Property Development & Real Estate

We guide public and private clients through the full cycle of real estate and property development projects, delivering practical solutions that unlock value, manage risk, and drive growth.
Key Contacts
Barron RonaldBurgos RichardCrawford SimonHelmstadter JaneLewis MarkMantini Paul
Skyscrapers

Overview

In the last 20 years, Canada's major surges both in population and economic activity have translated into exponential growth in all aspects of real estate, whether in municipal infrastructure and institutional requirements, commercial and consumer needs in homebuilding, industrial development or community, commercial and retail services. From development, construction and land-use planning to commercial leasing and property management, our property development and real estate lawyers are proactive, deal-oriented advisors who understand the cyclical nature of the business and can anticipate and respond to the market and its players.

Our clients include public sector clients such as cities, municipal districts and provincial and federal ministries as well as developers, investors, portfolio managers, landlords, tenants, retailers, real estate professionals and financial institutions. According to need, we have negotiated and advised on land use assemblies and properties of virtually every type, including office properties, resort facilities, residential developments, retail and mixed-use commercial centres, industrial and manufacturing sites, gaming complexes, and other leisure and recreational buildings. We also bring particular expertise to energy-related land use, providing zoning, environmental and construction-related advice to multi-year, multi-phase projects ranging from oil sands extraction facilities to refining and upgrading sites.

One of our hallmark practices is our work with real estate portfolio managers, pension funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs). We have structured and led the financing of REITs and have advised owners and fund managers on complex commercial real estate developments, acquisitions, syndications, financings and dispositions. Working with our restructuring counsel, we have also been involved in significant national realization proceedings and Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act restructurings of large real estate loans and credit facilities.

,,It was a fantastic experience working with them. Our internal stakeholders were really happy with our external real estate counsel... I value their expertise, technical skill and client management. I'd put them up against anybody.,,

What Clients Say

Client Work

KingSett Real Estate Growth
in its $271-million acquisition of a portfolio of 37 industrial properties in Atlantic Canada from Dream Industrial REIT
KingSett Real Estate Growth
with the $99-million acquisition and financing of the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in downtown Toronto
McCowan and Associates
in its proposed acquisition of all of the outstanding units of Partners Real Estate Investment Trust
Master developer of entire Coal Harbour project, through master plan, all development approvals, remediation, co-ownerships, servicing, subdivisions, financings, sales and leases
Canso
in the proposed $600-million recapitalization of Postmedia Network
Crown corporation, in planning, development, construction and operations of convention centre and public stadium lands and facilities
Founders Advantage
in its $74-million acquisition of a 60% Interest in the Dominion Lending Centre group of companies
The developer of a multi-building, mixed-use town centre development project in a Vancouver suburb, with a focus on rezoning, construction, leasing and financing issues, ...
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Development, leasing, financing, subdivision and sales of high value projects in Metro Vancouver, including all dealings with B.C. Transit/TransLink on public transit guideways and stations
Northwest Healthcare Properties
in its $69.3-million public offering of 7,532,500 trust units in April 2016
The seller, on sale of an industrial site, for repurposing into a mixed use, high density and transit-oriented town centre project
The owner/developer, on master plan and transactions surrounding the Oakridge Centre redevelopment and related transit component
Cheung Kong
in a $84 billion (implied enterprise value) reorganization and combination of their respective businesses and the separation of their non- property and property businesses into two new Hong Kong-listed companies
The developer and co-owners, with the development of a four-site mid-rise technology campus in south-east False Creek
The developer of a multi-site waterfront industrial project in North Vancouver, including advising on dealings with Port Metro Vancouver regarding waterfront use issues
A privately held company, in the energy, mining and drilling sectors in the negotiation with a reporting issuer of a limited partnership structure regarding royalty based subordinated ...
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A privately held company, in the real estate investment industry in the implementation of a hotel venture arrangement and acquisition of a hotel and related senior debt financing and ...
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A national pension-fund-backed real estate fund, with the acquisition, sale and financing of commercial, industrial and retail properties in BC
Lenders, with two recent Canadian commercial property acquisitions establishing credit facilities in excess of $1 billion
The vendor, with Canada's largest single seniors housing portfolio transaction, and continue to act for seniors housing developers and operators

Recognitions

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Band 1, Real Estate: Alberta
Spotlight Table: Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use - Alberta
Ranked, Real Estate: Ontario; Real Estate: BC; Real Estate: Nationwide
The Legal 500: Canada
Ranked, Real Estate

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Property Development (Toronto); Property Leasing (Calgary)
Consistently Recommended, Property Development (Calgary, Vancouver); Property Leasing (Toronto, Vancouver)
Repeatedly Recommended, Property Development (Edmonton); Property Leasing (Edmonton)
Crawford Simon

Simon P. Crawford

Partner  •   Head of Real Estate Industry Team

Helmstadter Jane

Jane C. Helmstadter

Partner  •   Co-Head of Commercial Real Estate Practice

Lewis Mark

Mark V. Lewis

Partner  •   Co-Head of Commercial Real Estate Practice

At the centre of market-shaping deals and high-stakes disputes, Bennett Jones delivers clarity, strategy and results. Our cross-border teams turn complexity into progress, always focused on what drives your success.

Your Guide to Legal Solutions: Property Development & Real Estate

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The Bennett Jones Story

At Bennett Jones, legal solutions are our starting point. What drives us forward is knowing our clients inside and out—their ambitions, obstacles and success metrics.

For more than a century, we have shaped outcomes that matter in business, in law and in the broader Canadian landscape. And our commitment extends beyond legal matters: we invest deeply in the communities in which we live and work.