Greg Umbach Partner | Vancouver

The following transactions highlight Greg's experience and capabilities:

• Acting for a purchaser of private film studios properties

• Acting for a technology company in the public-private partnership setting up a call centre in partnership with a municipal government

• Representing a major property owner in the subdivision and sale of recreational lots on islands in the Gulf of Georgia, British Columbia

• Representing a national construction materials company in respect of procuring, zoning issues and developing an industrial manufacturing site on port lands in Vancouver, B.C.

• Representing an institutional lender on a portfolio of cross-Canada commercial properties for a self-storage business

• Representing a developer of a 48-turbine wind farm in obtaining government permits, lease tenure, construction contracts and financing for the project

• Representing a run-of-the-river power developer on land tenure and permitting matters for one of the largest projects to be developed in British Columbia

• Representing a large port terminal operator in its multi-decade lease and operating agreements

• Representing a developer joint venturing with non-profit organizations and provincial government authorities to develop mixed-use, residential/institutional properties

• Representing a property owner in its rezoning and development requirements in the city of Vancouver

Greg is recognized as a leading practitioner in the following publications:

• Best Lawyers: "Lawyer of the Year" 2025 (Real Estate Law, Vancouver)

• The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 (Real Estate Law, Banking and Finance Law)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024 (Property Development)

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

• Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers 2023 – Independently Rated Lawyers (As nominated by senior in-house counsel)

Greg has authored and co-authored papers relating to builders' liens, title insurance transaction closing risks and other real estate issues that have been published in print and on the internet. He has also presented as a lecturer for B.C. Continuing Legal Education courses, BUILDEX Vancouver and other conferences.

Greg has been teaching real estate transactions as an adjunct professor in the law faculty at the University of British Columbia for more than 20 years.

He is a member of the Real Property, Environmental, Construction and Municipal Law Subsections of the Canadian Bar Association.

• Co-author : B.C. Mortgage Services Act: Bill 29’s Impact on Mortgage Lenders
  Blakes Bulletin on Commercial Real Estate, August 8, 2024.
• Co-author : Canada Relaxes Restrictions on Non-Canadians Buying Residential Property
  Blakes Bulletin on Commercial Real Estate, March 29, 2023.
• Co-author : B.C. Government Takes First Steps to Address Rising Strata Insurance Costs
  Blakes Bulletin on Commercial Real Estate, September 23, 2020.
• Co-author : The Value of Real Property Assessments in British Columbia
  Blakes Bulletin on Commercial Real Estate, March 6, 2015.

• Co-speaker : Focus on Real Estate: Construction Financing Transactions - Overcoming Bumps in the Road
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, Vancouver, British Columbia, April 28, 2015.

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar – 1996
LLB, University of British Columbia – 1995
BA, University of Waterloo – 1992