Bavia Bisetty is a Partner in Osler’s Real Estate Practice Group with a fully integrated Western Canada focus on commercial real estate. She practices in both the Vancouver and Calgary offices.
Bavia has a national profile in the industry having worked at major national firms in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary and this insight and experience allow her to comfortably navigate transactions across the country in a way that suits the style of counsel and stakeholders in each of those markets. Her practice encompasses all areas of commercial real estate including acquisition and disposition transactions, commercial leasing, infrastructure and P3 projects, development, financing, co-ownership and joint ventures, as well as addressing environmental matters and risk allocation regarding contaminated sites.
Bavia acts for pension funds and their advisers, REITs and private investors on the acquisition, disposition, financing and development of land, office, retail and industrial properties. She provides advice to owners, investment advisers and brokers regarding ongoing asset and property management and a host of matters relating to the ownership and management of all real estate asset classes. Bavia has significant experience in commercial leasing transactions for office, industrial and retail properties, as well as ground lease arrangements on First Nations’ land. She has represented both landlords and tenants in drafting and negotiating leases and related agreements.
Bavia is actively involved in industry organizations, is a strong mentor to young lawyers and has served on various not-for-profit and real estate sector groups.
Areas of Expertise
Representative Work
- SAGE Properties Corp
SAGE Properties Corp in its sale of its Harbour and Manor senior living facilities and related businesses to Shepherd’s Care Foundation
- Assembly Digital
Assembly Digital in its acquisition by St. Joseph Communications
- Oak Street Real Estate Capital
Oak Street Real Estate Capital in the acquisition of Western Canadian Place
- Various Canadian pension funds, investors and their advisors in respect of lease arrangements and construction contracts with Amazon Canada for facilities in British Columbia totalling approximately 1 million square feet
- GWL Realty Advisors and its investor clients on the acquisition, disposition and leasing of various assets in British Columbia and Alberta.
- TELUS Communications Inc. on the sale of its interest in Telus Garden, a Class A LEED certified office / mixed use building in downtown Vancouver
- An Alberta investment manager on acquisition, financing and co-ownership arrangements on projects in Vancouver, BC
- A open-ended Canadian apartment real estate investment trust on land assemblies and acquisition of various properties in British Columbia
- A resources company in respect of a land swap and mining development project in Alberta
- Stakeholders in respect of wind farm projects in rural Alberta
- Project land assembly for certain developers
- An asset manager and development advisor to a First Nations group in respect of development arrangements with a local developer of property on the University of British Columbia endowment lands
- An international real estate investment manager on the acquisitions of shopping centres in Alberta and Ontario in excess of $250 million
- An investment manager on restructuring existing co-ownership arrangements from a two tier co-ownership structure, in respect of Class A office complexes in downtown Calgary
SAGE Properties Corp in its sale of its Harbour and Manor senior living facilities and related businesses to Shepherd’s Care Foundation
Assembly Digital in its acquisition by St. Joseph Communications
Oak Street Real Estate Capital in the acquisition of Western Canadian Place
- GWL Realty Advisors and its investor clients on the acquisition, disposition and leasing of various assets in British Columbia and Alberta.
- TELUS Communications Inc. on the sale of its interest in Telus Garden, a Class A LEED certified office / mixed use building in downtown Vancouver
- An Alberta investment manager on acquisition, financing and co-ownership arrangements on projects in Vancouver, BC
- A open-ended Canadian apartment real estate investment trust on land assemblies and acquisition of various properties in British Columbia
- A resources company in respect of a land swap and mining development project in Alberta
- Stakeholders in respect of wind farm projects in rural Alberta
- Project land assembly for certain developers
- An asset manager and development advisor to a First Nations group in respect of development arrangements with a local developer of property on the University of British Columbia endowment lands
- An international real estate investment manager on the acquisitions of shopping centres in Alberta and Ontario in excess of $250 million
- An investment manager on restructuring existing co-ownership arrangements from a two tier co-ownership structure, in respect of Class A office complexes in downtown Calgary
Latest Insights
-
Webinar Jun 7, 2024
Real estate joint ventures – challenges in a shifting landscape
A look at potential roadblocks and the path to limited conflicts In an ever-changing real estate market, resolving differences between joint...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
-
Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Real Estate (British Columbia)
- “She is my go-to. She is a highly capable negotiator and very accomplished when it comes to dealing with large and complex commercial real estate matters.”
- “Bavia was very calm and collected in an environment that was fairly hostile and one-sided. With her depth of knowledge, we were able to come to an amicable solution.”
- “Professional, practical, savvy.”
- “She’s excellent under any definition and it’s a pleasure to put my trust in her.”
-
Euromoney’s Women in Business Law Americas Awards: Real Estate Lawyer of the Year 2021
-
Lexpert: Zenith Award: Recognized for pro bono work for the Vancouver Hospice Society
Media Mentions
-
Media Mentions Sep 13, 2022
Commercial real estate industry rallies amid rising costs – Canadian Lawyer
Despite a cautious market, the outlook for Canadian commercial real estate is positive, says Osler’s Bavia Bisetty, partner, Real Estate, in an...
Read more -
Osler News Dec 14, 2021
Osler advises on largest Calgary real estate deals for 2021
Osler is leading in Calgary commercial real estate, advising on the two largest transactions this year.
Read more -
Osler News Sep 29, 2021
Bavia Bisetty recognized as ‘Real Estate Lawyer of the Year’ at Euromoney’s 2021 Women in Business Law Awards
Osler is proud to announce that partner Bavia Bisetty has been named “Real Estate Lawyer of the Year” by Euromoney’s 2021 Women in Business Law...
Read more
Community Involvement
- Served on the Governance Committee for Urban Land Institute, Alberta.
- Served on the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Public Library Foundation.
- Served on the Board of Directors of Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (CBFY), a charitable not-for-profit organization providing settlement services to immigrant and refugee youth.
- Served on the Membership Committee of CREW Vancouver, a non-profit association that brings together prominent women in the commercial real estate industry.
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
- Panellist, Vancouver Real Estate Strategy & Leasing Conference
- Panellist, Calgary Real Estate Strategy & Leasing Conference
- Breakfast Roundtable Presenter, ICSC Canadian Law Conference, Toronto
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall Law School, Mining Law, 2013
- Federation of Law Societies of Canada, Ottawa, LLB Certificate of Qualification, National Committee on Accreditation
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, B.Proc./LLB
Languages
- Afrikaans
- English
Professional Affiliations
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Urban Land Institute (ULI), Alberta
- Commercial Real Estate for Women (CREW)
- NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Law Society of British Columbia
- Law Society of Ontario
- Law Society of Alberta
- Canadian Bar Association
