Relevant Experience

The following transactions serve to highlight Joan's extensive experience in a broad range of significant real estate transactions together with her expertise in leading major project teams:

• Purchase of numerous development sites for First Industrial Realty Trust and related planning, development, leasing and disposition retainers
• Higgins Development Partners - Acquisition of commercial lands and conversion to industrial condominiums, acquisition and development of industrial sites in Halton Hills, Ajax and Caledon, Ontario
• Sale by The Royal Ontario Museum to the University of Toronto of the former McLaughlin Planetarium site
• Formation of a joint venture for Higgins Development Partners for the acquisition and development of a 200-acre industrial and office park in Mississauga, Ontario, and the related construction, financing, leasing and disposition
• C$512-million disposition by Maple Leaf Foods Inc. of its animal nutrition business involving in excess of 70 owned and leased properties across Canada
• Acquisition, development, financing and leasing of over one million square feet of industrial buildings for Verus Development Partners in various locations across Ontario
• Experience in acquisition and strategic development of brownfield sites
• US$133.5-million purchase by Syngenta International AG of a peat moss business, including real estate assets across Canada
• Land assembly for a major soft drink manufacturer to allow development of a significant plant expansion
• Lease of a specialized and refrigerated warehouse facility for Lindt & Sprungli
• Negotiated relevant agreements for development of new Archives of Ontario facility at York University
• Canadian real estate counsel for Brink's handling acquisitions, leasing and development matters
• Invenergy - acquisition and development work for a new power plant, as well as related financing with a lending consortium
• Acts for a number of manufacturing clients in the ongoing disposition of non-core business real estate assets, dealing with all real estate and environmental aspects arising from decommissioning of such facilities
• Legacy Hotel REIT - C$335-million financing of seven of its properties: The Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver; The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Edmonton; Delta Toronto East; Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa; Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montréal; Delta Centre-Ville, Montréal; and Delta Halifax
• Acted for Imperial Oil in the disposition of its automobile lubrication business handling all real estate requirements arising from owned, leased and franchised locations used in that business
• Acted for Imperial Oil in its lease from The Greater Toronto Airport Authority for its airport operations
• Acts on an ongoing basis for a number of institutional lenders in conventional and construction lending transactions
• Acquisition, leasing and development on behalf of a U.S. call centre operator of its Canadian sites

Joan is a member of both The Law Society of Upper Canada and The Alberta Law Society. She is also a member of Toronto CREW (Toronto Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women) and the Canadian Bar Association, Real Property Subsection.