Denis Paquin's practice focuses on all issues related to the management and operation of commercial properties, including sale, purchase, development and leasing. He represents commercial property vendors and purchasers, landlords, managers, tenants and franchisees on the multifaceted contractual and operational issues they face throughout Canada; for this he has developed a solid reputation as a deal-maker and as a lawyer who understands his clients' businesses.
Denis has particular experience counselling clients on all issues pertaining to the retail industry, which is based, inter alia, upon eight years of experience as in-house counsel for national retailers. Denis represents a number of clients in the acquisition and/or leasing of commercial properties, for free-standing or street locations, or as part of shopping centres or power centres; he also acts for property owners and landlords in their dealings with local, national and international retailers. He represents or deals with the major players of the industry such as Wal-Mart, The Bay, Best Buy, Costco, Rona, Canadian Tire, Shoppers Drug Mart, Famous Players, IGA, Métro, La Cordée and many more.
His counsel is sought by landlords and tenants faced with complex or delicate issues with respect to flagship properties or one of a kind operations. Denis is also consulted on matters involving the relationship between different owners of an integrated development, and has been involved in franchising issues on behalf of landlords, franchisors and franchisees. He negotiates, on behalf of vendors and purchasers, agreements of purchase and sale; and sale, development, easements and management agreements for numerous properties of all sizes and uses, from raw land or stand-alone single-use properties to multi-use projects, properties belonging to several owners and all kinds of portfolios.
Denis has also handled many complex legal issues involving third parties that are regularly involved in real estate deals, such as governmental authorities and financial institutions.
For more than seven years, Mr. Paquin served as National Head of the Real Estate Practice Group.
Honours and Awards
- Recognized as one of Canada's best real estate lawyers in The Best Lawyers in Canada (2006-2012 editions)
- Recognized as one of the best real estate lawyers by National Post
- Rated as a "repeatedly recommended" attorney in the category of Property Leasing by the Canadian LEXPERT Directory
Membership/Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association (Member of the Executive Committee — Real Estate, Québec)
- International Council of Shopping Center (Member of the organizing committee of the annual Law Conference in Toronto, on several occasions and member of ICSC Quebec)
- Conseil Québec de Commerce de Détail (Member)
- Institut de Développement urbain — Canadian Institute (Member)