Stefan is a partner in the Real Estate Group of our Montréal office. His practice focuses on commercial real estate law, secured financing transactions and joint ventures. He has experience in the acquisition, financing, leasing and development of shopping centres, office towers, seniors’ residences, hotels and other major real estate assets.
Stefan also has experience acting for REITs, pension funds and other institutional investors with regard to the negotiation and structuring of partnerships, corporations and other business entities established for the purposes of real estate transactions both domestically and internationally.
He has played significant roles in several REIT privatizations and has a particular expertise in agricultural law.
Representative Work
- Aviation Starlink Inc.
Aviation Starlink Inc. and its affiliates in the acquisition of certain assets of affiliates of Chrono Aviation Inc., and related equity investment and debt financing
- Fitzrovia and its institutional partner
Fitzrovia in its acquisition of Le Smith, C-Loft Towers for $103.3 million
- Verndale
Verndale in its acquisition of Yaksa
- General Motors
General Motors in its US$150 million equity investment in Nouveau Monde Graphite
- Metro Supply Group
Metro Supply Chain in its acquisition of SCI Group Inc.
Prior to joining Osler:
- A consortium, in the formation of a joint venture and its multi-billion dollar acquisition of a REIT and related asset sale transactions.
- A seniors’ residence owner and developer, in adding a US private equity investor as a financial partner to a portfolio of seniors’ residences across Québec.
- A pension fund subsidiary, in its acquisition of a REIT.
- A REIT, in its acquisition of several dozen buildings located in the Greater Montréal area for a purchase price in excess of $450 million.
- A pension fund administrator, with a Québec builder in its joint investment in a major residential project in Laval, Québec.
- A major office building owner, in its joint venture with a Canadian institutional partner and the purchase by the venture of an office tower in downtown Montréal.
- A pension fund subsidiary, in its sale of a portfolio of three residential apartment complexes located in Québec City, Québec.
- Sales of 50% interests in the largest office building complex in Montréal and in a neighboring landmark property.
- Institutional Mortgage Capital Inc., as lender’s counsel in all its Québec lending transactions.
- A Crown corporation, in connection with various matters related to the Old Port of Montréal.
- The lending arm of a pension fund, with the financing of a power centre.
- A Canadian pension fund, in various acquisitions, joint ventures and financings, in Canada and internationally.
- A major investor, owner and manager of commercial real estate, in its acquisition with a partner of a dominant regional shopping center in Québec.
- A US private equity investor, in its formation of a joint venture and the purchase of an interest in a downtown office tower.
Aviation Starlink Inc. and its affiliates in the acquisition of certain assets of affiliates of Chrono Aviation Inc., and related equity investment and debt financing
Fitzrovia in its acquisition of Le Smith, C-Loft Towers for $103.3 million
Verndale in its acquisition of Yaksa
General Motors in its US$150 million equity investment in Nouveau Monde Graphite
Metro Supply Chain in its acquisition of SCI Group Inc.
Prior to joining Osler:
- A consortium, in the formation of a joint venture and its multi-billion dollar acquisition of a REIT and related asset sale transactions.
- A seniors’ residence owner and developer, in adding a US private equity investor as a financial partner to a portfolio of seniors’ residences across Québec.
- A pension fund subsidiary, in its acquisition of a REIT.
- A REIT, in its acquisition of several dozen buildings located in the Greater Montréal area for a purchase price in excess of $450 million.
- A pension fund administrator, with a Québec builder in its joint investment in a major residential project in Laval, Québec.
- A major office building owner, in its joint venture with a Canadian institutional partner and the purchase by the venture of an office tower in downtown Montréal.
- A pension fund subsidiary, in its sale of a portfolio of three residential apartment complexes located in Québec City, Québec.
- Sales of 50% interests in the largest office building complex in Montréal and in a neighboring landmark property.
- Institutional Mortgage Capital Inc., as lender’s counsel in all its Québec lending transactions.
- A Crown corporation, in connection with various matters related to the Old Port of Montréal.
- The lending arm of a pension fund, with the financing of a power centre.
- A Canadian pension fund, in various acquisitions, joint ventures and financings, in Canada and internationally.
- A major investor, owner and manager of commercial real estate, in its acquisition with a partner of a dominant regional shopping center in Québec.
- A US private equity investor, in its formation of a joint venture and the purchase of an interest in a downtown office tower.
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Real Estate – Québec
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Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Property Development and Property Leasing
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in Real Estate (2022)
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Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite: Recognized in Real Estate (one of only 2 in Canada)
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Legal 500: Recognized as a recommended lawyer, Real Estate (2019)
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Commercial Leasing and Real Estate
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Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in Canada – Real Estate; International – Real Estate (2022)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure: Recognized as a leading lawyer
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Lexpert Special Edition: Mining: Recognized as a leading lawyer (2022)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Cannabis and Agribusiness: Recognized as a leading lawyer (2020)
Media Mentions
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Osler News Aug 2, 2023
Stefan Fews joins Osler’s Real Estate group as a partner
Osler welcomes new partner Stefan Fews to the firm’s Real Estate group in Montréal.
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
“The Real Deal on Real Estate in Quebec – Real Estate Considerations in Business Transactions”, Stikeman Elliott CLE Marathon
Speaker, Montréal, February 2019
“Multi-usage: défis et opportunités”, Urban Development Institute of Québec
Speaker, Montréal, November 2018
“7-Minute Real Estate Lawyer”, Stikeman Elliott CLE Seminar
Speaker, Montréal, June 2015
Published Work
- “Commercial real estate in Canada: overview”, Practical Law Corporate Real Estate Global Guide, Thomson Reuters, June 2022.
- “Canada” chapter, Real Estate 2022, Chambers and Partners, London, May 2022.
- “Canada” chapter, Real Estate 2021, Chambers and Partners, London, May 2021.
- « Montréal dans la mire des investisseurs immobiliers », Les Grands de l’Immobilier, Les Affaires, November 23, 2019.
- “Commercial real estate in Canada: overview”, Practical Law Corporate Real Estate Global Guide, Thomson Reuters, June 2018 (co-author).
- “Taking the World Stage: The Emergence of Canada in Global Real Estate Investment” introductory chapter, The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Real Estate 2014, Global Legal Group Ltd, London, UK, January 2014 (co-author).
Credentials
Education
- McGill University, LL.B & B.C.L.
- McGill University, B.A. (Honours), Philosophy
Languages
- English
- French
Professional Affiliations
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Fellow
- Québec Bar Association