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About Jean-Simon

Jean-Simon's practice encompasses a vast array of commercial and transactional operations in real estate law. His practice covers transactions such as sales and acquisitions of properties and portfolios, real estate financings, real estate and project developments, infrastructure projects, project financing, commercial leasing, and all related matters.  He also assists and advises clients on various projects and ventures, such as co-ownerships, joint ventures and real estate investment funds, and their creation, structuring and governance. Jean-Simon acts for a diverse range of leading clients, including private and public companies, institutions and funds. He has acted in some of the most sizeable real estate transactions in Quebec over the last several years.

Jean-Simon also acts regularly for clients in the transportation, energy and hospitality sectors in connection with their real estate operations and developments.

Before joining Blakes, Jean-Simon acted as in-house counsel for a prominent Canadian hotel chain, where he was involved in hotel development and financing projects, as well as in the creation and governance of real estate investment and private capital funds.

Jean-Simon is fluent in English and French.

Select Experience

Jean-Simon has notably acted for:

Real Estate

  • Sycamore Partners on its acquisition of Lowe's Companies, Inc.'s Canadian retail business including Lowe's Canada and Rona stores

  • Saint-Gobain on its C$1.325-billion acquisition of Building Products of Canada Corp.

  • Starlight Investments, KingSett Capital and other investors on their C$4.8-billion acquisition of Northview Apartment REIT

  • BentallGreenOak on its sale to Groupe Petra and Groupe Mach of the KPMG Tower and the Promenades Cathédrale underground shopping mall and retail concourse

  • Nobel REIT Limited Partnership and Nexus Real Estate Investment Trust on their acquisition of a 50% undivided co-ownership interest in a 300,000-square-foot robotized customer fulfillment centre owned by Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust and leased to Sobeys Inc.

  • Canadian Pacific Railway Company on its US$312-million acquisition of OMERS Infrastructure's 83.5% interest in the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership

  • Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S. on its acquisition of Reflector Entertainment Ltd., and its subsidiary Reflector Interactive Productions Ltd., from Lune Rouge Innovation Inc.

Hotel and Tourism Industry

  • A number of businesses in the hospitality and travel industry in relation to their real estate and commercial transactions and operations

In addition, Jean-Simon has acted, and regularly acts for:

  • Real estate owners, developers and managers in complex transactions, including the sale of prime downtown Montréal office towers, shopping centers, data centers, commercial and industrial buildings, as well as real estate and project financings

  • Real estate developers and government entities in connection with infrastructure and real estate development projects

  • Companies engaged in the operation or development of oil and gas pipelines in connection with the acquisition or granting of real rights such as easements, permissions and crossings, and in connection with real estate transactions, network reconfigurations and relocations, and other real estate transactions

  • Railway companies in connection with real estate transactions and the acquisition or granting of real rights

Awards & Recognition

Jean-Simon has been recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

  • Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business – 2024–2025 (Real Estate – Quebec)

  • The Legal 500 Canada – 20232024 (Rising Star – Real Estate)

Professional Activities

Jean-Simon is a member of the Barreau du Québec, the Canadian Bar Association and the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec.

Education

Admitted to the Quebec Bar – 2014
LLB, Université Laval – 2013

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