John D. van Gent

Partner

T: 416.777.6522 / E: vangentj@bennettjones.com

Toronto

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.

Recognized by Chambers Canada, Lexpert and The Legal 500 Canada as a leading practitioner in the area of real estate. John has 20 years of experience in all aspects of Canadian commercial real estate with a particular emphasis on real estate financing. He has acted on some of the country's largest commercial real estate financing transactions and real estate work-out transactions. His 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 2021 John will act on secured lending transaction with an aggregate loan value in excess of $5 billion including, most notably, a $900-million revolving credit facility secured by a portfolio of industrial properties in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, a $350-million refinancing of an enclosed retail shopping centre in Ottawa, Ontario, a $270-million refinancing of the Royal York Hotel, a $191-million construction financing for a condominium project in Burnaby, British Columbia, a $180-million term financing of development land in Toronto, Ontario, a $155-million construction financing for an industrial development in Mississauga, Ontario, and a $149-million construction financing of a multi-family residential tower in Toronto, Ontario.

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.