• About
  • Offices
  • Careers
  • Students
  • Alumni
Logo Bennett Jones
  • People
  • Expertise
  • Resources
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All

FEATURED AREAS

Energy
Funds & Finance
Mining
Capital Projects
All Industries
Crisis & Risk Management
Environmental, Social & Governance
Governmental Affairs & Public Policy
All Practices
Insights
Media
Events
Subscribe
COVID-19 Resource Centre
Business Law Talks Podcast
Kickstart
New Energy Economy Series
People
Featured Areas
All Practices
All Industries
About
Offices
Careers
Insights
Events
Search
Search
 

John D. van Gent

Partner

Partner |

T: 416.777.6522

Toronto

van gent John
 
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

T: 416.777.6522


Toronto

  • Education
  • Bar Admissions
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services
  • Recent Experience
  • Recent Recognition
  • Insights, News & Events
  • Related Services

John van Gent is entrusted by commercial real estate financiers, investors and owners to help maximize the value of their portfolios, through practical advice on the structuring of complex financing and other transactions.

Recently recognized by The Legal 500 Canada as one of six next generation real estate lawyers, John has over 16 years of experience in Canadian commercial real estate. His practice has a particular emphasis on real estate financing. John has acted on some of the country's largest commercial real estate financing transactions including, most recently, acting as lead counsel to a syndicate of lenders with respect to a $1.4 billion syndicated term loan in connection with the acquisition by Blackstone Property Partners L.P. and Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. of all of the units of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust.

John’s real estate finance practice focuses on both syndicated and bilateral secured lending transactions including revolving, term loan and construction credit facilities. His clients include a mix of borrowers, banks and private non-bank commercial mortgage lenders. In 2018 John acted on secured lending transaction with an aggregate loan value in excess of $4.1 billion including, most notably, a $1.4 billion syndicated term loan secured by a portfolio of over 125 industrial properties across Canada, a $275 million term loan secured by a portfolio of 27 office properties across the country, a $200 million mezzanine term loan secured by all of the assets and undertakings of a western based Canadian real estate development company, a $200 million secured term loan secured by a portfolio of funded loan commitments, a $130 million operating line secured by a portfolio of urban infill properties in Ontario, a $125 million construction loan for a mixed use development at Yorkville Avenue and Cumberland Street in Toronto, a $120 million term loan secured by Lansing Square, and a $116 million term loan secured by LuCliff Place.

John has a breadth of experience with traditional real estate investment structures, including joint ventures, limited partnerships, mortgage investment funds, real estate and other private equity investment funds, and other co-ownership arrangements. Canadian and international real estate investors benefit from John's considerable experience with respect to the trading and financing of commercial real property, including office buildings, retail properties, industrial properties, multi-family residential developments, seniors housing, and hotel and resort properties. His advice to clients concerning real estate investment structures and land transfer tax planning results in transaction efficiencies and long term savings.

John regularly acts for both landlords and tenants on commercial leasing, sub-leasing, and land leasing arrangements. He has acted for government or quasi-government interest such as PortsToronto in connection with real estate holdings throughout the Toronto waterfront such as the development and construction of the pedestrian tunnel to the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and the Villiers Island Precinct.

John has authored and presented a number of articles at industry conferences and is a regular presenter at the Bennett Jones Academy.

Education

Queen's University, BA (Hons), 1998 Queen's University, LLB, 2001 

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 2002

Recent Experience

RBC Capital Markets Inc., as administrative agent for a syndicate of lenders, in a $1.4-billion syndicated term loan with respect to the acquisition by Blackstone Property Partners L.P. and Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. of all of the units of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust.
KingSett Capital, in an amended and restated $350-million secured term loan from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce on the security of a portfolio of funded loan commitments.
Royal York Acquisition LP and Royal York Operations LP (a joint venture between KingSett Capital, InnVest REIT and SITQ) in connection with an amended and restated $223-million secured term loan from Royal Bank of Canada and Otéra Capital Inc. on the security of the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario.
A joint venture between KingSett Capital and Timbercreek, in their $200-million acquisition of a portfolio of 14 retirement homes in Saskatchewan and the related $162-million secured term loan from Royal Bank of Canada.
Metrus Corporation and Muzzo Group of Companies Holdings Inc., in their $390-million purchase from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce of a portfolio of 89 bank branches located throughout Canada, the associated leaseback to CIBC, and the related $259-million secured term loan from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Versa LP (a joint venture between KingSett Capital and SITQ), in a $185-million secured term facility from a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and bcIMC on the security of a portfolio of 13 cold storage warehouses located across Canada.
ONE Properties, in a $105-million land assembly from multiple vendors of the block bounded by Ontario Street to the east, Queen Street to the north, Sherbourne Street to the west, and Richmond Street to the south, Toronto, Ontario.
Holloway Lodging Limited Partnership, in a $50-million secured term loan and a $30-million revolving loan from Canadian Western Bank and ICICI Bank Canada secured by a portfolio of 10 hotel properties located across Canada.
QP Residential Limited Partnership (a joint venture between ONE Properties and Greystone), in its $55-million purchase from a group of vendors with respect to the properties municipally known as 351, 355, 361, 363, 371 and 373 Queen Street East, 80 & 82, 90, 92 and 94 Power Street, and 161 Parliament Street, Toronto, Ontario.
Greenland Lakeside Development Limited Partnership, in a $55-million secured term loan from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Canada) on the security of 215 Lakeshore Boulevard East, Toronto, Ontario.

Recent Recognition

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Real Estate: Ontario
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Repeatedly Recommended, Property Development
The Legal 500 Canada
Next Generation Lawyers, Real Estate
Who's Who Legal Canada
Recognized, Real Estate

Insights, News & Events

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Recognized in Chambers Canada 2021

September 10, 2020
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones is Top-Tier in The Legal 500

November 18, 2019
       

Related Services

Commercial Real Estate
Commercial Transactions
Property Development & Real Estate

The firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use

© Bennett Jones LLP 2021 All rights reserved. Bennett Jones refers collectively to the Canadian legal practice of Bennett Jones LLP and the international legal practices and consulting activities of various entities which are associated with Bennett Jones LLP

Logo Bennett Jones