Overview
Ira Barkin is a partner and co-heads the Real Estate Group at Goodmans.
Ira plays a leading role in large acquisition, financing, development, restructuring and securitization transactions. His real estate background includes extensive experience in seniors housing, commercial leasing, clean energy land development and telecommunications financing.
Major public and private companies, pension funds and governmental entities rely upon Ira’s advice in connection with sophisticated real estate joint ventures, mixed-use land development and capital market transactions.
Ira is recognized as a leading lawyer by Best Lawyers in Canada for real estate and commercial leasing law, The Legal 500 Canada for real estate and construction, The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for property development and property leasing, and featured in the Lexpert Special Edition: Energy and in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure.
Expertise
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Acquisitions and Dispositions
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Aging and Health Care
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Construction and Infrastructure
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Energy
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Financing
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Joint Ventures
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Leasing
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Municipal and Land Development
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Real Estate
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REITS and Income Securities
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Student Housing
Featured Work
Ira's representative work includes acting for:
Seniors Housing
- Welltower Inc. in connection with its announced acquisition of a portfolio of senior housing communities from Amica Senior Lifestyles and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan for $4.6 billion
- Welltower Inc. in its joint venture and subsequent division with Chartwell Senior Housing REIT
- Revera Inc. in its joint venture with Axium Infrastructure Inc.
Student Housing
Energy
- Brookfield in its acquisition and disposition of Enwave, Canada’s largest district heating and cooling enterprise
- Atlantic Power Corporation in its acquisition of Capital Power Income L.P.
Government
- The Province of Ontario in connection with the restructuring of Stelco Inc. and Algoma Steel Inc.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in its financing of projects under its Rental Construction Financing Initiative
Public Companies
- Mettrum Health Corp. in its sale to Canopy Growth Corporation
- Cott Corporation in the sale of its soft drink business to Refresco
- Canadian Tire Corporation in its acquisition of the Forzani Group
Awards & Recognition
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The Legal 500 Recommended, Real Estate 2025
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Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure Canada's Leading Infrastructure Lawyers 2025
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Recognized, Property Development, Property Leasing 2025
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized, Commercial Leasing Law, Real Estate Law 2025
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The Legal 500 Recommended, Real Estate 2024
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Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure Canada's Leading Infrastructure Lawyers 2024
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Ira has published articles and has lectured at the Annual Seniors Housing Forum, the Law Society of Ontario and the Ontario Solar Summit and Expo. Ira is also a contributor to The Canadian REIT Handbook, published by the Real Property Association of Canada (REALpac). Ira volunteers his time in the Out of the Cold Program and participates in the annual Gutsy Walk for Crohn's and Colitis Canada.
Credentials
- Queen's University, LL.B., 1990
- University of Toronto, B.A., 1987
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
Call to Bar
- 1992 Ontario
Insights
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Real Estate
British Columbia Real Estate Law Guide April 2023: What You Need to Know Re: The New Prohibition on Foreign Purchases of Real Estate
The Government of Canada has enacted the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”) which came into effect January 1, 2023. The Act prohibits the… -
Real Estate
What You Need to Know Re: The New Prohibition on Foreign Purchases of Real Estate
The Government of Canada has enacted the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the “Act”) which came into effect January 1, 2023. The Act prohibits the “purchase… -
Real Estate
Ontario Corporations Will Soon Be Required to Maintain Real Property Holdings Registry
In an effort to make it easier for the Province of Ontario to locate the assets of dissolved corporations, the Province has enacted the new Forfeited Corporate Property Act, which comes into effect on…
News & Events
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Construction and Infrastructure
Goodmans Once Again Recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2025
We are proud to announce that the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2025 has once again recognized Goodmans LLP partners among Canada's experts in the infrastructure industry.Congratulations to… -
Aging and Health Care
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2025 Once Again Recognizes Goodmans
We are proud to announce Goodmans LLP continues to be recognized in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.Congratulations to the 96 Goodmans lawyers recognized as leaders across… -
Banking and Financial Services
Goodmans Once Again Receives Top-Tier Recognition from The Legal 500 Canada
We are pleased to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top-tier recognition from The Legal 500 Canada in their 2025 Guide released today.Recognition from The Legal 500 is based on independent…