Simon P. Crawford

Partner
Head of Real Estate Industry Team

T: 416.777.4815 / E: crawfords@bennettjones.com

Toronto

Simon Crawford is shortlisted by every major Canadian and international legal guide, including Chambers Global, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Euromoney Expert Guide and Best Lawyers in Canada, as one of Canada's leading real estate lawyers, and is listed in the 2018 Lexpert ALM 500 comprehensive guide to Canada’s top legal talent, as one of the 500 most frequently recommended lawyers across Canada, in any ranked discipline, as determined by annual peer survey. Simon was recently accepted as a Fellow for ACMA (American College of Mortgage Attorneys).

He is among a small handful of lawyers in Canada who are called upon regularly to lead and structure the country’s largest and most complex real estate bids and transactions, and has been a key advisor and strategist in developing, trading, financing, and tailoring the ownership and joint venture structures for many of the country's landmark office, commercial, retail, sports and entertainment, infrastructure and residential projects and portfolios.

Chambers Canada

"Simon Crawford is a highly respected lawyer with a broad commercial real estate practice. He has an excellent track record handling a range of high-profile mandates, including purchases and lending. Interviewees laud his solution-driven approach and say: 'He's creative and very responsive,' adding: 'He's excellent with clients.'"

In 2017, Simon was the lead advisor on transactions valued in excess of $4 Billion, including the acquisition of approximately $1.2 Billion in commercial mortgages from Home Capital/Home Trust. In 2016 he was the lead advisor in connection with the acquisition of one of Toronto’s landmark skyscrapers, Scotia Plaza. In 2015, he was the lead real estate advisor to a significant landlord group in connection with the insolvency proceedings related to Target Canada, the largest Canadian retail insolvency in recent history. Simon was featured in the September 2014 issue of Lexpert magazine as lead counsel to a consortium in respect of 2013's largest commercial real estate transaction, the acquisition of all Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust properties. In 2012 he acted as counsel to the purchaser of a $2 Billion industrial real estate portfolio comprised of more than 400 properties.

Simon advises many of Canada's most sophisticated real estate investors on private equity matters, fund formation, joint ventures, income trusts, the purchase and sale of real estate assets and real estate companies, property development, banking and mortgage lending, structured finance and asset securitization, corporate finance, mezzanine and participating debt structures, infrastructure, public/private partnerships, mortgage and loan servicing and enforcement, and on real estate issues in bankruptcy and insolvency.

In recent years, Simon has acted as senior advisor on some of Toronto’s more notable new developments and financings, including Cumberland Terrace, the Bay-Adelaide Centre, the Trump Tower, and the 75-storey Aura condominium project, which is currently the tallest residential building in Canada. Across the country, Simon has also acted on large portfolio transactions, including the acquisition and financing of ING's industrial portfolio and the privatization of both Atlas Cold Storage and Versacold.

Chambers Canada

"Simon Crawford is noted as an 'excellent lawyer' by sources, who go on to say: 'He's highly responsive, pragmatic as opposed to dogmatic, and helps to get things done.'"

Complementing Simon's real estate practice is extensive deal experience in public/private partnerships, the creation of pension-fund eligible investments, and the financing and trade of regulated facilities such as gaming, infrastructure healthcare and long-term care projects. In addition, Simon has acted for government or quasi-government interests, including most notably, as advisor to Waterfront Toronto in connection with the development of Toronto's waterfront lands.

Simon has represented clients in the financing or sale of a significant number of Canada's landmark office, commercial, entertainment and retail properties, including Toronto's 2 Bloor and Cumberland Terrace, Bay Adelaide Center, Trump Tower, Primaris Shopping Centre portfolio, Scotia Plaza, Brookfield Place, TD Centre and First Canadian Place, Montreal's Eaton Centre, Ottawa's Rideau Centre, Saskatchewan's Midtown Plaza and Calgary's Scotia Plaza and Palliser Square. Simon has also represented lenders or purchasers in connection with various sports and recreation facilities including in connection with the 2010 Olympic games, Toronto's Ricoh Centre and Niagara Falls Casino.

Simon is called upon regularly to moderate panels for the commercial real estate community, is a prolific writer and speaker on developments in real estate law, is a frequent lecturer for the Law Society of Upper Canada for the continuing education of the real estate bar.

