About Harris, Sheaffer LLP

Harris, Sheaffer LLP is a Toronto commercial real estate law firm that traces back to 1992, when a small group of the city's lawyers set up the practice together. More than three decades later it has grown into a team of over a dozen lawyers working from a single office in the Yonge Sheppard Centre. Robert D. Sheaffer, one of the two founding partners, still leads the firm as managing partner. Gary H. Harris, the other founder, was called to the Ontario bar in 1977 and retired from the firm and from practice on December 31, 2023.

The firm's work centers on condominium and subdivision development. It says it has handled the registration of almost 1,000 condominium projects over the years, covering high-rise, townhome, industrial, commercial, resort, hotel, and mixed-use buildings, and it advises developers and builders on land acquisition and financing through to registration and, in subdivisions, the sale of individual homes. It has also advised Schedule I financial institutions on real estate lending for over 25 years. Beyond real estate, the firm handles corporate, commercial, and personal law work, including tax and estate planning for its clients.

Milestones & recognition

  • Founded in 1992 by a small group of Toronto lawyers, including founding partners Gary H. Harris and Robert D. Sheaffer.
  • Gary H. Harris, called to the Ontario bar in 1977, retired from the firm and from legal practice on December 31, 2023.
  • The firm reports it has handled the registration of almost 1,000 condominium projects, including high-rise, townhome, industrial, commercial, resort, hotel, and mixed-use developments.
  • A partner at the firm is a Fellow of the Canadian Condominium Institute, a designation awarded in 2005 for meritorious service to the condominium industry.

In the community

  • A partner at the firm has lectured for the Law Society of Ontario, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Canadian Condominium Institute on condominium law, and has written articles on the subject for those organizations.
  • A partner at the firm has served as past president of the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute and as a director on the Institute's national board.
  • Lawyers at the firm have co-authored continuing legal education papers for the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Bar Association on condominium development, electronic land registration, and real estate law.
  • A partner at the firm was a past columnist for the Toronto Star's 'Ask the Expert' series.

Good to know

A person using a wheelchairWheelchair accessibleA rainbow pride heartLGBTQ+ friendlyA laptop showing a video callVirtual appointmentsAn office interior with a desk and chairsIn-person services

This firm’s lawyers at a glance

Called to the bar
1978–2024 · median 19 years in practice 15 of 15 lawyers
Law schools
Osgoode Hall Law School (7), University of Toronto (2), McGill University, Queen's University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Leicester and 2 more 15 of 15 lawyers

The neighbourhood

Harris, Sheaffer's office is on the 8th floor of the Yonge Sheppard Centre, on the east side of Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue. The Centre's concourse connects directly to subway platforms on both the Yonge line and the Sheppard line, so clients arriving by TTC can reach the office without going outside. The building also has its own underground parking facility, reached through the north parking elevator bank, for anyone driving in.

Frequently asked questions

Can Harris, Sheaffer help with a condominium development project in Toronto?
Yes. The firm says it has handled the registration of almost 1,000 condominium projects, including high-rise, townhome, industrial, commercial, resort, hotel, and mixed-use developments, and its lawyers advise developers and builders from land acquisition and financing through to registration.
Does the firm work on subdivision developments outside of Toronto?
Yes. Harris, Sheaffer represents developers and builders on subdivision projects, guiding clients from land acquisition and financing through to registration of the subdivision and sale of the individual homes.
Can Harris, Sheaffer act for a landlord or a tenant on a commercial lease?
Yes. The firm's commercial leasing practice represents both landlords and tenants.
Does Harris, Sheaffer advise banks and other lenders on real estate financing?
Yes. The firm says it has advised Schedule I financial institutions on real estate lending for over 25 years, and it frequently acts for institutional and private lenders on higher risk loans in the real estate sector.
Can Harris, Sheaffer help with corporate matters or with tax and estate planning?
Yes. Alongside its real estate work, the firm provides corporate, commercial, and personal law services, including tax and estate planning for its clients.
How long has Harris, Sheaffer been in Toronto and where is the office located?
The firm was founded in 1992 and its office is on the 8th floor of the Yonge Sheppard Centre at 4881 Yonge Street, reachable directly from the subway concourse on both the Yonge and Sheppard lines, with underground parking available in the building.

Where to find them

Yonge Sheppard Centre, 4881 Yonge Street, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M2N 5X3 · 416-250-5800

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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 ↗