John Van Gent Email & Phone Number

I am 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, I have over 16 years of experience in Canadian commercial real estate. My practice has a particular emphasis on real estate financing, including acting on some of the country's largest commercial real estate financing transactions. For example, I recently acted 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.My real estate finance practice focuses on both syndicated and bilateral secured lending transactions including revolving, term loan and construction credit facilities. My clients include a mix of borrowers, banks and private non-bank commercial mortgage lenders. In 2018, I 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, and a $200-million mezzanine term loan secured by all of the assets and undertakings of a western based Canadian real estate development company.I have a breadth of experience with traditional real estate investment structures,. International real estate investors benefit from my considerable experience with respect to the trading and financing of commercial real property. My advice to clients concerning real estate investment structures and land transfer tax planning results in transaction efficiencies and long term savings.

Listed skills include Commercial Leasing, Corporate Law, Legal Writing, Joint Ventures, and 14 others.