Select Experience

Freed Developments Ltd. in its approximately $330-million acquisition of a portfolio of real property assets of including Horseshoe Valley Resort, Deerhurst Resort and some additional lands from Skyline Investments, together with the purchase of the portion of Muskoka Bay Resort it did not already own
KingSett in the purchase from the Huntley group of a portfolio of industrial properties located in the GTA.
KingSett in the sale of its 100% interest in the first three floors of the Aura Tower, located at 388 Yonge Street in downtown Toronto, to the Ikea group of companies
Lead Real Estate Counsel to a significant landlord group, in the Target Canada insolvency
December 02, 2015 - Lead Counsel to Canderel and KingSett Real Estate Growth LP No. 5, in the acquisition of 1243 Islington Avenue, Toronto,, a 107,824 square foot office building located at Islington Avenue and Bloor Street West, Toronto. http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/canderel-kingsett-capital-venture-into-west-end-office-market-2078726.htm
November 18, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Canadian Real Estate Income Fund LP and its partner, in its acquisition of 2 Bloor Street West, a 455,371 square foot, 34-storey Class A office tower located at Yonge & Bloor, Toronto
November 18, 2015 - Lead Counsel to KingSett Real Estate Growth LP No. 5 and its partner, in its acquisition of Cumberland Terrace, a 3-level, 83,045 square foot retail complex located on Cumberland Street from Bay Street to Yonge Street, Toronto
September 18, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Real Estate Growth LP No. 5, in its acquisition of 25 Dyas Road, a 75,000 square foot flex office building in Toronto
September 02, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Real Estate Growth LP No. 5, in its acquisition of 1802 Centre Avenue, a 225,000 square foot industrial building located in central Calgary
September 01, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Real Estate Growth LP No. 5, in its acquisition of an 80% joint venture interest in Surrey City Centre, a 10 acre development property in downtown Surrey
August 07, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Canadian Real Estate Income Fund LP, in its sale of 2335 Speers Road, a 260,830 square foot industrial building in Oakville
June 30, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Canadian Real Estate Income Fund LP, in the sale of the East Village Development Site, located in Calgary
June 10, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Real Estate Growth LP No. 5, in its acquisition of 1601 and 1635 Tricont Avenue, two industrial buildings totalling 258,000 square feet in Whitby
April 08, 2015 – Lead Counsel to KingSett Canadian Real Estate Income Fund LP, in the sale of 875 Middlefield, 335 and 345 Passmore, three industrial buildings totalling 282,561 square feet in Scarborough
Lead Real Estate Counsel to a purchaser consortium, in 2013's largest commercial real estate transaction, the acquisition of a $3+ Billion Shopping Centre portfolio
Senior Counsel in the development and financing of Aura, the tallest Canadian condominium project
Lead Real Estate Counsel to the purchaser, of a $2 Billion industrial portfolio
Senior real estate counsel in the privatization of two income funds, Atlas Cold Storage and Versacold.

Recent Recognitions

Chambers Canada

Ranked, Real Estate
Ranked, Real Estate – Ontario
Chambers Global The World's Leading Lawyers for Business

Ranked, Canada, Real Estate
The Legal 500 Canada

Leading Lawyer, Real Estate
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Most Frequently Recommended, Property Development
Consistently Recommended, Property Leasing
Repeatedly Recommended, Environmental, Social & Governance ESG
Best Lawyers in Canada

Recognized for Real Estate Law
Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada

