Melodie is a brilliant lawyer specializing in leasing and commercial real estate. She represents commercial landlords and tenants in office, retail, industrial and mixed-used properties. She is passionate about advising landlords and tenants working through complex leasing transactions and focuses on the legal and business concerns of her clients.

Melodie helps international businesses who are looking to establish a presence in Canada. In both cross-border and domestic deals, she also has a particular talent assisting retail tenants who are looking to implement an aggressive growth strategy.

Melodie is a frequent lecturer for professional and commercial organizations and conferences, including the Law Society of Ontario and the ICSC Canadian Law Conference. She offers the key expertise that her clients, including large international retailers as well as major landlords and property managers, rely on.


Expertise


Speaking Engagements

“Navigating the Hazardous of Waivers and Estoppels in Commercial Leasing”, presented at the LSO “The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer” program

November, 2023

“Recent Developments in Property Leasing”, Lexpert

2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

“Understanding the Big Picture”, presented at the OBA “Your First Commercial Leasing Transaction” program

November, 2022

“The COVID Rent Debate: Lessons from Hudson’s Bay Company ULC v. Oxford Properties”, presented at the LSO “The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer” program

November, 2022

“Fundamental Breach”, presented at the International Council of Shopping Centres’ Canadian Law Conference

September 2022

“How to Approach Commercial Leases in the Post COVID Era”, presented at the OBA “Real Estate Spring Mix” program

June 2022

“How to Approach Commercial Leases in the New COVID Era”, presented at the LSO “Commercial Real Estate Transactions 2021” program

September, 2021

“Understanding Maintenance, Repairs and Replacements”, presented at the LSO “The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer” program

November, 2021

“A Review of Liquidated Damages vs. Penalties (Health Quest v. Arizona Heat)”, presented at the LSO “The Six-Minute Commercial Leasing Lawyer” program

February, 2020

“Percentage Rent (Retail Lease)”, Thomson Reuters Practical Law

2020

“COVID-19 and Commercial Leasing…Now What?”, presented at the LSO “The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer” program

November, 2020

“Pop-up and Temporary In-Line Leases”, presented at the Lexpert “Dealing with the Lease: Specialty Leases” program

November, 2017

“Leases in Insolvency: What Landlords needs to know when a Tenant becomes insolvent”, Commercial Priorities for Real Estate and Business Lawyers 2017

October, 2017

“When can a Landlord withhold consent?”, presented at the International Council of Shopping Centres’ Canadian Law Conference

April 2015 and April 2016

“What Does Quiet Enjoyment Mean Anyways”, presented at the International Council of Shopping Centres’ Canadian Law Conference

February 2012 and February 2013
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Rankings & Recognitions

  • Georgetown Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, 2018 Rising Star recipient

Community Involvement

  • Chinese Gospel Church

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Christian Legal Fellowship
  • Law Society of Ontario
  • International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
  • Toronto CREW (Toronto Commercial Real Estate Women)

Education & Admissions

2007
Called to the Ontario Bar
2006
LLBWestern University
2006
Honors Bachelor of ArtsWestern University, Richard Ivey School of Business