Leo F.
Longo
Partner
Leo's experience enables him to isolate issues quickly and arrive at a creative solution that advances his clients’ objectives. He remains committed to continuously learning and deepening his knowledge of the legal issues that matter to his clients.
As a senior member of the firm's Municipal, Land Use Planning & Development Group, Leo's practice is devoted to all areas of land use planning, development law and municipal law, representing both private and public sector clients.
Leo appears before councils, tribunals and various levels of court.
Professional Involvement
Professional Activities
- Co-author of "A Comprehensive Guide to the City of Toronto Act, 2006" (with John Mascarin) - published by LexisNexis
- Author of several articles and participant in a number of seminars and programs in his area of specialization
- Occasional contributor, Ontario Building Officials Association's Journal
Memberships
- Canadian Bar Association (National Municipal Law Section, Honourary Member at Large and Past Chair)
- Ontario Bar Association (Municipal Law Section, Member and Past Chair)
- International Municipal Lawyers Association
- Lambda Alpha International, Simcoe (Toronto) Chapter
Teaching Engagements
- Sessional lecturer, Ryerson University Graduate Studies Course, "Legal and Institutional Context of Planning," 2008 - 2017
- Sessional lecturer, Queen's University Law School, Land Use Planning Law Course, 1999 - 2001
February 2026 – "When a Demolition Order Is Absolutely the Appropriate Remedy” – OBOA Journal, Issue No. 149.
February 2026 – “What’s on My Mind at the Moment” – Keynote Address, OBA 2026 Legal Conference – Municipal Law - Speaker.
October 2025 – "Legal Corner Update – 2025" – OBOA’s 69th Annual Meeting & Training Sessions – Conference Speaker/PowerPoint.
July 2025 – "Building Accessible Communities: Integrating Accessibility in Land Use Planning" – ACTION: CIP & OPPI National Planning Conference – Speaker.
June 2025 – "What Is a Building Permit?" – OBOA Journal, Issue No. 146.
May 2025 – "Four Tests. vs. Red Herrings," 2025 OACA Conference and AGM – Speaker.
April 2025 – "Update on the Planning Landscape and What Does It Look Like Now," LandPro Conference 2025 – Speaker.
March 2025 – "The Significance of Building Regulations and the CBO’s Relationship with Council" – OBOA Journal, Special Careers Issue.
October 2024 – "Relevant Accessibility-Related Building Codes/Regulations" - Speaker/PowerPoint - Aird & Berlis LLP Webinar "Exploring Accessibility: Healthcare, Design, Advocacy & Law."
October 2024 – "Legal Corner Update – 2024" – OBOA’s 68th Annual Meeting & Training Sessions – Conference Speaker/PowerPoint.
September 2024 – "Pulling Back the Curtains on the Limits of a Lawful Site Inspection" – OBOA Journal, Issue No. 143.
June 2024 – "Bill 185 – The Legal Perspective" – OPPI Summer Solstice 2024 Conference – Speaker.
May 2024 – "Current Planning Law Challenges" – IMLA in Canada Program – Co-Speaker.
April 2024 – "Municipal Law Primer” – 21st Annual Real Estate Law Summit, LSO – Paper/Co-Speaker with Matthew Longo.
September 2023 – "Code Harmonization; Green Building Standards; and Miscellaneous Matters" – OBOA’s 67th Annual Meeting & Training Sessions – Conference Speaker/PowerPoint.
June 2023 – "The New Planning Regime in Ontario" – IMLA in Canada Program – Co-Speaker & PowerPoint.
March 2023 – "Site Plans" – A Deep Dive: Analyzing the Legislative Changes of Bill 23 – Webinar Speaker.
March 2023 – "Municipal Liability in Negligence" – LandPro Conference – Speaker/Panellist.
November 2022 – "The CBO’s Relationship with Council" - OBOA Journal, Issue No. 136, co-authored with John Mascarin and Chris Williams.
October 2022 – "The CBO and Council – A Timely Topic" – OBOA’s 66th Annual Meeting & Training Sessions – Conference Speaker/PowerPoint.
June 2022 – "Public Safety Forum-Case Law Update" – City of Markham Staff Seminar – Speaker/PowerPoint.
April 2022 – "How to prepare and present evidence at the OLT, both virtually and in person" – Speaker – Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians – Lunch & Learn Series.
January 2022 – "Stalled and Dormant Construction Sites: What can be done?" – OBOA Journal, Issue No. 133.
December 2021 – "Legal Miscellany 2021" – OACA Legal Webinar – Speaker/PowerPoint.
November 2021 – "What Constitutes a "Core Policy Decision" Exemption from Negligence Liability" – OBOA Legal Session – Speaker/PowerPoint.
October 2021 – "Inclusionary Zoning – Ontario’s Legislation and Toronto’s IZ Initiative" – OPPI21 Conference - Co-Speaker with John Pappas.
October 2021 – "Inclusionary Zoning – The 'How' and 'Why’" – 86th IMLA Conference - Speaker/Materials.
March 2021 – "Municipal Law Miscellany" – Speaker/PowerPoint – Canadian Association of Certified Planning Technicians – Lunch & Learn Series.
March 2021 – "Municipal Law Coffee Talk" – Speaker – CBA Municipal Law Section & CBA Young Lawyers Section.
March 2021 – "A Question Respecting Conduct: What is Proper?" – OBOA Journal, Issue No. 129.
February 2021 –"Digging in the Dirt: Seven Things to Know about Ontario’s New Regulation for Excess Soils” – Speaker/Paper, co-authored with Matthew Helfand and Stacey Blydorp - OBA’s 2021 Annual Institute: Building Communities – Municipal Law Section.