Ranked, Property Development
Lexpert Special Edition

Recognized as a leading Infrastructure lawyer in Canada
Who's Who Legal: Canada

Recognized, Real Estate

Recent Insights, News & Events

Buyer (Counsel) Beware of an Apportionment of Damages
Speaking Engagements / April 09, 2025
Simon Crawford was a featured speaker at the 22nd Real Estate Law Summit, sharing key insights during his session, Buyer (Counsel) Beware of an Apportionment of Damages. Head of Bennett Jones’ Real Estate Industry team, Simon is a sought-after thought leader in the sector, known for his practical guidance, deep industry knowledge and ability to unpack complex legal issues into actionable strategies for clients and counsel alike.
Specific Performance: Not Extraordinary in Commercial Leasing
Blog / March 31, 2025
In light of recent caselaw, and despite popular belief, it may be time to reframe specific performance as a perfectly ordinary remedy rather than an extraordinary one. The decision of Justice Rees in The Decorators Choice Paint Store Ltd. v Innes Crossing Inc., reaffirms what we recently saw in Bellwoods Brewery Inc. v 1896841 Ontario Limited, which is that the remedy of specific performance should not be a surprising outcome in the context of leasing disputes.
156 Bennett Jones Lawyers Featured in 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Announcements / March 11, 2025
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has recognized 156 Bennett Jones lawyers in the 2025 edition. The firm also received rankings across 32 practice areas.
Lessons in Leadership From Canadian Business Icon Jon Love
Blog / February 14, 2025
What a great evening. The indomitable Jon Love, Executive Chair and Founder of KingSett Capital, joined me for a one-on-one discussion about his extraordinary career, his reflections on leadership and current public policy issues in a rapidly changing world landscape.
Must a Buyer Accept an Open Building Permit on Closing?
Blog / December 20, 2024
In recent years, courts in Ontario have struggled with the answer to this question, and we direct you to our earlier blog on the subject that considered the 2022 case Chan v Mangal that also looked at the issue. More recently, however, the Court again considered whether the closure/removal of an open building permit can be requisitioned as a matter of title in Ontario... and it came to an answer that is unsettling to some.
When a Gift is not a Gift—Resulting Trusts in Real Estate
Blog / December 09, 2024
When it comes to estate planning, joint tenancy is often seen as a simple way to transfer property after death while bypassing probate fees. But as the case of Jackson v Rosenberg shows, what may seem like a straightforward solution can lead to unexpected legal disputes. When Nigel Jackson added Lori Rosenberg as a joint tenant of his home, he intended to secure her inheritance through the right of survivorship (a hallmark of joint tenancy). However, when a change of heart led Jackson to sever the joint tenancy, the move sparked a legal battle over the true meaning of a “gift” in property law and whether Rosenberg had an interest in the home beyond the right of survivorship. Here's what unfolded and what it means for future property owners.
The Eight-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2024
Speaking Engagements / November 19, 2024
Simon Crawford and Craig Garbe were featured speakers for The Eight-Minute Real Estate Lawyer program’s Fall 2024 iteration. The program looked at critical topics shaping the real estate industry—including legislative updates and key takeaways from recent case law.
Bennett Jones Recognized as Top-Tier Firm in Legal 500 Canada Rankings
Announcements / November 14, 2024
Bennett Jones has once again been recognized as a top-tier firm in five practice areas in the 2025 Legal 500 Canada guide. Known for our deep knowledge and client-focused approach, we consistently deliver strategic solutions that help clients solve their most complex legal matters. This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence and our dedication to achieving the best results for our clients.
Key Changes to Property Control Rules: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know Before October 7, 2024
Blog / September 30, 2024
The Competition Bureau’s public consultation process in connection with new rules related to property controls on certain exclusivity and restrictive use provisions ends on October 7, 2024, and landlords and tenants alike have until that deadline to provide feedback to the Bureau on their enforcement approach as it relates to the proposed rules. If you have a vested interest in restrictive covenants as a landowner or tenant, you will want to get up to speed, and quickly.
The Battle of Bona Fides: The Doctrine of Indefeasibility Revisited
Blog / September 27, 2024
When it comes to registered title, we take comfort in it being right—its record, indefeasible. The land titles registry is the root of our confidence in the state of title. Registered instruments are, by virtue of their being on the registry, fixed in place, reliable and immutable. And we expect that only a handful of statutory exceptions to title, deemed trusts or liens can colour our certainty on the priority of a registered instrument. But we may take for granted the system that facilitates the recording of ownership and interests in real property.
Bennett Jones Top Ranked in Chambers Canada 2025
Announcements / September 26, 2024
Bennett Jones is proud to have once again been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 41 practice areas, with 135 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2025. These rankings reflect the deep trust our clients place in us to solve their most complex legal matters and underscore our lawyers' extensive understanding of their industries and businesses, enabling us to consistently deliver an exceptional experience. In this year's guide, Bennett Jones has 10 Band 1 practice rankings, 20 Band 1 lawyer rankings and 10 newly-ranked lawyers. In addition to this year's rankings, Bennett Jones was awarded Class Action Law Firm of the Year and was a finalist for Real Estate Law Firm of the Year.
