Aird & Berlis Welcomes New Partner Melissa A. Muskat

We are pleased to announce that Melissa A. Muskat has joined the firm as a partner and member of our Municipal & Land Use Planning Group.

Melissa is a property tax specialist with more than 30 years of experience. Clients appreciate her strong advocacy skills and personable nature. Melissa is passionate about finding creative and cost-effective solutions that suit her clients' business objectives. 

Melissa advises commercial landlords, tenants, developers, property managers and financial institutions on property assessment matters and municipal taxation issues, as well as realty tax-related commercial leasing matters. In her practice, Melissa routinely reviews and appeals property assessments to the Assessment Review Board and negotiates settlements with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Melissa’s practice also includes advising on and pursuing applications for property tax exemptions, rebates and grants. She assists in providing realty tax estimates, verifying tax appeal adjustments and reviewing tax billing calculations. Melissa monitors new developments in assessment and realty tax legislation and policies and proactively advises clients on the implications for their businesses.

In commercial leasing, Melissa’s experience includes advising landlords and tenants on the interpretation of realty tax clauses in leases and in disputes relating to realty tax allocations. She also provides advice with respect to drafting realty tax clauses to conform to the current legislative assessment scheme and to align with a client’s business goals relating to realty tax recoveries.

Melissa’s background in commercial litigation informs her advocacy at hearings before the Assessment Review Board and the Superior Court of Ontario.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Melissa to the firm.