Jennifer is a practical, solution-oriented commercial real estate and development lawyer focusing on listening to client needs and providing timely, responsive, and results-focused legal advice.
Jennifer joined Harper Grey in 2022, as the Co-Chair of our Real Estate Group and a member of our Business Law and Indigenous Business Law groups. With more than two decades of experience focused on Commercial Real Estate and Development, clients appreciate the business acumen Jennifer has built working shoulder to shoulder with real estate, business and other professionals.
After practicing Commercial Real Estate and Development law for ten years at a national firm, Jennifer transitioned to a role as in-house counsel for a prominent commercial real estate developer, Larco Investments. In that role, she led the In-House legal department within a highly diverse portfolio, primarily focused on complex Commercial Real Estate Transactions, Commercial Leasing, Development, Lending and general counsel work including the complex leasing program for the redevelopment of Park Royal Shopping Centre.
Returning to private practice after five years, Jennifer continued to act on complex Commercial Real Estate transactions that included Commercial Leasing, commercial acquisitions and sales, Development, construction agreements, financing, and the real estate aspect of insolvent properties including those in CCAA. Her Indigenous law practices include transactions and partnerships with a wide range of Indigenous nations and peoples through various Real Estate related projects that support and advance Indigenous economic development.
Her cross-disciplinary practice gives her a unique appreciation for the risk and rewards of Commercial Real Estate and Development which informs the advice she provides to her clients. She knows firsthand what business people need from their legal counsel. And delivers on her well-earned reputation for thinking like a business partner and providing innovative and practical solutions to her clients’ issues. Jennifer is exceptional at simplifying complex issues and communicating concisely in business language.
An avid writer, Jennifer is the author of many articles published by The Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (CLEBC). She is also a prolific speaker, presenting at various legal and real estate industry events and conferences.
Passionate about community involvement and giving back to her profession, Jennifer is active in the legal community and continuously volunteers her time to charitable and pro bono services including Access Pro Bono.
She serves on the Land Title and Survey Authority Stakeholder Advisory Committee on behalf of the Canadian Bar Association. Jennifer is passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, having served as past chair and currently as a member of committees dedicated to EDI. Her respect and engagement with the Indigenous community arises from the desire to support Indigenous economic development as underscored by her Indigenous husband and two children who are members of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.
Practicing primarily in the area of Commercial Real Estate, Jennifer’s experience spans a wide range of complex transactions pertaining to commercial real estate including:
Development: Development of all types of real estate projects including:
- ownership structures including REIT’s, Limited Partnerships and Trusts;
- acquisition and disposition of development sites, including land assemblies and disposition of partially completed projects;
- conventional and air space subdivisions for residential, industrial and commercial projects, as well as leasehold stratas and developments on First Nations lands;
- strata/condominium matters, including mixed-use structures and challenges such as common facility uses, cost-sharing and phasing;
- municipal matters including advising on approvals and permits, drafting and negotiating a wide range of covenants, easements and land title encumbrances;
- industrial, residential and mixed-use developments with both commercial and residential components, inclusive of market and non-market rental housing;
- unique challenging development transactions including strata conversions, collapse of stratas and co-ownership properties, fractional interests and distressed properties;
- preparing disclosure statements for phased, fractional, timeshare and conventional/bare-land strata sales;
- construction and general financing for borrowers and a diverse range of lenders from major institutional lenders to mortgage investment corporations and private lenders; and
- conveyance of completed development lots or interests;
Real Estate Transactions: Acquisitions and dispositions of real estate assets including:
- sale/leasebacks of large scale assets such as office buildings, hotels and resort properties;
- complex titles such as consolidating time shares, strata conversions, collapsing stratas and land assemblies; and
- unique dispositions such as acting for receivers and trustees in bankruptcy to manage, develop and sell distressed properties and projects and those under order for sale.
Commercial Leasing: Acting for both landlords and tenants with respect to:
- leases of retail, commercial and industrial properties and the negotiation and drafting of commercial lease documents including modifications, renewals and non-disturbance agreements; and
- day to day advice regarding lease administration, lease interpretation and day to day leasing advice and enforcement matters.
Lending: Acting for borrowers, institutional and private lenders on real estate backed financing, including CMHC backed loans such as the MLI Flex program for market rental projects.
Construction: Acting primarily for developers, builders and owners in negotiating construction management, general contracting and subcontract agreements.
Indigenous Real Estate
- complex developments on Indigenous lands including those subject to Land Code;
- partnerships and joint ventures with Indigenous communities and Indigenous owned business corporations for development of a wide range of projects including residential, mixed use, industrial, modular and recreational sites;
- leasing of Indigenous Lands to third party users including for industrial, recreational and residential use;
- acquisition and sale of long term leases from CP Holders and other Indigenous stakeholders and Indigenous owned business corporations;
- corporate matters for housing corporations and homeowner associations for developments situated on Indigenous Leased lands.
Education
- Undergraduate Studies at University of Glasgow and University of British Columbia
- University of British Columbia, L.L.B., 2002
Bar Admission
- British Columbia, 2003
Leadership
- Anayas Angels, Director and Founder
- Canadian Bar Association BC Residential Conveyance Working Group, Member
- Canadian Bar Association, Land Title and Survey Authority of BC Stakeholder Advisory Committee, Representative (2022 – current)
- Commercial Real Estate Women’s Network (CREW), Member
- Commercial Women in Real Estate (CREW), Former Committee Member
- Harper Grey Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, Volunteer
- Lawyers Assistance Program of British Columbia, Volunteer
- North West Vancouver Ringette Association, Volunteer
- Vancouver Waldorf School, Former Trustee
- West Vancouver Minor Hockey Association, Volunteer
Membership
- Canadian Bar Association Real Estate Subsection, Former Chair and Legislative Liaison
- Law Society British Columbia, Member
Community Involvement
- Access Pro Bono, Volunteer
