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Sarah Turney Toronto Lawyer

Sarah J. Turney

Partner Fasken
Jurisdiction Ontario, 2010
Language(s) English
Office(s) Toronto
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Overview

Sarah Turney is a skilled litigator who advises clients on complex construction disputes, easement and title matters, boundary disputes, adverse possession claims, mortgage remedies and commercial lease disputes. Sarah is recognized for her in-depth knowledge of real property. She provides efficient, strategic advice on a broad range of real property matters. Sarah has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, including as lead counsel on appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada in the landmark case, Kosicki v. Toronto (City).

Sarah is ranked by Best Lawyers Canada in both Real Estate Law and Expropriation Law. She is a return speaker at the Law Society of Ontario and has provided education sessions on a variety of complex real estate topics.

Sarah’s municipal and planning practice includes property tax assessment, zoning and other planning appeals and expropriation matters. Sarah advocates for clients before the Ontario Land Tribunal and the Assessment Review Board.

As a former program coordinator with the City of Ottawa, Sarah has experience with government relations and policy development at the municipal level.

Achievements

  • Recognized in Ontario as a Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Canada 2026
  • Recognized in Real Estate Law and Expropriation Law in Toronto, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 to 2026
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Property Development and recognized as a Leading Lawyer in 2020, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2019 to 2020
  • Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40, Lexpert Rising Star 2019

Experience

  • Supreme Court of Canada rules in favour of Toronto homeowners in landmark adverse possession case, [Case - Pawel Kosicki and Megan Munro], Supreme Court clarifies that adverse possession applies to municipal land, siding with Toronto homeowners in a landmark property law case.
  • University Health Network acquires 522 University Avenue in Toronto, [Deal - University Health Network], Canada’s largest research hospital acquires strategic downtown Toronto property to support patient care and research expansion.
  • Maple Lodge Farms Ltd. successfully appeals property tax assessments before the Assessment Review Board, [Case - Maple Lodge Farms Ltd.], Canada's largest independently owned poultry processor successfully appeals property tax assessment before the Assessment Review Board.
  • University Health Network announces construction of C$1 billion patient and surgical tower at Toronto Western Hospital, [Deal - University Health Network], Public research and teaching hospital network announces Toronto hospital redevelopment.
  • Head tenant argues at rent reset arbitration involving competing expert appraisal evidence and lease interpretation, [Case - Confidential], Multimillion dollar rent reset arbitration in the Greater Toronto Area.
  • Owner/landlord successful at rent reset arbitration concerning valuation of a development parcel, [Case - Confidential], Complex rent reset arbitration involving the valuation of a development parcel.
  • East Annex Condominiums Association makes appeal at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, [Case - East Annex Condominiums Association], East Annex Condominiums Association appeals a refusal by the City of Toronto to permit development of a condominium tower on an important stretch of Bloor Street
  • Crown Agency v. Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, [Case - Craig James], Advised Crown Agency on tax liabilities and interpretation of certain exemptions under the Assessment Act.
  • Property Tax Assessment - Ontario Hospital, [Case - Ontario Hospital], Sarah Turney regularly advises and represents an Ontario hospital in respect tax liabilities and the interpretation of certain exemptions under the Assessment Act.  Sarah coordinated with the relevant municipality, filed appropriate exemption/tax reduction applications and issued applications wit...

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB University of Ottawa
  • MA, (cum laude) Carleton University
  • Bachelor, Public Affairs and Policy Management, High Honours Carleton University

Knowledge

  • An Early Review of Toronto’s Local Appeals Tribunal, 11/7/2025
  • “Getting It Done” at What Cost? Bill 162’s Impact on Expropriated Landowners, 3/11/2024
  • Commercial Leasing & Landlord Remedies: Mitigation and Damages, 5/9/2023
  • Commercial Leasing & Landlord Remedies: Effects of Limitation Periods, 5/1/2023
  • The City of Ottawa’s New Comprehensive Zoning By-Law: Why You Should Care, 4/27/2023
  • Commercial Leasing & Landlord Remedies: Verbal Agreements/Offers to Lease, 4/17/2023
  • An “Advantage” Over Land – Supreme Court Broadens Criteria for Constructive Taking, 10/31/2022
  • Property Tax Issues for Public Hospitals and Hospital Foundations, 1/30/2013

Events

  • Affordable Housing – Pursuing a Reality, 11/30/2021
  • The Impact of COVID-19 on the Real Estate Industry, 5/28/2020
  • Medical Marihuana - Legal and Capital Markets Issues, 6/10/2014

News

  • Sarah Turney discusses a landmark Supreme Court ruling regarding an adverse possession claim in Law 360, 9/19/2025
  • Sarah Turney shares her perspective on a pivotal Supreme Court ruling regarding an adverse possession claim in Canadian Lawyer, 9/19/2025
  • Financial Post quotes Sarah Turney in an article on the Ontario greenbelt, 10/18/2023
  • CBC News quotes Sarah Turney in an article on the implications of reversing the decision to open the Greenbelt, 10/11/2023

Publications

  • Pinnacle International v. Torstar Corporation, 11/24/2024
  • What Is an Easement? Primont (Castelmont) Inc v. Friuli Benevolent Corporation, 11/15/2023
  • To Vest or Not to Vest, 11/17/2022
  • Relief From Forfeiture: Balancing Equities During a Pandemic, 3/2/2021
  • Cautions to the Wind: the Impending Need for CPLs, 11/17/2020
  • Chasing Waterfalls: Landlords’ Priorities in Bankruptcy and Insolvency, 1/1/2020
  • Planning Act Consent for Leases: The Good, The Bad and The Confusing, 2/25/2019
  • Practice Management Issues Following Clark v. Bertrand, 1/1/2019
  • Your File is Full of Piranhas: A Real Estate Litigator's Perspective, 11/20/2018
  • Gone with the Wind: Estate Trust Property and the Di Michele Case, 11/21/2017

Speaking Engagements

  • Easements and the Law of Possessory Title in Ontario, 3/6/2025
  • Pinnacle International v. Torstar Corporation, 11/19/2024
  • What Is an Easement? Primont (Castelmont) Inc v. Friuli Benevolent Corporation, 11/15/2023
  • Easements and the Changing Law, 3/1/2023
  • To Vest or Not to Vest, 11/17/2022
  • Cautions to the Wind: The Impending Need for CPLs, 11/17/2020
  • Planning Act Consent for Leases: The Good, The Bad and The Confusing, 2/25/2019
  • Your File is Full of Piranhas: A Real Estate Litigator's Perspective, 11/20/2018
  • Gone with the Wind: Estate Trust Property and the Di Michele Case, 11/21/2017
  • Landlord Remedies | The Six Minute Commercial Leasing Lawyer 2017, 2/22/2017