Not My Problem: The Maintenance of Easements
Blog / August 21, 2024
When you grant an easement over your lands to another, who has the obligation to maintain the lands and the improvements on those lands? One might argue that it is the grantor of the easement—that the owner has the obligation to ensure that the easement is maintained so that the grantee can always use the easement as intended. Or, one might argue that it is the grantee, on the basis that the grantee is deriving a benefit from the easement and should maintain the improvements on the easement lands to a certain standard. After all, if the grantee is enjoying the benefit of the easement lands, should it not exercise some degree of care in the maintenance of those lands and improvements in them?
The Double Default Rule in Real Estate Transactions
Blog / July 17, 2024
"We're ready, willing, and able to close. Are you?" These are familiar words to those who buy and sell real estate. They embody the notion that, on the time appointed for the closing of the transaction, a party is ready to close and has their ducks in a row to do so. And of course, these words are also often thought of in the context of another phrase: "time is of the essence"—the contractual concept that the dates and times in the purchase and sale agreement are to be adhered to strictly. So combined, the two phrases connote, that on the set closing date and time, the parties are to show up with all of their required deliveries and moneys to complete the transaction, failing which, someone will be liable for damages.
Don’t Walk Away! Landlord Remedies on Lease Repudiation
Blog / April 24, 2024
Markets change. Situations change. Plans change. And in the face of change, tenants are often faced with future lease obligations that no longer suit their business plans. They need (or at least want) to change the deal with their landlord. But what commercial tenants and their landlords need to remember, is that leases are not quite the same as other commercial contracts.
Killing the Deal (Anticipatory Repudiation in a Real Estate Purchase)
Blog / April 22, 2024
Once an agreement of purchase and sale for real estate is signed, the path to closing and the rules of closing are firmly engrained, both in the terms of the contract and in principles of law and equity. You don’t get to unilaterally change the deal. And when you insist on unilaterally changing the deal, by words or even just actions, you run the risk of repudiating the contract. When one party tries to do this in advance of closing, we refer to this as anticipatory repudiation.
Can your Neighbour Expropriate your Land? (A Consideration of Remedies for Trespass)
Blog / April 19, 2024
What happens when part of your dream home is constructed on your neighbour's property? You might think that you would be forced to tear that home, or at least part of it, down. It’s not your land, after all. You are trespassing. It’s unlikely that you would think that you could get the court to force the neighbour to sell you part of its land. In the abstract, that seems preposterous, if not offensive to the whole idea of property ownership.
Stay Off the Slippery and Precarious Slope when Time is of the Essence
Blog / March 07, 2024
"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late" wrote William Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor—a line that would have fit well in the judgement of the Ontario Court of Appeal in its recent decision in 3 Gill Homes Inc. v. 5009796 Ontario Inc. (Kassar Homes), a case that turned on the application of the so-called "time is of the essence" clause.
167 Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024
Announcements / March 06, 2024
167 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized for their legal expertise in the 2024 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
Bennett Jones Top Ranked in Chambers Canada 2024
Announcements / September 28, 2023
Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 39 practice areas, with 124 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2024. In this year's guide, Bennett Jones has 11 Band 1 practice rankings, 21 Band 1 lawyer rankings and 10 newly-ranked lawyers. In addition to this year's rankings, Bennett Jones was awarded Real Estate Law Firm of the Year and was a finalist in Projects and Energy Law Firm of the Year.
Fish(es), Minerals, Train Tracks and Parks (and the law of Constructive Taking)
Blog / September 27, 2023
If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. But what if a man has the right to sell fish, and he builds his business and livelihood around that right, and then the government passes a law allowing only the government to sell fish, putting him out of business? In a nutshell, that's the backdrop for a 1979 Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) decision called Manitoba Fisheries Ltd. v. The Queen.
Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2024
Announcements / August 24, 2023
104 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized across 46 practice areas in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada. The recognized lawyers work in Bennett Jones' offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, highlighting the firm's national expertise.
Enforcing Unwritten Real Estate Purchase Agreements
Blog / August 02, 2023
It's generally accepted good law that, in order to create a valid contract for the purchase and sale of real property, the agreed-upon terms must include, at a minimum, the identity of the parties, the description of the property at issue and the purchase price.
What's Next in Office Financing in Canada?
Blog / June 20, 2023
Bennett Jones was pleased to host an oversubscribed NAIOP panel discussion on current issues in office financing. Simon Crawford shares his key impressions from what was a compelling and thoughtful dialogue. We are not our neighbours to the south. Our CRE relationship market, lower labour mobility and conservative banking system encourage a more stable and predictive future in commercial real estate sectors, including office. U.S. news headlines about empty office buildings simply do not translate into an understanding of key Canadian markets.
