in Toronto?

The firm's roots go back to 1913, when H. Fred Parkinson began articling in Toronto. It took its current name, Gardiner Roberts, in 1967, and its current office is in Toronto's downtown Financial District.

Does Gardiner Roberts handle business and commercial law?

Yes. Business and corporate commercial law is one of the firm's core practice areas, alongside commercial real estate, securities and corporate finance, tax and estate planning, and insolvency and restructuring.

Can Gardiner Roberts help with commercial real estate matters?

Commercial real estate is one of the firm's listed practice areas. The firm's history traces commercial real estate work back to Harry D. Roberts, who joined the firm as a student in 1948 and later became a name partner, while founding partner Harry Parkinson's practice was in residential real estate.

Does the firm represent clients in litigation?

Litigation and dispute resolution is listed among Gardiner Roberts' practice areas.

What is Gardiner Roberts' connection to MSI Global Alliance?

Gardiner Roberts is the Toronto member firm of MSI Global Alliance, a network of independent law and accounting firms with member firms in more than 100 countries, which lets the firm connect clients with professional advisers outside Canada while remaining independently owned.

Gardiner Roberts LLP | LawOnline Directory

About Gardiner Roberts LLP

Gardiner Roberts LLP is a full-service law firm with the dexterity of a mid sized practice, based in downtown Toronto. Its office is on the 36th floor of the Bay Adelaide Centre's East Tower at 22 Adelaide Street West, in the Financial District. The firm handles corporate and commercial law, commercial real estate, litigation, tax and estate planning, employment, insolvency, and intellectual property for a diversified client base.

The firm traces its history to 1913, when H. Fred Parkinson articled at a Toronto firm and became a partner two years later. Parkinson's brother Harry later joined with Frederick G. Gardiner to form Parkinson and Gardiner, and the name changed again as partners Harry Willis and Harry D. Roberts joined the practice. Gardiner Roberts became the firm's name in 1967. One of the early partners, Fred Gardiner, served nine years as Chairman of the newly formed Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto starting in 1953. The firm merged with Farano, Green in 1999, adding tax law to its commercial practice.

Gardiner Roberts belongs to MSI Global Alliance, a network of independent law and accounting firms in more than 100 countries, and describes itself as choosing to stay mid sized and Canadian owned rather than grow for growth's sake.

Practice areas

Business & Corporate Law

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Real Estate Law

Tax Law

Employment & Labour Law

Wills, Estates & Trusts

Intellectual Property

Bankruptcy & Insolvency

Technology & Startups

Health Law

Administrative & Regulatory Law

Milestones & recognition

The firm's roots go back to 1913, when H. Fred Parkinson articled with a Toronto firm and became a partner two years later.
The name Gardiner Roberts first appeared in 1967, after decades of practice under earlier names including Parkinson and Gardiner and Parkinson, Gardiner, Willis.
Fred Gardiner, an early partner known for a civil litigation practice, was appointed Chairman of the newly formed Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto in 1953 and held the post for nine years.
The firm merged with Farano, Green in 1999, adding tax law expertise to its commercial practice.
Thirty three Gardiner Roberts lawyers are listed as recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada.
Canadian Lawyer Magazine named Gardiner Roberts one of Ontario's Top 10 Law Firms for 2025, a distinction the firm says it has held for well over a decade.
In 2023, Post City Magazine recognized 21 Gardiner Roberts lawyers across 14 practice areas as among Toronto's Top Lawyers.

In the community

The firm takes part in the Big Bike Ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Ride to Conquer Cancer, a 200 kilometre fundraising ride for cancer research.
Lawyers and staff support Peacebuilders International, which works on access to justice and empowerment programs for children and youth, and take part in a Movember fundraiser for Prostate Cancer Canada.
Through the LAWS Program at the University of Toronto, the firm mentors grade 10 students from inner city high schools about the legal profession.
The firm partners with Humber College's legal studies program, hosting co-op students and funding the Gardiner Roberts Achievement Award for a graduate excelling in technology.
It supports arts organizations including the National Ballet School of Canada, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the documentary festival Hot Docs.
Members of the firm's Health Law group sit on research ethics boards affiliated with SickKids and the Bloorview Research Institute.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible A calendar with a checkmark beside a clock

By appointment

Lawyers 99

This firm’s lawyers at a glance

Called to the bar: 1967–2025 · median 19 years in practice 97 of 99 lawyers
Law schools: Osgoode Hall Law School (30), University of Windsor (18), University of Toronto (13), Queen's University (9), University of Western Ontario (5), University of Ottawa (4) and 15 more 99 of 99 lawyers
Languages on the roster: English, Farsi

Who handles what

The neighbourhood

Gardiner Roberts' office sits on the north side of Adelaide Street between Yonge and Bay, inside the Bay Adelaide Centre's East Tower. That block sits in the middle of Toronto's Financial District, where the country's largest banks keep their head offices alongside a dense concentration of business law and accounting firms, a fitting address for a firm whose practice leans toward corporate, tax, securities, and insolvency work.

The location also reflects how the firm's practice has grown since its early years on Broadview Avenue in Toronto's east end. Rather than opening branch offices, Gardiner Roberts operates from a single downtown Toronto address today, with practice areas that have expanded from the real estate and litigation work of its early partners to newer fields such as technology, health law, and long term care and retirement law.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Gardiner Roberts LLP?: Gardiner Roberts describes itself as a full-service firm with the dexterity of a mid sized practice, positioned between a small practice and one of Canada's largest national firms.
How long has Gardiner Roberts been practising in Toronto?: The firm's roots go back to 1913, when H. Fred Parkinson began articling in Toronto. It took its current name, Gardiner Roberts, in 1967, and its current office is in Toronto's downtown Financial District.
Does Gardiner Roberts handle business and commercial law?: Yes. Business and corporate commercial law is one of the firm's core practice areas, alongside commercial real estate, securities and corporate finance, tax and estate planning, and insolvency and restructuring.
Can Gardiner Roberts help with commercial real estate matters?: Commercial real estate is one of the firm's listed practice areas. The firm's history traces commercial real estate work back to Harry D. Roberts, who joined the firm as a student in 1948 and later became a name partner, while founding partner Harry Parkinson's practice was in residential real estate.
Does the firm represent clients in litigation?: Litigation and dispute resolution is listed among Gardiner Roberts' practice areas.
What is Gardiner Roberts' connection to MSI Global Alliance?: Gardiner Roberts is the Toronto member firm of MSI Global Alliance, a network of independent law and accounting firms with member firms in more than 100 countries, which lets the firm connect clients with professional advisers outside Canada while remaining independently owned.

Where to find them

Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower, 22 Adelaide Street West, Suite 3600, Toronto, ON M5H 4E3 · 416-865-6600

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Listing compiled from the firm’s public website in August 2026. Verify licence status in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