Roy has extensive experience in a broad array of commercial matters. He can quarterback and work “hands on” as needed. He identifies closely with clients. Roy often works from the perspective of an “outsourced” legal counsel to his clients, directly involved as if he were part of the management team or project team. He will be happy to suggest, if a client wants, “well, in your shoes, this is what I would do”. He has great energy and enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic. He is a self-starter, and highly responsive and proactive. He will think about what you are trying to do, and your needs, in the same way as you do, and look for ways to support and help you.

Roy’s biggest reward is a happy client. Recent feedback includes:

“I processed your invoice.
Good work is always worth the money spent. Thank you.”

and

“Clearing out old papers today –retiring soon. Just wanted to let you know that through all the years your services have been very helpful and your forthright approach very much appreciated by me. Will definitely recommend your services in future.”

Roy gets a lot of positive feedback from clients on his dedication to client service, knowledge and business sense. If your matter is important to you, Roy can help.

Roy started out in the 1980’s as a banking lawyer, and then gravitated to mergers and acquisitions, leasing, development, construction, procurement, and institutional work. Roy has experience covering many complementary and overlapping areas. This grounding and overlap of experience gives him intuitive insights and “big-picture” perspectives that transcend specialties. Roy can get the job done with guidance informed by experience accumulated over many years.

Work Highlights

Roy has many private clients – businesses and companies whose names are not well known, and who would prefer to keep it that way. These clients have broad commercial needs: project-driven, transactional and in their daily operations.

In addition Roy has many clients who are well known, such as:

Vancouver Airport Authority

  • Led a streamlined and cost-efficient process for the administration of retail concessions and companion requests for proposals

UBC and UBC Properties Trust

  • Established a set of templates and resources for construction and procurement projects. These are accessed by project leaders and supply managers for the extensive needs of the university

HSBC Bank Canada Portfolio

  • Leasing for portfolio of approximately 170 branches and office spaces in Western Canada.
  • Many, many successful leases and problems solved
View more work highlights >
Services
Commercial and mixed use real estate development Retail, commercial and office leasing
Contracts of all kinds RFPs and tendering
Construction and procurement Mergers and acquisitions
Shareholder agreements IP licensing agreements
Partnership agreements Joint venture agreements
Property transfer tax Sale, purchase and leasing of office towers and shopping centres
Private companies and businesses of all kinds
Awards & Distinctions
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Commercial Leasing Law, 2018-2022
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Construction Law, 2022
  • Lexpert, Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers, 2019
  • King's Counsel, 2016
*Roy A. Nieuwenburg Law Corporation
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Vancouver Airport Authority
  • Led a streamlined and cost-efficient process for the administration of retail concessions and companion requests for proposals
UBC and UBC Properties Trust
  • Established a set of templates and resources for construction and procurement projects. These are accessed by project leaders and supply managers for the extensive needs of the university
HSBC Bank Canada Portfolio
  • Leasing for portfolio of approximately 170 branches and office spaces in Western Canada.
  • Many, many successful leases and problems solved
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
  • Counsel to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation for its ten year joint venture based in Maple Ridge for development of lithium batteries with Moli Energy and NEC
University Boulevard International Design Competition
  • With the Architectural Institute of BC, worked with UBC for the University Boulevard International Design Competition in 2005
Olympic Winter Sports Centre
  • Counsel to UBC for the design-build project for the 2010 Olympic Winter Sports Centre at UBC
Canada Post Pacific Processing Centre on Sea Island
  • Counsel for Vancouver Airport Authority for development and construction of the new 700,000 sf Pacific Processing Centre on Sea Island, which opened September 2014
Concord Pacific Properties
  • Retail leasing for Concord Pacific / Prompton Real Estate group in Vancouver
Prince Rupert Port Authority
  • Counsel to the Port Authority on various construction projects
Private Liquor Stores and Liquor Primary and Food Primary Establishments
  • Counsel for many private liquor stores, pubs and sports bars including liquor store relocations and associated municipal development and rezoning approvals
Privately held software company
  • Experience with many acquisitions of software businesses in Canada, throughout the United States, in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, France, and Norway
  • Related financings and day-to-day licensing and operational and customer management
University of Victoria
  • Established the Vancouver Island Technical Park Trust
University of Manitoba
  • Creation of a hybrid partnership / business trust for development of Southwood Lands
  • Various construction projects
Enmax Corporation (City of Calgary)
  • Request for proposals for Meters | IT | Data Management and Communication Services and Systems | Technology and Network | Project Management | Deployment Services
Furry Creek Golf and Country Club
  • Developed innovative tax structure
Sea Island Connector Project, Province of BC and Vancouver Airport
  • Lead external counsel for Vancouver Airport Authority for the joint memorandum of understanding, and then the construction (by Walter/SNC Lavalin), development and associated expropriation issues, for the Sea Island Connector Project (for bridge and roadway improvements connecting Sea Island and City of Richmond)
Third Runway and the International Terminal Building
  • Counsel for Vancouver Airport Authority for initial financing for the Third Runway and the International Terminal Building. This required innovation and leadership given the new management structure and governance at a pivotal time for the Authority
Fairmont Hotel at YVR
  • Counsel for Vancouver Airport Authority for its RFP in 1996 for the new Fairmont Hotel at the Airport and the amended and restated arrangements for the Kingdom and Colony acquisition in May 2006 and subsequent Omers Realty acquisition in September 2006
Maple Ridge Sports Arena
  • Counsel for the Municipality of Maple Ridge for the bidding and construction process for the new hockey and curling arena on the agricultural fair lands in Maple Ridge
  • Developed an innovative trust structure to accommodate this public / private development
Ridge Meadows Sports Ice Arena
  • Counsel for City of Pitt Meadows for arena acquisition (out of receivership)
Commercial
  • Development and leasing of office towers and shopping centres. Real estate and business syndications. Acquisitions and sales of various businesses as going concerns
Many private clients
  • Roy has a broad base of private companies and business clients
View more >
Awards & Distinctions
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Commercial Leasing Law, 2018-2022
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Construction Law, 2022
  • Lexpert, Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers, 2019
  • King's Counsel, 2016
Industry Associations
  • Law Society of British Columbia
  • NAIOP, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties | Commercial Real Estate Development Association
  • UDI, Urban Development Institute | National Association of The Development Industry and related professions
  • Canadian Bar Association Practice Advisory Panels for General Real Estate, Construction, Environmental, Expropriation, and Bidding and Tendering
  • Canadian Bar Association BC Branch Banking Law Section, Founding Chair
  • Canadian Association of University Solicitors (CAUS)
  • CIAJ (Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice)
Community Involvement
  • Director, Canadian Forces Liaison Council BC
  • Coached minor hockey for 20 years
  • Westport Neighbourhood Association, Founder
Education & Call to Bar
  • Call to Bar: British Columbia, 1981
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Manitoba, 1980
External Publications & Presentations