Good Fences Make Good Neighbours—Except When They Don't
Blog / April 26, 2023
For a good long time, Ontario has had two systems for recording the ownership of real property: the registry system and the land titles system, and in the last few decades has been undertaking the concerted effort of consolidating all lands into the land titles system.
Let's Be Reasonable: Landlord Consents to Lease Assignment
Blog / April 04, 2023
What sort of things go through a commercial landlord's mind when receiving a notice from its tenant that the tenant wants consent to assign its lease? The answer is, all sorts of things. The landlord may want the space surrendered so it can re-lease it at a higher rental rate. The landlord may doubt the ability of the proposed assignee to perform the obligations under the lease.
Twenty-One Bennett Jones Lawyers Recognized in 2023 Lexpert ALM 500 Directory
Announcements / February 06, 2023
Twenty-one Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in the 2023 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. The Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory profiles the most frequently recommended lawyers across Canada in approximately 35 practice areas identified via an extensive, annual peer survey. Lexpert produces the Directory in collaboration with American Lawyer Media.
Requisitioning the Closure of Open Building Permits
Blog / January 30, 2023
Ontario courts have long wrestled with whether requisitioning the closure of an open building permit is a valid buyer requisition when made pursuant to a standard Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) real estate form purchase agreement. Requisitions can be made pursuant to the terms of the real estate purchase agreement, pursuant to the provisions of the Vendors and Purchasers Act (Ontario) or pursuant to common law.
Bennett Jones Shines In Legal 500 Canada Rankings
Announcements / November 09, 2022
Bennett Jones has been recognized as a top-tier firm in five practice areas in the 2023 Legal 500 Canada guide: Aviation, Cannabis, Dispute Resolution: Alberta, Environment and Oil and Gas.
Lexpert’s Leading Canadian Infrastructure Lawyers
Announcements / June 22, 2022
Thirty-eight Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2022 Lexpert special edition of Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers. The issue profiles Lexpert-ranked lawyers in business-related litigation and appears in June’s Report on Business Magazine in the Globe and Mail.
Pontegadea Canada Acquires Toronto's Royal Bank Plaza
Client Work / February 08, 2022
Bennett Jones acted for Pontegadea Canada in its acquisition of Toronto's Royal Bank Plaza from Oxford Properties Group and CPP Investments, globally one of the largest office-tower transactions since the start of the pandemic, and the largest single-asset acquisition of a Canadian property in recent history.
Twenty-Four Bennett Jones Lawyers in 2022 Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory
Announcements / January 06, 2022
Twenty-four Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in the 2022 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
Bennett Jones: "Top Tier" in Chambers Canada 2022
Announcements / September 16, 2021
Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 38 practice areas, with 111 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2022. Bennett Jones has 8 Band 1 practice rankings and 14 Band 1 lawyer rankings in this year's guide.
Self-Induced Urgency Is Not “Urgent"
Blog / August 30, 2021
That was the opening line, and the ultimate decision from Hon. Justice Myers in Nicholas v Ogniewicz, 2021 ONSC 4442. The case involved an application by the purchaser for a one-hour urgent hearing under the Vendors and Purchasers Act, RSO 1990, c. V.2 to determine the validity of a series of particularly onerous requisitions submitted on behalf of the purchaser in a recent real estate transaction. The urgent application was ultimately denied on the basis that there was (1) no risk of physical injury; (2) no risk to the property of irremediable waste; (3) no confidential information at risk of disclosure or misuse; and (4) no business at risk of irreparable harm.
Bennett Jones' Best Lawyers in Canada 2022
Announcements / August 26, 2021
146 Bennett Jones lawyers have been recognized across 48 practice areas in the Best Lawyers in Canada 2022 edition, with 44 lawyers having earned recognition in multiple practice areas. The recognized lawyers work in Bennett Jones' offices across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver, highlighting the firm's national expertise.
36 Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked in Lexpert Special Edition on Infrastructure
Announcements / August 05, 2021
Thirty-six Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2021.
Bennett Jones Nominated in 2021 Chambers Law Awards
Announcements / July 12, 2021
Bennett Jones is nominated in the following four categories in the 2021 Chambers Law Awards: Healthcare Law Firm of the Year, Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, Corporate Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.
159 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Announcements / April 29, 2021
159 Bennett Jones lawyers have been ranked in the annual edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. 26 are in the highest category of Most Frequently Recommended.
Simon Crawford at LSO's 18th Annual Real Estate Law Summit
Speaking Engagements / April 19, 2021
Simon Crawford spoke at the Law Society of Ontario's 18th Annual Real Estate Law Summit on "Half Truths, Omissions, and Silence: The Duty of Honest Performance and the Real Estate Contract".
Twenty-Five Bennett Jones Lawyers in Lexpert/ALM 500 Directory
Announcements / December 17, 2020
Twenty-five Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in the 2021 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
