Commercial Real Estate and Development

Lawson Lundell was one of the first law firms in western Canada to establish a distinct real estate group as a result of the requirements of our natural resource clients.

Our lawyers are currently retained by contractors, developers, institutional and private investors, and government agencies who undertake a broad range of real estate projects, including commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and mixed use. We have advised on the acquisition, disposition, financing, rezoning, subdivision, development, redevelopment and leasing of real property. When appropriate, our group draws on the expertise provided by other members of the firm in such areas as tax, environmental and aboriginal law.

Our municipal law lawyers, led by Ed Wilson, have extensive experience representing municipalities, regional districts, government agencies, crown corporations, private sector clients and citizen groups on all aspects of municipal law including land use planning, public/private partnerships and expropriations.

At present, the real estate industry in western Canada is facing a number of challenges which require sophisticated and pragmatic solutions. Our senior lawyers, John Fraser and Stephen McCullough have been providing our clients with legal support for over 35 years. Their experience gained during the difficult markets of the early 1980s and the mid 1990s is particularly relevant today. Three of our senior real estate lawyers are recognized by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as being “consistently recommended” or “repeatedly recommended”. We have the expertise and reputation to provide our clients with timely, pragmatic and cost efficient advice.

In addition to serving our clients, our lawyers are frequently called upon to participate in educational presentations for the legal profession and the development industry and in this regard Ed Wilson was recently presented with the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia 2007 B.C. Leaders in Learning award.

Examples of our experience include:

• Advising clients who have developed many of the regional shopping centre malls in British Columbia, including Metrotown Centre, the Crossroads Centre, Conference Plaza, Champlain Mall and Middlegate Mall
• Representing one of the co-owners of the Coal Harbour lands which have been developed for residential and commercial uses in downtown Vancouver
• Providing advice to Canada Place Corporation relating to the integration of the new Vancouver Convention Centre with Canada Place and the use of Canada Place by the Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee
• Developments on First Nation lands
• Acting on behalf of British Columbia Housing Management Commission relating to the sale of a 15 acre parcel of land located in the City of Vancouver, known as the Little Mountain lands
• Advising the British Columbia Real Estate Association with reference to the Real Estate Services Act
• Acting for pension funds relating to the acquisition and disposition of residential and commercial income producing properties