Lawyer Profile
Richard J. Arezes
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Richard Arezes is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP. Repeatedly recognized by leading legal directories, he is known for technical excellence and leadership in complex commercial real estate transactions.
Richard advises on acquisitions, dispositions, development, and financing, and is highly regarded for structuring joint ventures, partnerships, and co-ownership arrangements. Richard acts for lenders, private and publicly traded corporations, municipalities, and major retail and commercial enterprises, on high value mandates: master planned communities, large scale hospitality sector acquisitions, multi family portfolios, and industrial property financings.
Notable transactions include the $130 million Sheraton Gateway Hotel acquisition at Toronto Pearson, a $360 million multi property REIT portfolio financing, and structured lending for industrial and resort assets. Clients value his strategic insight and practical approach.
As an effective strategist, Richard collaborates closely with in-house counsel and internal real estate teams to deliver solutions tailored to business objectives. A trusted advisor and respected voice in the profession, he shares his expertise through speaking engagements, thought leadership, and mentorship.
Acted for a client in the ongoing development of a master plan community comprised of a former brownfields site by a partnership of major Ontario developers.
Acted as lead counsel for a group of investment Funds, which all have a diverse investor pool, and assisted them in their acquisition, disposition, and financing of multi-family residential buildings across Ontario comprising approximately 250+ units.
Acted for Knightstone Capital Management Inc. (“Knightstone”) through an affiliated entity, on its acquisition of the Sheraton Gateway Hotel located in Terminal 3 of Toronto Pearson International Airport (the “Hotel”) from an affiliate of Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (“Marriott”) for approximately $130 million and in connection with Knightstone’s $100 million securitized loan facility with Royal Bank of Canada – CMBS and its negotiation of hotel management and related operational agreements with Marriott.
Acted for Honeywell (NYSE:HON) in the acquisition by plan of arrangement of COM DEV International Ltd. (TSX:CDV), a leading satellite and space components provider of switches and multiplexers.
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 2010 (ON)