Simon Crawford at The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2020
Speaking Engagements / November 17, 2020
Simon Crawford speaks on “This Land is Your Land; This Land is My Land:” Partition Act Considerations at the Law Society of Ontario's Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2020. During this four-hour [...]
Simon Crawford on Flexible-Workspaces and Commercial Real Estate
In The News / November 16, 2020
Simon Crawford comments in The Logic on why the trend of landlords allowing workshare providers more flexible commercial lease terms may be short-lived.
Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021
Announcements / September 10, 2020
Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms across 38 practice areas, with 115 lawyer rankings in Chambers Canada 2021.
39 Bennett Jones Lawyers Ranked as Infrastructure Leaders
Announcements / September 03, 2020
39 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in the Lexpert Special Edition – Canada's Leading Infrastructure Lawyers. Ranked lawyers are based in the firm's Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver [...]
Twenty-three Bennett Jones Lawyers in Leading 500 in Canada
Announcements / December 13, 2019
Twenty-three Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in The 2020 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500
Announcements / November 18, 2019
Bennett Jones has been recommended as a Top-Tier firm in 5 practice areas in The Legal 500 Canada 2020 guide.
Bennett Jones' Leading Lawyers in Chambers Canada 2020
Announcements / September 19, 2019
Bennett Jones has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading law firms with over 100 recognized practitioners nationally in Chambers Canada 2020. Here are a few things clients have said: “The [...]
136 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Announcements / May 06, 2019
136 Bennett Jones lawyers have been ranked in the annual edition if the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in 49 practice areas in our offices across Canada. Bennett Jones received 26 lawyer rankings in the highest category of Most Frequently Recommended:
22 Bennett Jones Lawyers in Leading 500 in Canada
Announcements / December 12, 2018
Twenty-two Bennett Jones lawyers are recognized in The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. The directory profiles the most frequently recommended lawyers across Canada, identified via an extensive, annual peer survey.
Bennett Jones in Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018
Announcements / November 01, 2018
64 Bennett Jones lawyers are ranked in 19 areas of Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2018. The guide identifies the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law for their annual publication.
Real Estate Capital Markets 2018 Seminar
Event / June 20, 2018
Simon Crawford, Partner at Bennett Jones LLP, will be moderating a panel on The Public Growth of Private Equity at the Commercial Real Estate Executive Seminar: Real Estate Capital Markets 2018. [...]
Hold Me Harmless: Indemnidoos and Indemnidon'ts (Indemnity Agreements in a Commercial Sale)
Speaking Engagements / April 18, 2018
Simon Crawford presents "Hold Me Harmless: Indemnidoos and Indemnidon'ts (Indemnity Agreements in a Commercial Sale)" at the 15th Annual Real Estate Law Summit - LSUC Presentation. The British Columbia Supreme Court recently decided that a buyer could rescind a purchase agreement for a residential property when the vendor failed to disclose that a previous Occupant was murdered just outside of the property.
120 Lawyers in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Announcements / April 16, 2018
120 Bennett Jones lawyers have been ranked in the annual edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in 26 practice areas in our offices across Canada. 29 lawyers are individually ranked in the highest category of Most Frequently Recommended...
Unable or Unwilling
Articles / September 19, 2017
Simon Crawford presented "Unable or Unwilling" at the LSUC's 2017 Commercial Real Estate Transactions program.
Unwilling or Unable (The Official Guide to Answering Requisitions)
Speaking Engagements / September 19, 2017
Simon Crawford presents "Unwilling or Unable (The Official Guide to Answering Requisitions)" at the Commercial Real Estate Transactions 2017 seminar.
It's Your Opinion, You Sign It
Articles / April 03, 2017
Now that the turmoil attendant upon the transference of power from one great party in the State to another has subsided, people may be permitted to devote their minds to a consideration of those sectional questions which are not less important for the welfare of the persons concerned, than are the great national issues upon which they have just pronounced judgment. Among such persons we count the considerable body of clerks who pursue their careers of usefulness in the law offices of the kingdom. Simon Crawford and Scott Azzopardi authored "It's Your Opinion, You Sign It" and presented same at LSUC's 14th Annual Real Estate Law Summit.
Please Satisfy Yourself
Articles / April 03, 2017
Title requisitions, and responses to title requisitions, are often evidenced by two simple letters back and forth between solicitors; and yet, in the content of those two letters is the meat of the real estate transaction. Those letters evidence that two solicitors have put their mind to the fundamental issue of whether the seller of the real estate can convey what it bargained to convey in the purchase agreement. Simon Crawford and Carolin Jumaa authored "Please Satisfy Yourself" and presented same at the LSUC's 14th Annual Real Estate Law Summit.
Queen's Real Estate Roundtable
Speaking Engagements / October 27, 2016
Simon Crawford moderates a panel discussion of senior real estate executives, including Aik Aliferis (CEO, Primecorp Group of Companies), Mike Bonneveld (VP, Skyline Asset Management Inc.), Teresa Fritsch (SVP, Real Estate, Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT), and Curt Millar (CFO, Interrent REIT) on investment in multi-unit residential at the “Building Value in Investment Real Estate: Office, Industrial, Retail & Multi-Unit Residential” seminar presented by Queen's Real Estate Roundtable, Queen's University at the St. Andrew’s Club & Conference Centre, 150 King Street West, Conservatory Suite, 16th Floor, Toronto.
