Lawrence Silber specializes in corporate/commercial law with particular expertise in income tax, estate and succession planning. He advises clients on a broad range of business matters and practices residential and commercial real estate, including purchases, sales and refinancing.

Lawrence deals extensively with families in business together in order to provide a comprehensive solution to difficulties that arise in family businesses trying to balance family and business.

Lawrence is a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (Ottawa chapter) Board of Directors and has been an instructor in the Business Law section of the Ontario Bar Admission Course. He currently teaches real property law for the Ontario Real Estate Association and lectures frequently on wills and estate matters.

In 2023, Lawrence received the County of Carleton Law Association’s Abe Feinstein Solicitors Award. The annual award is given to a solicitor who has distinguished themselves throughout their career by exemplary service to the County of Carleton Law Association and to the profession and has shown commitment to the community.

Some of Lawrence’s recent work highlights include:

• Through his affiliation with CAFE (Canadian Association of Family Enterprises), Lawrence has acted on the generational transition of management and ownership for several prominent family businesses in recent years. In his role, Lawrence advised on the structure of the succession plan and implemented the strategy to amend the corporate structure, tax and governance of the companies in order to preserve their value for the current and future owners.
• Lawrence continues to act for several established real estate developers on multi-unit single home, town home and condominium projects. Lawrence assists with all aspects of the developments including the acquisition of land, municipal requirements, financing, condominium documentation and conveyancing of individual units.
• Lawrence continues to act for many businesses on corporate reorganizations to maximize tax and estate planning benefits. Using tools such as family trusts and holding companies, Lawrence has helped business owners gain more flexibility in allocation of compensation, capital gains splitting amongst family members and others as well as to better position the business for a future sale or ownership transition to family members.