Blaney McMurtry LLP Barristers & Solicitors

John Wolf is the chairperson of Blaney McMurtry’s Tenancies subgroup, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. His practice focuses on landlord and tenant issues, particularly with a litigation emphasis, and also includes general commercial litigation. John is a trusted business advisor and strategist to his clients.

John acts for a variety of sophisticated private and public corporations and entrepreneurs and has considerable expertise in:

• Commercial, industrial and office, landlord and tenant matters, especially with respect to lease interpretation, lease default remedies including distaint collection, non-monetary defaults such as repair and restoration issues, and also advises in respect of rights and remedies in Bankruptcy and CCAA restructurings;
• Commercial contract interpretation and enforcement; 
• Participation in settlement meetings, and mediations with a focus on creative interest based dispute resolution that meets the carefully analyzed business objectives of his clients.

John also works closely with a team of partners, associates, and law clerks to provide services to landlords and tenants in the following areas:

• Lease, Sublease, and Assignment preparation;
• Negotiating and documenting lease amendments; 
• Lease reviews in respect of due diligence, and the acquisition/financing of properties; and 
• Buying and selling commercial, industrial, and office properties.

In addition, John advises landlords and tenants on a host of other issues related to tenancies including:

• Employment and Labour law issues
• Environmental law issues 
• Provincial offences issues; 
• Construction liens; and 
• Insurance claims

John’s practice has taken him to a variety of Courts and Tribunals including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

John is also admitted to practice law as a solicitor in England and Wales, and is involved with alumnus of the University of London and especially the London School of Economics.

Representative Clients

John is fortunate to be able to act for some of the most important and sophisticated real estate companies carrying on business in Ontario including:

• Bentall Capital Management and Bentall Corporation and their related companies;
• First Capital Shopping Centres;
• Transport Canada by its agent the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation;
• Fercan Development Corporation and its related companies;
• Other mid-size privately held corporate landlords and tenants

In addition, John also acts for a variety of successful entrepreneurs, investors, and business people.

John’s principal source of new legal mandates is from his existing clients, and is especially derived from referrals by his existing clients.

Articles and Speaking Events

John has published and presented several papers directed at those in the real estate industry, and has authored articles including:

• "Managing the Tenant Default Process", presented at the Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), March 7, 2008
• "Acting For A Landlord In Conjunction With A Tenant Restructuring", presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada conference on Insolvency Law, March 31, 2005
• "Non Residential Landlords and Tenants: Toxic Mould Claims In Ontario", presented at The Canadian Institute Advanced Forum On Toxic Mould, April 28, 2005 
• Building Owners Managers Association (BOMA) - guest speaker, May 2004 - Strategies for Failing Tenancies. 
• "Oral Agreement to Amend Lease Unenforceable" 
• "The Judicial Trend Towards Ignoring Entire Agreement and Independent Investigation Provisions in Rescinding Certain Types of Commercial Agreements"

John regularly participates in seminars, speaking events, and other training initiatives directed at the operations/property management employees of his landlord clients.

Directorships

John has been invited to sit on the board of directors as an officer of a number of his clients, to provide trusted business advice.

Community Service

• Up until August 2007, John was the the Secretary, Director and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees of the Asthma Society of Canada (and former Vice President, 2001-2005)
• John and his wife Margot have actively supported numerous charities and not for profit groups, including in particular the Centennial Infant Development Centre, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Salvation Army, and the Front Street Association
• John has always been committed to volunteering his time, business experience, and legal background to supporting deserving charities and individuals in need of and deserving pro bono help
• Director, PRANCE( Pegasus Riding Academy Nurturing Challenged Equestrians) August 2005 to present

John Wolf is the chairperson of Blaney McMurtry’s Tenancies subgroup, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. His practice focuses on landlord and tenant issues, particularly with a litigation emphasis, and also includes general commercial litigation. John is a trusted business advisor and strategist to his clients.

John acts for a variety of sophisticated private and public corporations and entrepreneurs and has considerable expertise in:

• Commercial, industrial and office, landlord and tenant matters, especially with respect to lease interpretation, lease default remedies including distaint collection, non-monetary defaults such as repair and restoration issues, and also advises in respect of rights and remedies in Bankruptcy and CCAA restructurings;
• Commercial contract interpretation and enforcement; 
• Participation in settlement meetings, and mediations with a focus on creative interest based dispute resolution that meets the carefully analyzed business objectives of his clients.

John also works closely with a team of partners, associates, and law clerks to provide services to landlords and tenants in the following areas:

• Lease, Sublease, and Assignment preparation;
• Negotiating and documenting lease amendments; 
• Lease reviews in respect of due diligence, and the acquisition/financing of properties; and 
• Buying and selling commercial, industrial, and office properties.

In addition, John advises landlords and tenants on a host of other issues related to tenancies including:

• Employment and Labour law issues
• Environmental law issues 
• Provincial offences issues; 
• Construction liens; and 
• Insurance claims

John’s practice has taken him to a variety of Courts and Tribunals including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

John is also admitted to practice law as a solicitor in England and Wales, and is involved with alumnus of the University of London and especially the London School of Economics.

Representative Clients

John is fortunate to be able to act for some of the most important and sophisticated real estate companies carrying on business in Ontario including:

• Bentall Capital Management and Bentall Corporation and their related companies;
• First Capital Shopping Centres;
• Transport Canada by its agent the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation;
• Fercan Development Corporation and its related companies;
• Other mid-size privately held corporate landlords and tenants

In addition, John also acts for a variety of successful entrepreneurs, investors, and business people.

John’s principal source of new legal mandates is from his existing clients, and is especially derived from referrals by his existing clients.

Articles and Speaking Events

John has published and presented several papers directed at those in the real estate industry, and has authored articles including:

• "Managing the Tenant Default Process", presented at the Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), March 7, 2008
• "Acting For A Landlord In Conjunction With A Tenant Restructuring", presented at the Law Society of Upper Canada conference on Insolvency Law, March 31, 2005
• "Non Residential Landlords and Tenants: Toxic Mould Claims In Ontario", presented at The Canadian Institute Advanced Forum On Toxic Mould, April 28, 2005 
• Building Owners Managers Association (BOMA) - guest speaker, May 2004 - Strategies for Failing Tenancies. 
• "Oral Agreement to Amend Lease Unenforceable" 
• "The Judicial Trend Towards Ignoring Entire Agreement and Independent Investigation Provisions in Rescinding Certain Types of Commercial Agreements"

John regularly participates in seminars, speaking events, and other training initiatives directed at the operations/property management employees of his landlord clients.

Directorships

John has been invited to sit on the board of directors as an officer of a number of his clients, to provide trusted business advice.

Community Service

• Up until August 2007, John was the the Secretary, Director and a member of the Executive and Finance Committees of the Asthma Society of Canada (and former Vice President, 2001-2005)
• John and his wife Margot have actively supported numerous charities and not for profit groups, including in particular the Centennial Infant Development Centre, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Salvation Army, and the Front Street Association
• John has always been committed to volunteering his time, business experience, and legal background to supporting deserving charities and individuals in need of and deserving pro bono help
• Director, PRANCE( Pegasus Riding Academy Nurturing Challenged Equestrians) August 2005 to present