The Doctrine of Deferred Indefeasibility
Speaking Engagements / February 01, 2016
In February 2016 Simon Crawford will be presenting an hour long seminar on The Doctrine of Deferred Indefeasibility for the Commons Institute's series "Advanced Sessions on Commercial Real Estate Law".
Ghost Offers in Real Estate Transactions
Blog / January 22, 2016
"If a man signs a contract for and on behalf 'of his horses', he is personally liable." - Lord Denning Too Clever by Half Not so long ago I received a draft agreement of purchase and sale from a practitioner [...]
Loan Guarantees and Letters of Support
Speaking Engagements / January 20, 2016
Simon Crawford will be presenting on the topic Loan Guarantees and Letters of Support for Federated Press' 2016 two-day seminar series on Loan Documentation. His presentation will be on January 20, 2016 from 11:30 to 12:30.
What Happened to my Mortgage?
Blog / January 15, 2016
In 2015, and just before his retirement, Justice Murray of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice left us with a challenging legal decision that, for the time being at least, will matter to mortgage lenders. Mortgage [...]
Do Building Permits Affect Title to Real Estate?
Articles / January 01, 2016
This article discusses whether building permits affect title to real estate. No, although unfortunately, we have to overcome a December 2015 decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in order to support that "no". A decision that, in order to square with the legal framework of real estate law, will need to be either overturned or distinguished, filed away and forgotten as being applicable to a very particular set of facts. But for the time being, the decision is recent and has caused something of a stir in the real estate legal community and the title insurance community, not so much because of the result, but because of how the Court came to the result. To understand the topic however, one has to take a few steps back in order to consider generally, what building permits are, and why they would ever come up in a conversation related to a person's title to their real property.
Title Insurance for Building Code Violations
Blog / December 08, 2015
When most lenders, owners and lawyers think of title insurance, they (quite rightly) think of insurance that covers risks associated with title matters. The answer is in the name, as it were. However, [...]
Title Insurance and Unpermitted Work
Articles / December 01, 2015
The Ontario Court of Appeal has recently released a decision that takes an expansive and broad view of when a residential title policy can provide coverage for work done without a building permit. View presentation at Slideshare: Title Insurance and Unpermitted Work.
Crawford on Deferred Indefeasibility and Mortgage Priorities
Articles / November 01, 2015
The Ontario Superior Court Of Justice's decision in CIBC Mortgages v. Computershare and its interpretation of the principle of the Deferred Indefeasibility of Title. Author: Simon Crawford. Simon presented the linked seminar to members of the Canadian mortgage lending community for the First Canadian Title Lender Roundtable Series. View presentation on Slideshare: Crawford on Deferred Indefeasibility and Mortgage Priorities.
Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2015
Speaking Engagements / September 17, 2015
Simon Crawford speaks at Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2015 hosted by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
WHAT YOU SEE'S IS WHAT YOU GET'S: The Land Titles Registry I Once Knew
Articles / September 01, 2015
Simon Crawford presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada, Commercial Mortgage Transactions, 2015, on the Ontario Superior Court decision in CIBC Mortgages Inc. v. Computershare Trust Co of Canada. View presentation at Slideshare: WHAT YOU SEE'S IS WHAT YOU GET'S: The Land Titles Registry I Once Knew.
5th Annual Business Law Summit
Speaking Engagements / May 07, 2015
Simon Crawford presents at the upcoming 5th Annual Business Law Summit, Law Society of Upper Canada, on the topic of "Drafting the Math: Understanding Financial Covenants, Tests and Benchmarks in Commercial Transactions" in Toronto.
Drafting the Math – Understanding Financial Covenants, Tests and Benchmarks in Commercial Transactions
Articles / May 01, 2015
Simon Crawford presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada (5th Annual Business Law Summit) on Explanation and Calculation of 1) Loan to Value Ratio; 2) Debt to Equity Ratio; 3) EBITDA; 4) Interest Coverage Ratio; 5) Net Present Value; 6) Loan Life Coverage Ratio; 7) Debt Service Coverage Ratio; 8) Internal Rate of Return; and 9) Earn Outs. View the presentation at Slideshare: Drafting the Math – Understanding Financial Covenants, Tests and Benchmarks in Commercial Transactions.
Bennett Jones Receives Top Honours in Four Practice Areas by Chambers Global Rankings
Announcements / March 18, 2015
The 2015 Chambers Global Rankings have been published and once again Bennett Jones LLP remains one of the top ranked law firms in the country, with 18 rankings out of 28 categories and 60 individually ranked lawyers.
Nominee Corporations and GST/HST Compliance
Articles / October 01, 2014
Simon Crawford and Douglas Chen presented at Bennett Jones LLP on CRA no longer tolerating a bare trustee or nominee corporation for a joint venture to collect and remit HST/GST for the participants in the joint venture. View presentation at Slideshare: Nominee Corporations and GST/HST Compliance.
Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2014
Speaking Engagements / September 16, 2014
Simon Crawford presents, "Priority Issues Between Mortgages and Unregistered Interests" at the Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2014 program held by The Law Society of Upper Canada.
