Background
John Sullivan is a partner in Montréal. John received his BA from McGill University and his MA from the University of Ottawa. He received his LLB and BCL from McGill University in 1981. He was called to the Québec bar in 1982.
Areas of Practice
· John practises in most areas of real property law and associated areas of general commercial law, including development, leasing, acquisition and divestiture, and financing of real estate.
Rankings and Recognitions
· Martindale-Hubbell BV Distinguished Peer Review Rating
· Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Real Estate Law)
· Recognized in the 2010 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Property Development)
Professional Experience In recent years, John has been involved in the following transactions:
· the acquisition by the Centurian group (based in New York City), together with Canadian and foreign partners, of interests in a number of major Montréal real estate complexes;
· responsibility for the general real estate activities throughout the Province of Québec of McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited;
· advising in connection with the establishment in Québec of The Brick Real Estate Corporation;
· advising and organizing the legal work in connection with the Québec mortgage loan origination work of conduit lenders, including Merrill Lynch, Royal Bank of Canada and First National;
· acting in connection with the general commercial and real estate-related matters in respect of the activities of a participant in the Alouette aluminium smelter in Sept-Îles, Québec;
· acting as legal counsel to The Great-West Life Assurance Company as lender on a loan transaction by way of secured bonds in respect of a Gatineau area office complex;
· advising a German institutional lender on the financing of the office component of the Place Bonaventure and the Central Station complexes in Montréal.
Transaction and Cases
· Financing through a credit facility for the previous acquisition of a lifestyle based retail complex
· Refinancing through credit facility of a leader in the industrial alcohol and ethanol business
· Sale of business unit by a world leader in the food industry
· Real property aspects of the acquisition of a Greek-controlled financial institution by a leading Canadian Bank
· Redemption of mortgage bonds by a Canadian real estate investment trust
· Establishment of a realty fund by a major real estate investment and management organization
· Cross-Border refinancing of credit facilities of a leading Canadian manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use
· Acquisition of a shopping mall and office space by a Canadian real estate income trust
· Financing through a private placement of a renewable energy provider
Professional Activities
· John has participated in various seminars and conferences in connection with his practice area, and is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and of the International Council of Shopping Centers.