Michael McDonald joined Soloway Wright’s Real Estate and Development Law Group in 2021 and became one of the firm’s newest partners in 2024. His practice focuses on providing practical, meaningful legal advice to businesses and individuals across a wide range of real estate matters — from large-scale commercial developments to residential transactions. He works closely with land developers, institutional and private lenders, commercial landowners, and homeowners, helping them navigate complex issues with clarity and confidence.
Since joining the firm, Michael has been recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada: Ones to Watch, reflecting both the growth of his practice and the strength of the team supporting him.
From Engineering to Law: A Different Way of Thinking
Michael’s path to law began in an unexpected place: engineering. Before entering the legal profession, he studied Mechanical Engineering and worked in a CNC metal machining lab. That experience shaped the analytical, systems-based approach he now brings to his legal work.
“To be honest, a career in engineering was enticing to me, and a near certainty,” Michael said. “A one-off discussion with a neighbour who was a practicing solicitor raised my awareness to the unique challenges that the law could offer, which completely changed the course of my education.”
Today, that engineering mindset informs how he approaches real estate and development law — a practice area that requires understanding how multiple interests, risks, and objectives intersect. His ability to break down complex problems and visualize outcomes allows him to anticipate issues and create practical solutions for clients.
Supporting Clients Through Every Stage of Development
Michael’s practice involves guiding clients through all sides of land transactions and development projects. He regularly assists land developers in navigating title and real estate issues and works with lenders, purchasers, and vendors to ensure transactions are structured strategically and move forward efficiently.
He also supports the firm’s corporate group, particularly where real estate intersects with corporate reorganizations. By working collaboratively across practice areas, Michael helps clients align their business, tax, and development goals.
Michael began his legal career in Toronto, where he worked with many of the city’s major multi-unit residential developers. There, he gained experience across the full development lifecycle — from land acquisition and joint venture structuring to title clean-up, construction financing, and final sales or take-out financing. Early in his career, he worked on transactions regularly exceeding $100 million, with his largest surpassing $600 million.
That large-scale experience continues to shape his approach today: proactive, detail-oriented, and always mindful of both immediate and long-term outcomes.
Returning Home — and Building Something Meaningful
After several years in Toronto, Michael returned to his hometown of Kingston, Ontario. Being closer to family was important, but so was the opportunity to contribute to the community where he grew up.
“To me, Soloway Wright was a great opportunity in a medium-sized city in Ontario,” Michael explained. “What drew me to Soloway Wright was its long-standing reputation of providing excellent legal services in the Kingston and Ottawa area, and its depth of expertise.”
“What kept me at Soloway Wright was the amazing team of lawyers and staff we have at the firm, and the continued opportunity to deal with so many landmark properties in Kingston that I remember from a young age.”
That connection to both the firm and the community continues to motivate him as his practice grows in Eastern Ontario.
A Big-Picture Approach to Real Estate Law
Clients often turn to Michael when facing complex, high-stakes decisions involving land, financing, or development timelines. His approach begins with understanding the full landscape of the property and the surrounding risks.
“We sometimes joke that we’re ‘dirt lawyers’,” Michael said. “All of our work, at the core, involves land and the interests of different parties in that land.”
“The first thing I do when I receive a file is look at a bird’s-eye image of the property. What’s on it? What’s surrounding it? Where are the potential risks going to come from?”
By grounding legal analysis in the physical and practical realities of a site, Michael is able to identify potential issues early and guide clients toward informed decisions.
He also emphasizes collaboration within the firm. “I pull from my experiences and my natural curiosity for the law to commit myself to get the answers to my clients’ legal questions, and help them through their challenges,” he said. “For those which go beyond my expertise, I know there is someone on the Soloway Wright team that will help me get the answer, or at the very least set my client in the right direction.”
“That collective desire to support our clients is what makes working with the Soloway Wright team so great.”
Outside the Office
Outside of his legal practice, Michael’s commitment to discipline and teamwork has been a constant. He spent 15 years as an international-level swimmer and continues a 20-year streak as a competitive bagpiper — pursuits that reflect persistence, preparation, and performance under pressure. Those same qualities carry over into his client work.
Final Thoughts
Real estate and development projects are often complex, time-sensitive, and deeply significant for the individuals and businesses involved. Michael’s goal is to provide clear, strategic advice that allows clients to move forward with confidence — whether they are undertaking a major development or navigating a critical transaction.
About Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald is a Partner in Soloway Wright LLP’s Real Estate and Development Group. He advises land developers, lenders, businesses, and individuals on a broad range of real estate and development matters, including acquisitions, financing, title issues, and complex transactions. Michael began his legal career in Toronto working on large-scale development projects and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada: Ones to Watch. He is based in Kingston, Ontario.
