Lawyer Profiles

Richard A. Applebaum

Associate

Richard's practice involves a broad variety of real estate related matters with particular emphasis on real estate development, including condominium development, mixed-use developments, financings on behalf of borrowers, real estate joint ventures, subdivisions and lot sales, land acquisitions and commercial leasing.

Richard services condominium developers of all sizes and for all types of condominium projects including loft conversions, office building conversions, new low-rise projects and new hi-rise projects. He also represents one of Ontario's largest private and independent land developers relating to all aspects of its land development activities, including land acquisition, assisting in municipal approvals, financing, land servicing, lot sales and commercial block sales.

Richard represents borrowers of various sizes in a broad range of real estate financings including strip and enclosed shopping centres, land acquisitions, refinancings and office building projects. He also acts for both landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions, with emphasis on representation of landlords. His leasing experience includes commercial shopping centres, industrial projects, office buildings, restaurants and food supermarkets.

Noted by Lexpert as being Repeatedly Recommended for property financing and development work, Richard has also been selected by legal peers as one of The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Real Estate Law) and has been recognized with the Martindale-Hubbell BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5 Peer Review Rating.

Vanessa Battista

Associate

Vanessa Battista is an associate in the real estate department of Brattys LLP.

Vanessa’s practice focuses on an array of real estate matters, including residential and commercial purchase and sale transactions, mortgage financing, and the preparation and administration of Agreements and Leases. She has acted on behalf of individuals, corporations, and financial institutions in a broad range of transactions.

Andrew Besik

Associate

Andrew Besik practices in the areas of commercial real estate and financial services practice areas. Andrew completed his articles with Brattys LLP after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and joined the firm upon his call to the Ontario Bar. Andrew’s practice involves a variety of real estate related matters, with a focus on commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions and financing.

Daniel P. Botelho

Partner

Daniel practices in the areas of land development and commercial real estate, and, in particular, his practice is focused on condominium and freehold developments, acquisitions and dispositions, financing and commercial leasing.

Daniel acts for a variety of developers and builders and has acted on numerous prominent condominium developments both in the core of the City of Toronto and in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition to real estate development work, Daniel has handled various portfolio transactions of retail, commercial and industrial properties. As a member of the financial services group, Daniel also acts on behalf financial institutions and borrowers on various types of loan transactions. Daniel also provides commercial leasing services to landlords and tenants in large, medium and small scale developments.

In 2011, Daniel completed his Master’s Degree in Law, specializing in Real Property Law. Daniel’s education, expertise and specialization allow him to offer his clients the highest level of service in both traditional developments, as well as in emerging areas of the development industry.

Rudolph P. Bratty

Partner

Rudolph P. Bratty, Q.C. is one of the firm's founding partners whose practice includes all facets of real estate law, and various corporate and commercial transactions.

Rudy has been active in numerous charitable and not-for-profit endeavours, serves as a director for many high profile Canadian corporations, and is a highly regarded member of the Canadian business community. He was also appointed Queen's Counsel in 1970.

Renato Chiaradia

Partner

Renato Chiaradia is a member of the firm’s corporate and commercial department. Renato provides sophisticated corporate and business law advice to a broad base of clients, including entrepreneurs, private owner managed companies and various financial institutions.

Renato’s practice involves a variety of business transactions including, acquisitions, divestitures and restructuring of businesses, commercial leasing arrangements, financing transactions, contract and business enterprise matters. In addition to the above noted matters, Renato also provides individual and business clients with legal counsel regarding all aspects of their businesses, including shareholder and partner relationships, succession and tax oriented planning and transactions and negotiating and drafting shareholder, partnership, joint venture and numerous other commercial agreements.

Christopher Doucette

Associate

Christopher Doucette practices in the area of commercial real estate. Christopher completed his articles with Brattys LLP after graduating from Queen’s Faculty of Law and joined the firm upon his call to the Ontario Bar. Christopher’s practice involves a variety of real estate related matters, with a focus on commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and financing.

Michael N. Durisin

Partner

Michael practices in the firm’s real estate and financial services practice areas.

Michael’s clients include financial institutions, builders and major developers engaged in land development, land acquisitions and dispositions, land assemblies and cost sharing arrangements between developers and municipalities.

Michael’s practice has evolved over the years and is concentrated in all facets of the constantly evolving area of land development.

Michael was the Gold Medalist in his year in the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Michael is also chair of the Toronto Montessori Schools and was part of the team that constructed a new IB college for the School.

Michael has also been a significant donor to the Villa Charities, Osgoode Hall Law School and other worthy charitable causes.

Michael was selected as one of The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Real Estate Law).

Melissa Jean-Gilles

Partner

Melissa Jean-Gilles is a partner in the real estate and financial services departments of Brattys LLP. 

Melissa’s practice encompasses a range of commercial real estate and land development matters, with a focus on the development of condominium and subdivision projects, land acquisition and disposition, project financing and leasing.  Melissa also works with the firm’s financial services group representing various financial institutions in commercial lending transactions. 

Melissa is a member of the Toronto chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women (TCREW), and is also a member of TCREW’s Programs Committee.

Melissa completed her articles with Brattys LLP after earning her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School, and joined the firm upon her call to the Ontario Bar.  Prior to that, Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from York University. 

Kent Ko

Associate

Kent Ko is an associate in the corporate and commercial department of Brattys LLP.

