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. In additional to 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.
Representative Work
- Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Canada in its development of the new Rogers Stadium
- First Quality Enterprises LLC
First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario
- MOSCOT
MOSCOT in the opening of its first Canadian location
- Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.
Longo’s in its acquisition by Empire Company Limited
*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 recognized 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 publicly 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.
Live Nation Canada in its development of the new Rogers Stadium
First Quality Enterprises in its acquisition of Domtar’s Pulp and Paper Mill in Dryden, Ontario
MOSCOT in the opening of its first Canadian location
Longo’s in its acquisition by Empire Company Limited
*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 recognized 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 publicly 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.
Latest Insights
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Video Nov 21, 2023
International retailers continue to come to Canada
Canada’s allure as a global luxury retail destination remains unwavering. With its stable political, economic and financial system, a rapidly...
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Osler Update Mar 30, 2023
Regulatory amendments address commercial real estate industry concerns regarding federal foreign buyer ban
Osler lawyers provide their insights on the Ministry of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion series of regulatory amendments.
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Video Nov 18, 2022
Conveying air rights: Unlocking development potential in the GTA’s urban core
The sale and conveyance of air rights is gaining more prominence in Toronto and other Canadian jurisdictions to help address the shortage of...
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Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Retail; Real Estate (Ontario)
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Top Lawyers in Canada under 40 years old (2013) and recognized in Property Leasing
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Real Estate Law; Commercial Leasing Law
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Who’s Who Legal: Recognized as one of the leading Canadian practitioners in the Hospitality sector in Canada
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NAIOP Canadian “Investment Deal of the Year” (2018, 2021): Recognized as part of the purchaser’s advisory group in two award-winning transactions.
Media Mentions
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Osler News Jun 15, 2022
25 Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2022
Congratulations to 25 of our lawyers for their inclusion in the Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure 2022.
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Osler News Mar 2, 2021
Savvas Kotsopoulos joins Osler’s Real Estate Group in Toronto
Osler is pleased to welcome Savvas Kotsopoulos as a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Group in Toronto.
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Community Involvement
- Toronto Financial District Business Improvement Association, Board Member
Speaking and Writing
Published Work
- 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)
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall, York University, LL.B
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC)
- National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP)
- Hellenic-Canadian Board of Trade
- Ontario Bar Association