A Lawyer's Ability to Act for Borrower and Lender
Articles / September 01, 2014
Simon Crawford presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada. An overview of the Law Society Rules of Professional Conduct on acting for both Lenders and Borrowers in a mortgage or loan transaction.
Priority Issues Between Registered Mortgages and Unregistered Superpriority Claims
Articles / September 01, 2014
Simon Crawford presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada, Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2014. Priority Issues Between Mortgages and Unregistered Interests, tax liens, realty taxes and other superpriorities. View presentation at Slideshare: Priority Issues Between Registered Mortgages and Unregistered SuperpriorityClaims.
Simon Crawford and Paul Mantini in Lexpert on KingSett Capital Transaction
In The News / September 01, 2014
In the Lexpert article by Anthony Davis, "Art of the Deal," Simon Crawford and Paul Mantini recall their experience working on the KingSett Capital-led consortium that acquired 17 properties from Primaris Retail Real Estate Investment Trust in the largest real estate acquisition transaction of 2012.
Allocation of Risk in a Purchase and Sale Agreement
Articles / December 31, 2013
Simon Crawford presented a discussion on the various stages of the life of an agreement of purchase and sale and explored risk allocation at each stage. View presentation at Slideshare: Allocation of Risk in a Purchase and Sale Agreement.
Contracting as an Individual for a Corporation to be Formed
Articles / December 31, 2013
Real estate purchasers will sometimes sign a purchase agreement in trust or as agent for a corporation not yet formed. This discussion looked at the merits of that practice and the potential dangers to vendors. View presentation at Slideshare: "Contracting as an Individual for a Corporation to be Formed".
Interlender Agreements
Articles / December 31, 2013
Simon Crawford presented at Bennett Jones LLP on Lending Transactions. Interlender agreements deal with more than mortgage priority. This overview considers various factors to be considered when negotiating intercreditor provisions.View presentation at Slideshare: Interlender Agreements.
The Lease for Atlantis and the Doctrine of Frustration
Articles / December 31, 2013
Simon Crawford presented at Bennett Jones LLP on negotiating leases and how parties need to be mindful of the consequences of damage and destruction and whether absolute destruction can frustrate the lease. View presentation at Slideshare: The Lease for Atlantis and the Doctrine of Frustration.
The Unofficial, Unedited and Unplugged Guide to Bankers Acceptances
Articles / December 31, 2013
Simon Crawford presented at Bennett Jones LLP, an introduction to the principles governing the often misunderstood Bankers Acceptances. View presentation at Slideshare: The Unofficial, Unedited and Unplugged Guide to Bankers Acceptances.
Doing Business In Canada: Commercial Real Estate
Articles / November 01, 2013
Simon writes as Canadian correspondent to the business law legal community in India on investing in commercial real estate in Canada. Published in the November 2013 edition of India Business Law Journal . View presentation at Slideshare: Doing Business in Canada: Commercial Real Estate.
Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2012
Speaking Engagements / September 12, 2012
Simon Crawford presents on the topic of Priority Issues with Other Mortgages at the Law Society of Upper Canada's Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2012 program in Toronto.
Priority Issues with Other Mortgages
Articles / September 01, 2012
Simon Crawford presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada, Commercial Mortgage Transactions 2012. The idea of this short paper is to first take a high level view of what rules govern mortgagee rights as between one another, and then consider how and why mortgagees may sometimes want to supplement or vary those rules as between them.
Practising Commercial Real Estate in a Changing Environment
Speaking Engagements / September 22, 2009
Simon Crawford of Bennett Jones co-chairs a real estate forum with a high profile faculty including Peter Aghar, President of KingSett Capital Partners, the Honourable Justice Geoffrey B. Morawetz and the Honourable James Farley Q.C. as part of Osgoode Hall Law School's Professional Development CLE, Practising Commercial Real Estate in a Changing Environment, which forum will address buying, selling, financing and leasing in recessionary times.
Global Real Estate Investment: Strategic Opportunities Emerging From Turbulent Markets
Speaking Engagements / May 21, 2009
At Global Real Estate Investment: Strategic Opportunities Emerging From Turbulent Markets, Simon Crawford moderates the panel discussion, "Shopping Abroad: Canadian Pension Funds and Foreign Real Estate" (8:35am-9:50am).
Recent Developments in Property Development
Updates / March 01, 2004
Published in Lexpert's 2004 Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.
Mortgages and Commercial Tenancies - Considering Goodyear Canada Inc. v. Burnhamthorpe Square Inc.
Articles / February 01, 1999
Simon Crawford presented on Mortgages and Commercial Tenancies - Considering Goodyear Canada Inc. v. Burnhamthorpe Square Inc.
Keeping It to Themselves: Bank Privacy Towards 2000
Articles / December 31, 1997
Simon Crawford published this paper with the 1997 Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa on Efficiency in information transfer has increased rapidly in the last decade, and with this efficiency new threats to the security of that information have surfaced. The unauthorized disclosure of information by banks was, at one time, a personal matter. Typically a customer might have one complaint with one bank about an isolated injurious breach of confidence. However, as banks amass greater storehouses of client information, and as the commercial potential of that information is increased, the threat of grand scale disclosures becomes a reality.