Commercial Real Estate, with an emphasis on syndications, equity financings, and creative means for matching equity with real estate.

James Speakman is a Partner with Clark Wilson LLP, practicing in the firm's Commercial Real Estate Practice Group. He joined the firm as a partner in 2001.

James' practice combines acting on behalf of developers and investment groups in a wide range of residential, mixed use and commercial projects with a unique focus on matching equity with real estate through syndicated limited partnerships and mortgages, public company debt structures, mortgage investment corporations, private real estate investment trusts and mortgage trusts, and a publicly-traded real estate investment trust.

His practice combines real estate with corporate finance and securities (both private and public transactions), with a strong working knowledge of the income tax aspects of investing in real estate through various corporate and other structures.

Although he has been a lawyer for over 20 years, prior to joining Clark Wilson LLP, James spent 11 years in the business world and has direct, hands-on experience with real estate development projects and a variety of real estate financing structures. He served four years as Executive Vice President of Pennyfarthing Development Corp., a privately-held, Vancouver-based development company which developed high-rise residential and retirement projects and wood-frame townhomes in British Columbia and the United States. He also spent seven years as part of the senior team at Anthem Properties Corp., taking that company from a start-up operation to a TSE listing and a peak of over $500 million in assets.

As a member of the firm's Commercial Real Estate Practice Group, James was a key contributor to the development of our BCRELinks.com website, provided as a service to the local real estate industry.

James completed his LL.B. degree at The University of British Columbia in 1985.

Development and Investment

Acting as counsel for the development of a mixed-use, two tower 500 unit residential project with 250,000 square feet of commercial space in several air space parcels.

Acting as counsel for the development of an urban, mixed-use high-rise residential and commercial project with 96 residential units and a car dealership.

Acted as counsel for the development of a 110,000 square foot two phase office development in Victoria, BC.

Acted as counsel for the development of a 46 unit resort condominium project at Kicking Horse Mountain in Golden, BC.

Acted as counsel in the acquisition of a 10 property industrial portfolio of properties located in five provinces.

Acted as counsel in the acquisition of a one-half interest in a commercial centre on National Parks lands, the acquisition of the second one-half interest, and the subsequent sale of a 100% interest in the property.

Real Estate Syndications

Acted as counsel in the creation, listing and $20 million public offering of units in a TSX Venture Exchange listed real estate investment trust.

Acted as counsel in the creation and prospectus offering of $55 million in units of a private real estate investment trust and private mortgage trust.

Acted as counsel in the creation and offering under Offering Memorandum of a two private mortgage trusts.

Acted as counsel to a variety of private entities raising equity through Offering Memoranda in limited partnership or syndicated mortgage structures for a variety of investment and development projects.

Business Experience

Coordinated the acquisition of a $500 million portfolio of real estate in Canada and the United States, including negotiating purchases, drafting purchase and sale agreements and supervising all matters relating to closing purchase and sale transactions.

Directed the public listing of Anthem Properties Corp. on the TSX, the completion of an associated $35 million private placement, and the issuance of $36 million in equity on the initial IPO.

Worked on the development, financing and construction of a 145 unit, high-rise luxury, full-service retirement community in San Diego, California.

Worked on the development of two wood-frame townhouse projects in suburban Vancouver totaling 160 residential units.

Consolidated lands for the development of a 40 lot subdivision in Surrey, BC and completed the subdivision and sale of such lots.

Member, Law Society of British Columbia (1986)

Member, Canadian Bar Association

Member, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Vancouver Chapter (member of Sponsorship Committee and former chair of Legislative Issues Committee)

Former Member, District of North Vancouver Advisory Planning Commission