Savvas Kotsopoulos

Savvas Kotsopoulos

Partner, Real Estate

Contact Information

skotsopoulos@osler.com

tel: 416.862.6595

Office

Toronto

Bar Admission

  • Ontario, 2003

Education

  • Osgoode Hall, York University, LL.B

Language(s)

English

Savvas’ expertise is in commercial real estate and includes all aspects of real property transactions, with a focus on acquisitions, dispositions, development, joint venture structuring, leasing and advising on legal issues facing owners and managers in connection with their operation and management of real estate portfolios. He regularly advises institutional owners/developers, domestic and foreign “in bound” private investment groups and property/asset managers across a broad spectrum of real estate asset classes, most frequently on office, industrial, retail, multi-family, hotels, seniors housing and mixed-use developments. Along with his transactional practice, Savvas is well-versed in commercial leasing and represents tenants and landlords in complex lease negotiations. Savvas has also developed a specialty in representing domestic and international retailers in connection with all aspects of establishing and undertaking their business in Canada.

Prior to joining Osler in 2021, Savvas led the Retail Group and Real Estate Transactions practices for several years at another leading Canadian national law firm.

    *Notable matters prior to joining Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

    * Representing a Canadian insurance company in connection with numerous acquisitions and dispositions across various real estate asset classes, with transactional values in excess of $1 billion in the aggregate, including:

    * The acquisition of a joint venture interest and corresponding joint venture structuring of a 475,000-square-foot technology focussed office development while under construction along Toronto's eastern waterfront;

    *  The acquisition of a joint venture interest and corresponding joint venture structuring of an interconnected historic and modern office development in Toronto’s financial core, with a university and co-working space operator as the key anchor tenants;

    * The acquisition of a joint venture interest and corresponding joint venture structuring of a former factory complex registered as a landmark heritage property in Toronto’s Parkdale neighborhood that was converted to a modern office development and amenity space; and

    * The disposition of various office and shopping centre complexes in the Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton markets.

    * Representing one of world’s top 10 largest real estate companies in connection with numerous and varied Canadian real estate mandates, including advising on the following:

    * Various development agreements concerning the construction/integration of the new extension of Ottawa’s light rail transit system with its terminus at a key shopping centre development;

    * Acquisition of a large development site in Ajax, Ontario and associated development advice;

    * Anchor-tenant leasing, construction, litigation and title/regulatory matters in connection with the repositioning/redevelopment of one of the most prestigious office complexes in Montreal, Quebec; and

    * Advising on numerous leases in connection with the lease-up of new “Outlet” shopping centres developments in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Manitoba.

    * Acting as Canadian counsel for two global hotel chains in connection with the sale of their Canadian real estate holdings and retained hotel management contracts, including on the sale of a Toronto landmark hotel in Toronto’s downtown core.

    * Representing the joint venture of a prominent Canadian development group and  private wealth manager in connection with the acquisition, financing and development of a 13-acre environmentally sensitive site (former heavy industrial use) in Mississauga, Ontario upon which a state of the art 275,000 square foot redevelopment for a Class “A” light-industrial facility was constructed.

    * Representing a foreign-based investment group and their affiliated funds in connection with the acquisition of large office and industrial complexes in suburban Toronto and a downtown Toronto office tower.

    * Representing an Oshawa based builder and developer, in its sale of a 900 unit multi-family development that was recognised as one of the largest multi-family property transactions in Canada in 2019.

    * Representing a Toronto-based upscale grocery chain in connection with their acquisition of joint venture interests in premiere regional shopping centres across Ontario and associated joint venture agreements and anchor leases.

    * Representing a publically traded US technology company in connection with a design-build lease and associated construction contracts for a 425,000 square foot, 3- building complex comprising their new Canadian research and development headquarters.

    * Representing an upscale fitness chain in respect of their continuing Canadian expansion involving long-term ground leases and associated construction of 70,000 square foot buildings.

    • MOSCOT in the opening of its first Canadian location

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Retail; Real Estate (Ontario)
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Top Lawyers in Canada under 40 years old (2013) and recognized in Property Leasing
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Real Estate Law; Commercial Leasing Law
  • Who’s Who Legal: Recognized as one of the leading Canadian practitioners in the Hospitality sector in Canada
  • NAIOP Canadian “Investment Deal of the Year” (2018, 2021): Recognized as part of the purchaser’s advisory group in two award-winning transactions.

  • Toronto Financial District Business Improvement Association, Board Member

  • International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC)
  • National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP)
  • Hellenic-Canadian Board of Trade
  • Ontario Bar Association

  • Adjusting to the New Normal: Transacting & Managing Real Estate Amid Covid-19 (Colliers Canada - Webinar July 20, 2020)
  • Lease Due Diligence When Acquiring an Income Producing Property” at the Law Society of Ontario’s Continuing Professional Development program, “The Six-Minute Commercial Leasing Lawyer 2019”.
  • Foreign Real Estate investment in Canada, EuroMoney Expert Guides (2018)