Department profile
Torys LLP

REITs

Canada Guide 2027 : Nationwide - Canada

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Torys LLP

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About

Provided by Torys LLP

Our interdisciplinary team helps REITs and real estate operating companies across all aspects of their business, providing sophisticated, integrated counsel on complex domestic and cross-border matters.

We bring decades of experience guiding clients through transformational deals in the REITs industry—starting with the development of the original REIT structure in 1993. Since then our work has included establishing one of the earliest REITs, launching the largest Canadian REIT IPO, and advising on the business combination creating Canada’s biggest REIT. 

Clients benefit from our market knowledge as well as our cross-practice strengths, including in securities, real estate, tax and environmental law. We uniquely offer integrated tax and structuring cross-border counsel through our Canadian and New York offices.

We work with REITs on all aspects of their work. We act as both underwriter’s and issuer’s counsel on numerous REIT and REOC secondary public and private equity and debt financings, REIT and REOC combinations, and more.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

REITs - Nationwide - Canada

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Torys is highly respected for its representation of REITs throughout their lifecycle, including structuring, bond offerings, real estate transactions and M&A. The Toronto and Calgary teams benefit from the firm's New York office, enabling it to provide sophisticated cross-border advice across a range of mandates. The group is particularly noted for its securities law expertise and regularly acts for issuers and underwriters in public REIT and REOC transactions. It continues to be recognised for its role in transformational M&A within the sector.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Torys advised CIBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets and a syndicate of underwriters on GO Residential Real Estate Investment Trust’s USD410.1 million initial public offering and a concurrent USD90 million private placement.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Torys is relentless in the pursuit of getting things done.

    REITs respondentCanada

  • Torys are responsive and commercial, and quickly bring members of their team across different disciplines when required, which makes them stand out.

    REITs respondentCanada

  • Torys are incredibly knowledgeable, providing top-level support which doesn’t compare with anyone. The team is always anticipating, providing strategic business advice in addition to the legal.

    REITs respondentCanada

  • Torys marries expert technical subject matter expertise with world-class client service. They have effectively leveraged a hub and bespoke model whereby a core team of lawyers have taken the time to intimately understand our industry and our organisation, and they draw on subject matter experts from across the firm as needed to service us.

    REITs respondentCanada

  • The firm can bring such a broad perspective because they are involved in the most sophisticated deals. The team come up with innovative solutions, which is what you want from your external counsel.

    REITs respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Michael Zackheim
    Michael Zackheim

    Michael Zackheim

    Toronto-based Michael Zackheim has experience acting for underwriters and REIT-side clients on public offerings, private placements and a range of other transactions.

    • Michael is very experienced and knowledgeable. He is very responsive and provides practical guidance.

      REITs respondentCanada

    • Michael is excellent. He is very commercial and thoughtful when overcoming new challenges or situations different from the normal. He is highly responsive, even for non-deal related queries.

      REITs respondentCanada
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  • Simon Knowling
    Simon Knowling

    Simon Knowling

    Simon Knowling is based in Toronto and has substantial experience across a range of real estate-related transactions, including private equity, debt financings and acquisitions.

    • Simon is probably the best M&A lawyer in the country; he is a business lawyer, and you feel like he’s part of your C-Suite. When you’re working with Simon, he never makes a mistake and is very practical in solving problems to get deals done.

      REITs respondentCanada

    • Simon provides exceptional service.

      REITs respondentCanada
    • Simon is one of a kind. He defines client service excellence, combining supreme technical expertise with a work ethic that is second to none.
      REITs respondentCanada
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Ranked Individuals at Torys LLP (2)

Nationwide - Canada

Members

Provided by Torys LLP

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