Kent’s practice comprises a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, including acquisitions, divestitures, secured financing transactions, corporate reorganizations, joint ventures, commercial leasing arrangements, the preparation and negotiation of commercial contracts, and providing general business law advice.

Harriet Lau

Partner

Harriet Lau practices in the areas of commercial real estate and land development. Harriet completed her articles with Brattys LLP after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and joined the firm upon her call to the Ontario Bar. Harriet’s practice involves a variety of real estate related matters, with a focus on condominium development, financing and commercial real estate acquisitions/dispositions.

Elizabeth Lun

Associate

Elizabeth Lun practices in the areas of commercial real estate and land development. Elizabeth completed her articles with Brattys LLP after graduating from University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law and joined the firm upon her call to the Ontario Bar. Elizabeth’s practice involves a variety of real estate related matters, with a focus on condominium and freehold developments, commercial real estate acquisitions/dispositions, leasing and financing.

Helen A. Mihailidi

Partner

Helen A. Mihailidi practices in the firm's real estate department, focusing on land development and all types of land acquisitions and dispositions, including the related transaction and ownership structuring and financing, as well as commercial leasing.

Helen also specializes in the preparation and administration of landowners’ and developers’ cost sharing agreements dealing with the coordination of development of lands and installation of infrastructure and the sharing of costs related thereto, as well as related issues.   As part of her practice, Helen has been involved in the formation and administration of numerous cost sharing groups in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.  Helen’s practice also involves dealing with various governmental and other authorities in respect of the negotiation, finalization and implementation of cost sharing arrangements, development charge issues, front-end financing arrangements for the installation of large-scale municipal infrastructure and other development initiatives, as well as all other related development matters.

Sepideh Ramandi

Associate

Sepideh Ramandi is an associate in the real estate and financial services departments of Brattys LLP. 

Sepideh’s practice includes a broad range of commercial real estate and land development matters, with a particular emphasis on the development of condominium and subdivision projects, land acquisitions and dispositions, project financing, and commercial leasing.  Sepideh also works with the firm’s financial services group representing various financial institutions in commercial lending transactions. 

Anthony Romanelli

Partner

Anthony Romanelli is a partner in the real estate and financial services departments of Brattys LLP and represents developers, builders, commercial landlords and financial institutions.

One of Anthony's main practice areas is condominium development and he has helped launch and register numerous landmark condominium projects across the GTA.

Anthony regularly presents papers on a range of real estate and development topics at the Law Society of Upper Canada and chairs Roundtable Discussions at the annual International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference. He has also been a presenter at seminars hosted by the Building Industry and Land Development Association.

Anthony is a contributing author of Canada Law Books' 'Shopping Centre Leases, 2nd edition' and Carswell's 'Repair and Storage Liens Act: A Practical Guide'.

Taylor Schopp

Associate

Taylor Schopp practices in the areas of commercial real estate and land development. Taylor completed her articles with Brattys LLP after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and joined the firm upon her call to the Ontario Bar. Taylor’s practice involves a variety of real estate-related matters with a focus on the preparation and administration of landowners’ cost-sharing agreements. 

Larry R. Trifon

Partner

Larry R. Trifon is a partner in the real estate and financial services departments of Brattys LLP.

Larry’s practice involves a variety of real estate and land development related matters, with particular emphasis on condominium and subdivision development, builders’ sales, land acquisitions and dispositions, surety work in respect of condominium developments, and construction and development financing. Larry has been extensively involved in the sales, registration and closings of numerous condominium projects in the GTA.

Additionally, Larry’s practice includes the preparation and administration of landowners’ and developers’ cost sharing agreements relating to the sharing of community use land obligations and community infrastructure costs in connection with the development of communities in the GTA and other areas of Ontario.

Larry’s clients include some of the largest real estate developers and builders in Ontario and financial institutions involved in all aspects of commercial real estate lending.

Larry joined Brattys LLP shortly after his call to the Ontario Bar and after completing summer and articling terms at a large firm in downtown Toronto. Along with receiving awards during his studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, Larry was recognized by the Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School for placing within the top 6% of his graduating class, and was presented the Law Society’s Award for Academic Excellence. Prior to that, Larry graduated with high distinction from the University of Toronto’s Bachelor of Commerce program.

Nickolas Vlitas

Partner

Nickolas Vlitas is a partner in the corporate and commercial department of Brattys LLP.  Nickolas completed his articles with Brattys LLP after graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and joined the firm upon his call to the Ontario Bar. Prior to that, he received his Specialized Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from York University. 

Nickolas’s practice is focused on general corporate and commercial matters, corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate reorganizations, and the implementation of tax driven transactions, as well as the negotiation and drafting of shareholder, partnership and numerous other commercial agreements. 

Nickolas has also developed specific experience in transactions involving co-ownerships, with particular emphasis in joint ventures and other strategic alliances.

Michael C. Volpatti

Partner

Michael’s practice includes all aspect of commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing, syndication with a strong focus on condominium development and commercial real estate lending.

Michael has advised both entrepreneurial clients as well as institutions on all aspect of commercial real estate and has participated in advising purchasers, vendors and lenders in multi-hundred million dollar transactions, including syndicated loan transactions.

Michael is involved in the Greater Toronto Area’s BILD association as well as contributing from time to time as lecturer for various continuing legal education programs relating to many aspects of commercial real estate.

Michael sits on the board of directors for a local long term care facility and is a member of the Canadian Bar Association.