 Bennett Jones Education Queen's University, BA (Hons), 1998 Queen's University, LLB, 2001 Bar Admissions Ontario, 2002 With over 20 years of experience and a track record of acting on some of Canada’s largest commercial real estate financing transactions, John van Gent is “a real deal maker” who maximizes the value of his clients' portfolios. Overview Commercial real estate financiers, investors and owners rely on John for tailored, practical solutions for their most complex financings and transaction structures. Recognized as a top practitioner by Chambers Canada, Lexpert and The Legal 500 Canada, he serves a diverse client base that includes borrowers, leading banks and private mortgage lenders. John's expertise spans all areas of real estate finance—including syndicated and bilateral secured lending, revolving and term loans, construction credit facilities, and work-out transactions. With nearly 400 loan transactions since 2019—representing a combined lending value of over $30 billion—some of his recent work includes:
John is highly experienced in real estate investment structures, including joint ventures, limited partnerships, mortgage investment funds and private equity real estate funds. Both Canadian and international investors benefit from John's guidance on the trading and financing of commercial properties—spanning office buildings, retail spaces, industrial facilities, multi-family developments, seniors' housing and hospitality properties. His strategic advice on investment structures and land transfer tax planning consistently drives transaction efficiency and long-term savings for his clients. A frequent presenter at industry conferences and the Bennett Jones Academy, John is a trusted voice in the real estate community, delivering insights that help clients achieve their goals with confidence and efficiency. ,,John van Gent is a real deal maker, and a gentleman in his dealings with others.,, Select Experience • RBC Capital Markets in its C$363-million term financing of a 16-property real estate portfolio • Scotia Capital in its C$69-million first mortgage construction loan of an industrial warehouse in Brampton • KingSett Real Estate Mortgage in its C$205-million first mortgage construction financing of an industrial warehouse in Mississauga • Bank of Montreal in a C$210-million term financing of a large portfolio of industrial warehouses in Ontario and Quebec • KingSett Real Estate Mortgage in its C$112.5-million first mortgage construction financing of a condominium development in Oshawa • Bank of Montreal in its C$93-million first mortgage construction loan for a retirement residence in Niagara Falls, Ontario • A private Canadian development company in its C$632-million construction financing of the tallest residential condominium in Canada from a syndicate of lenders lead by HSBC Bank Canada, Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, United Overseas Bank Limited • A joint venture between private Canadian development companies in its C$622-million construction financing of a condominium development in Burnaby, British Columbia from a syndicate of lenders led by HSBC Bank Canada • A private Canadian investment company in its C$384-million term loan from The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Bank of Nova Scotia secured by a large mixed-use development in Toronto • RBC Capital Markets in its C$363-million term financing of a portfolio of industrial warehouses in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec • A private Canadian investment company in its C$300-million term financing of a portfolio of industrial warehouses in Burnaby, British Columbia • A private Canadian development company in its C$268-million construction financing of a condominium development Toronto, Ontario from a syndicate of lenders lead by The Bank of Nova Scotia • A syndicate of lenders led by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in its C$267-million financing of an office property in Calgary, Alberta • Bank of Montreal in its C$239-million construction financing of an industrial warehouse in Ajax, Ontario • A private Canadian development company in connection with its C$235-million construction financing of a residential apartment utilizing the Rental Construction Financial Initiative from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation • A syndicate of lenders led by Dejardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company in its C$232-million term financing of a portfolio of industrial warehouses in Mississauga, Ontario • A private Canadian investment company in its C$22-million acquisition financing of a portfolio of 15 industrial properties in Toronto, Oakville and Mississauga from Royal Bank of Canada • Bank of Montreal in its C$210-million term financing of a portfolio of industrial warehouses in Toronto, Ontario • RBC Capital Markets in its C$210-million capital call facility to a private Canadian real estate investment company • KingSett Mortgage Corporation in its C$205-million construction financing for an industrial warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario • A private Canadian development company in its C$201-million Tarion bond and deposit insurance facility in connection with the construction of a condominium project in Toronto, Ontario • A private mortgage investment company in its C$200-million operating facility from a syndicate of lenders led by Royal Bank of Canada • KingSett Mortgage Corporation in its C$176-million construction financing of a mixed-use hotel and condominium development in Burnaby, British Columbia • A joint venture between private Canadian development companies in a C$172-million construction financing of a condominium development in Vancouver, British Columbia • A private Canadian investment company in its C$170-million term loan from Otera Capital Inc. of a mixed-use property in Toronto, Ontario • KingSett Mortgage Corporation in its C$155-million construction financing of a condominium development in Burlington, Ontario • A private Canadian development company in its C$150-million construction financing of a condominium development in Oakville, Ontario from Royal Bank of Canada and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada • A private mortgage investment company in its C$150-million operating loan from a syndicate of lenders led by Royal Bank of Canada • A private Canadian investment company in its C$149-million acquisition financing of an enclosed retail centre in Mississauga, Ontario from Canadian Imperial Bank of Canada and Bank of Nova Scotia • KingSett Mortgage Corporation in its C$148-million construction financing of a condominium development in Mississauga, Ontario • KingSett Mortgage Corporation in its C$144-million CMHC insured term loan financing of a rental apartment building in Oshawa, Ontario • A private Canadian investment company in its C$142-million term financing of a portfolio of industrial warehouses in Calgary, Alberta • A joint venture between private Canadian development companies in the C$135-million acquisition financing of development land in Burnaby, British Columbia from a syndicate of lenders led by HSBC Bank Canada • A joint venture between Canadian development companies in the C$125-million deposit insurance facility for the construction of a condominium in Burnaby, British Columbia from Westmount Guarantee Services Inc. • KingSett in the purchase from the Huntley group of a portfolio of industrial properties located in the GTA • RBC Capital Markets Inc., as administrative agent for a syndicate of lenders, in a C$900-million syndicated revolving term loan secured by a portfolio of assets in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia • A private Canadian Investment Company, a borrower in an amended and restated C$350-million secured term loan from The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and Otera Inc. on the security of an enclosed retail shopping centre in Ottawa, Ontario • A joint venture, as borrower, in connection with an amended and restated C$270-million secured term loan from Royal Bank of Canada and HSBC Bank Canada on the security of the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario • A private non-bank lender, in connection with a C$191-million construction financing for a condominium development in Burnaby, British Columbia • Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, in connection with an amended and restated X$19.5-million refinancing of an enclosed retail shopping centre in Mississauga, Ontario • The Canada Life Assurance Company, in connection with a C$52-million term loan secured by a multi-family residential tower in, Hamilton, Ontario • A private non-bank lender, in connection with the work-out of a defaulted C$180-million construction financing of a proposed condominium development in Toronto, Ontario • Bank of Montreal, in connection with a C$50-million term loan secured by a portfolio of industrial properties in Montreal, Quebec • Canada ICI Capital Corporation, in connection with a C$45-million term loan secured by a multi-family residential tower in North York, Ontario • Bank of Montreal, in connection with a C$95-million construction financing of an industrial property in Surrey (Campbell Heights), British Columbia • RBC Capital Markets Inc.., in connection with a C$110-million unsecured revolver for a Canadian real estate investment company • The Bank of Nova Scotia, in connection with a C$69-million construction financing of an industrial development in Mississauga, Ontario |