Gowling WLG

Partner

Mark Platteel is a Toronto-based partner in the Real Estate and Financial Services Department and the Infrastructure and Construction Industry Group.

Deeply immersed in Canada's infrastructure sector, Mark advises clients across the full lifecycle of development projects, with particular emphasis on complex financing transactions, public-private partnerships (P3), and the negotiation and drafting of large-scale construction contracts. Over the course of his career, Mark has worked closely with a range of public and private sector participants – including procurement agencies, developers, contractors, financial institutions, project entities and advisors – in bringing landmark infrastructure projects to fruition across the country and throughout North America.

Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Mark served for a number of years as general counsel for one of the most active infrastructure developers worldwide. In this role, he was instrumental in advising on the legal, commercial and financing aspects of some of the most ambitious transit, bridge and road projects in Canadian history, as well as the global marketplace. This experience, and the 360-degree industry perspective it afforded, has positioned Mark strongly to help his clients navigate the myriad hurdles and major strategic considerations they encounter on their road to success.

Prior to his general counsel role, Mark was in the Financial Services Group at another large national law firm for 10 years in Toronto, working on a broad range of sophisticated debt financing transactions.

Mark has been recognized repeatedly for his work throughout his career. In 2019, he was a finalist for the Osler Purdy Crawford Deal Making Award, part of the Canadian General Counsel Awards. That same year, the Gordie Howe International Bridge project – for which Mark acted as lead in-house counsel for a consortium of successful bidders – was distinguished by Lexpert as the #1 Deal of the Year. Also in 2019, the legal department led by Mark was named to the GC Teams Powerlist for Canada by Legal 500 as one of the top in-house legal teams in Canada. Lastly, Mark was named by Legal 500 to the GC Powerlist 2020 for Canada as one of the top in-house legal counsel in Canada.

Mark currently serves as chair of the Steering Committee for the Canadian Infrastructure Law Forum – a position he has held for the past two years. He continues to speak and write regularly on topics related to infrastructure development in Canada.

Outside of his practice, Mark volunteers as the head coach of the East York Basketball Club U-15 girls rep team, and as a house league coach with the East York Basketball Club, East York Soccer Club and Beaches Community Soccer Club. In recent years, he has also mentored students of Toronto's Central Technical School through the Law in Action within Schools (LAWS) program, as well as students of the First Nations School of Toronto through the Dare to Dream program.