Real Estate Law

Our firm acts for clients in all types of real estate transactions, ranging from first time condominium buyers to developers of major urban mixed use projects.

We have historically been involved in major real estate development in British Columbia. This has involved acting for our clients in all matters relating to such developments, such as tax structuring, acquisition of properties, density transfers, environmental matters, servicing agreements, rezoning, subdivision, financing, and leasing.

The following is a summary of the projects we have acted on over the last decade:

Acted as counsel to Ledcor Properties in its acquisition of a joint venture interest in Village Green Mall in Kelowna and condominium/apartment development projects in San Diego, California.
Acted as counsel to Brookfield Properties in its acquisition of Sevenoaks Shopping Centre and its sale of Westoaks Shopping Centre in Abbotsford.
Acted as counsel to Burrard International Holdings in its acquisition of Quail Ridge Golf Course.
Acted as counsel in real estate financings in such landmark projects as Eaton Centre Metrotown, Rogers Cantel Tower, Royal City Centre, and numerous others.
Acted as counsel in the refinancing of first mortgages on Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria and Guilford Shopping Centre in Surrey.
Acted as counsel to Blackcomb Mountain in respect of its development at Whistler during the seven years that our client, Aspen Skiing Corporation, held a 50% interest. This early development work involved extensive negotiations with several government ministries and created much of the framework for the resort as it exists today.
Acted as counsel to QLT Inc. in its disposition of two properties on Great Northern Way to Discovery Parks Holdings Inc.
Acted as counsel to Translink in numerous property acquisitions in and around the Lower Mainland, including the acquisition of property on Hudson Street (Vancouver Transit Centre) as well as acquisitions of properties from the Beedie Group and Bosa Development Corporation.
Acted on numerous other developments in and about the Lower Mainland, including: the BC Hydro head office building in Vancouver and its office complex in Burnaby; the BC Cellular building; City Square shopping centre in Vancouver; Capilano Mall in North Vancouver; Granville Island, undertaken by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; BC Place; and the Westminster Quay and Lonsdale Quay developments undertaken by Crown corporations on behalf of the Government of British Columbia.

The firm also has an active commercial leasing practice for major landlords and tenants in industrial, retail, and office facilities.

Our Real Estate Law Lawyers

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Brian R. Canfield	Partner	bcanfield@farris.com	604 661 9362
David E. Gillanders, Q.C.	Associate Counsel	dgillanders@farris.com	604-661-9339
Mitchell H. Gropper, Q.C.	Partner	mgropper@farris.com	604 661 9322
R. Christopher Holmes	Partner	cholmes@farris.com	604 661 9335
Kevin Kingston	Partner	kkingston@farris.com	250 869 3861
Ross Langford	Partner	rlangford@farris.com	250 869 3868
Gordon A. Love	Partner	glove@farris.com	604 661 9317
Peter C.T. MacPherson	Partner	pmacpherson@farris.com	250 869 3881
Hugh M. Matthews	Partner	hmatthews@farris.com	604 661 9305
Maria K. McKenzie	Partner	mmckenzie@farris.com	604 661 9319
A. Keith Mitchell, Q.C.	Chair	kmitchell@farris.com	604 661 9337
Dominic A. Petraroia	Managing Partner, Kelowna	dpetraroia@farris.com	250 869 3851
Paul S. Richardson	Partner	prichardson@farris.com	604 661 9351
Laura J. Baptie	Associate	lbaptie@farris.com	250 869 3874
Nicole M. Cameron	Associate	ncameron@farris.com	604 661 9348
Aaron P.G. Dow	Associate	adow@farris.com	250 869 3858
Christine J. Oberti	Associate	coberti@farris.com	604 661 9380