Commercial Real Estate

We deliver strategic, deal-focused real estate counsel across Canada, guiding clients through development, transactions and portfolio management with insight and precision.
Key Contacts
Burgos RichardCameron AlixeCrawford SimonHelmstadter JaneLewis Mark
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.

,,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

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.

With the opening of an office in Montréal, your number one real estate law firm in Canada is now available in Québec.

Client Work

1077333 BC
in the negotiations with ICBC for new headquarters lease of approximately 165,000 sq ft in a new mass timber office
BMO
in its $740-million acquisition of CapREIT's portfolio of 75 mobile home parks across the country
Extendicare
in its agreement to sell its retirement living operations in Ontario and Saskatchewan to SiennaSabra LP for $307.5 million
G2S2 Capital
under its banner Armco Alberta in its acquisition of Bow Valley Square in downtown Calgary
Gateway Casinos
in $1.8-billion refinancing of its corporate debt
Killam
in a tax-focused internal reorganization by way of plan of arrangement
Lactalis
in a significant and highly strategic property acquisition located adjacent to existing facility
Nature's Path Food
in its development, entitlements, construction and procurement matters for a 10-storey mass-timber office building
Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities
in a number of services including Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Commercial, Financial Services, Franchise Law and Mergers + Acquisitions matters
A Europe-based Investor
in its acquisition of Toronto's Royal Bank Plaza from Oxford Properties Group and CPP Investments
Freed
in its approximately $330-million acquisition of a portfolio of real property assets of including Horseshoe Valley Resort
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
KingSett
in H&R Real Estate Investment Trust's acquisition of Primaris
KingSett
in its $271-million acquisition of a portfolio of 37 industrial properties in Atlantic Canada from Dream Industrial REIT
KingSett
in the acquisition of 100 Alfred Kuehne Boulevard, Brampton
Citimark
in the acquisition of a partnership interest in the developer of a 36-storey residential tower in the Metrotown area of Burnaby
Master developer of entire Coal Harbour project, through master plan, all development approvals, remediation, co-ownerships, servicing, subdivisions, financings, sales and leases
Crown corporation, in planning, development, construction and operations of convention centre and public stadium lands and facilities
Northwest Healthcare
in its $69.3-million public offering of 7,532,500 trust units in April 2016 (including full exercise of the over-allotment option)
The developer of a multi-building, mixed-use town centre development project in a Vancouver suburb
Acal
in its acquisition of Plitron Manufacturing
Development, leasing, financing, subdivision and sales of high value projects in Metro Vancouver, including all dealings with BC Transit/TransLink
Tuckamore
in the refinancing of the company
The seller, on sale of an industrial site, for repurposing into a mixed use, high density and transit-oriented town centre project
The borrower, in a $200-million first-ranking acquisition credit facility with the purchase of 2 Bloor Street West and Cumberland Terrace
The owner/developer, on master plan and transactions surrounding the Oakridge Centre redevelopment and related transit component
The landlord, in the negotiation of a 240,000 sq. ft. office lease for an entire building located in Markham
The developer and co-owners, with the development of a four-site mid-rise technology campus in south-east False Creek
Noront Resources
in its acquisition of chromite properties in the Ring of Fire mineral region in northern Ontario
The developer of a multi-site waterfront industrial project in North Vancouver, including advising on dealings with Port Metro Vancouver regarding waterfront use issues
North West Redwater
in its $3.5-billion credit facility and $1.0-billion bond offering
A national pension-fund-backed real estate fund, with the acquisition, sale and financing of commercial, industrial and retail properties in BC
The vendor, with Canada's largest single seniors housing portfolio transaction, and continue to act for seniors housing developers and operators
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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RTL-Westcan
in the sale of its operating business to Kenan Advantage Group and its industrial properties to Edgefront Realty
Lenders, with two recent Canadian commercial property acquisitions establishing credit facilities in excess of $1 billion
Osisko Mining
in its response to Goldcorp's unsolicited offer and subsequent agreement with Yamana Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines to jointly acquire 100% of Osisko's issued and outstanding common shares
Canaccord Genuity
in the $75-million bought deal prospectus offering of trust units of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust
Canaccord Genuity
in a bought deal offering of $184 million of subscription receipts of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust
Boart Longyear
in a private placement of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due 2018
Darling International
in its acquisition of all the assets of Rothsay, a division of Maple Leaf Foods, for approximately $645 million
Brookfield
in the negotiation of lease with lead tenant for new Brookfield Place project in Calgary
C2C Industrial Properties
in its $226-million acquisition by Dundee Industrial REIT
Holloway Lodging
in the implementation of its conversion from an income trust structure to a corporate structure by way of a plan of arrangement

Recognitions

Chambers Canada
Real Estate

Chambers Canada Awards
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
Legal 500 Canada
Real Estate
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Real Estate – Commercial Leasing; Real Estate – Property Development
 

 

Explore Our Services

Condominium/Strata Development

Condominium/Strata Development

We guide developers and industry stakeholders through every stage of condominium and strata projects, delivering practical legal solutions that anticipate risks and drive successful developments.
Leonard A. Gangbar
Leonard A. Gangbar
Municipal & Planning Law

Municipal & Planning Law

We help clients work with municipalities and regulators across Canada, combining strong relationships and legal know-how to simplify complex approvals and move projects forward.
Andrew L. Jeanrie
Andrew L. Jeanrie
Proptech

Proptech

We help proptech clients navigate real estate, technology and finance with clear, practical legal solutions.
Natalia E. IamundoMichelle F. YungMatthew FlynnJ. Sébastien A. GittensBruce A. Hibbard
Natalia E. Iamundo, Michelle F. Yung, Matthew Flynn, J. Sébastien A. Gittens & Bruce A. Hibbard

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.

Cameron Alixe

Alixe A.L. Cameron

Partner  •   Co-Head of Commercial Real Estate Practice

Crawford Simon

Simon P. Crawford

Partner  •   Head of Real Estate Industry Team

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.