Jessica Sheridan brings more than 20 years of legal experience to commercial real estate transactions including complex mixed-use development projects, infrastructure projects, joint ventures, acquisitions, disposals, financing, leasing, and construction contracts. From land severance consents to construction contract negotiations, Jessica's comprehensive approach gives clients the insight to achieve their objectives in competitive commercial markets.
Jessica designs sophisticated acquisition strategies, land assemblies, joint ventures, and financing arrangements across diverse property types. She directs high-profile transportation projects, advising municipal governments on land assemblies for transit projects and counselling provincial agencies on infrastructure development. Her international rail company experience provides a strong understanding of complex public-private partnership (P3) projects.
Jessica guides transactions for hospitals, non-profit organizations, and private developers across specialized sectors including real estate investment trust (REIT) transactions, healthcare facilities, affordable housing, and waste and wastewater management.
Jessica has also developed specialized expertise in affordable housing, working with municipal funding agencies, not-for-profits, and private developers integrating affordable components. Her ability to navigate complex development, construction, leasing and financing structures, public policy, and regulatory compliance with multiple parties positions her as a trusted advisor in this specialized market.
Her nine years of practice in England and New Zealand provide a global perspective that, combined with her deep understanding of Canadian real estate and municipal law, informs her practical, business-focused approach.
Experience
- Acts for Metrolinx in connection with linear land assembly and related arrangements for the Ontario Line.
- Acted for an Ontario Hospital in connection with the reorganization of its P3 Project following the proponent’s insolvency including exercise of step in rights, and assignment and amendment of the Project Agreement to the Surety, drafting complex Minutes of Settlement for approval of the Court.
- Acted for two hospitals and a university in connection with complex co-ownership, shared services and real estate agreements for a shared hospital and research campus.
- Acted for the City of Ottawa in connection with the property aspects of the Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project, including the negotiation of the complex agreements with other government agencies, the Crown, universities and major shopping malls.
- Advising the City of Ottawa on a complex, multi-party, mixed-use development project in downtown Ottawa to create a new neighbourhood, including a school, recreational facilities, affordable housing, and commercial uses.
- Advised a global technology company on a project to redevelop its existing campus into a state-of-the-art research and development facility including a complex multi-party agreement for the development, construction and funding of research and development labs, offices, retail parkade and mixed-use components.
- Acted for the Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation (OCLDC) in connection with the disposal of surplus land with development obligations.
- Advising Metrolinx on land acquisitions and assembly of the rail corridor for multiple rail lines, including the relocation of sensitive landowners to turnkey premises, and disposals of surplus lands.
- Advised a consortium of three Ontario municipalities on the development, construction and procurement of Canada Games Park, a state-of-the-art athletic facility located on Brock University’s Campus in Thorold, Ontario.
- Advising a not-for-profit affordable housing provider on a joint venture to develop a complex mixed-use development. The project will feature 601 rental housing units, 200 of which will be owned by the affordable housing provider and operated as affordable housing, public space, retail space, a daycare, community hub and on-site programming. The project will be funded by affordable housing programs and requires a novel legal structure.
- Advised Woolworths on the New Zealand aspects of the creation of SCA Property Group, an independent retail estate investment trust listed on the ASX in December 2012, acting as the landlord and manager of 56 retail properties valued at AUS$1.4 billion in regional and neighbourhood areas, approximately 20 of which were located in New Zealand, including the leaseback and development agreements for each property.
- Advised Progressive Enterprises on the creation of Vinegar Lane, a large mixed-use development in Ponsonby, Auckland including the subdivision and sale of 31 fee simple lots with design restrictions, and a mixed use building comprising a parkade, retail shopping and office uses.
- Advised Argosy Properties on the acquisition, development, construction and lease of 15 Stout Street, Wellington, a heritage building that underwent extensive restoration work and green certification and won a number of industry awards.
- Advised various clients in relation to mining rights.
- Advised a major forestry fund on the acquisition of major forestry assets.
- Advised various municipalities and other public sector bodies on the sale, acquisition, disposal, leasing, development, and co-ownership of land.
- Advised KiwiRail on mandates including a project to build a development over the busiest rail interchange in New Zealand, the redevelopment of industrial rail yards and other real estate and construction matters.
- Advised Biffa Waste Services on their portfolio of commercial real estate including the acquisition and development of lands for uses such as Energy from Waste, Materials Recycling Facilities and Anaerobic Digestion Plants.
- Advised Thames Water Utilities on their disposition and development of surplus lands including complex profit participation and joint venture arrangements.
- Acts for Metrolinx in connection with linear land assembly and related arrangements for the Ontario Line.
- Acted for an Ontario Hospital in connection with the reorganization of its P3 Project following the proponent’s insolvency including exercise of step in rights, and assignment and amendment of the Project Agreement to the Surety, drafting complex Minutes of Settlement for approval of the Court.
- Acted for two hospitals and a university in connection with complex co-ownership, shared services and real estate agreements for a shared hospital and research campus.
- Acted for the City of Ottawa in connection with the property aspects of the Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project, including the negotiation of the complex agreements with other government agencies, the Crown, universities and major shopping malls.
- Advising the City of Ottawa on a complex, multi-party, mixed-use development project in downtown Ottawa to create a new neighbourhood, including a school, recreational facilities, affordable housing, and commercial uses.
- Advised a global technology company on a project to redevelop its existing campus into a state-of-the-art research and development facility including a complex multi-party agreement for the development, construction and funding of research and development labs, offices, retail parkade and mixed-use components.
- Acted for the Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation (OCLDC) in connection with the disposal of surplus land with development obligations.
- Advising Metrolinx on land acquisitions and assembly of the rail corridor for multiple rail lines, including the relocation of sensitive landowners to turnkey premises, and disposals of surplus lands.
- Advised a consortium of three Ontario municipalities on the development, construction and procurement of Canada Games Park, a state-of-the-art athletic facility located on Brock University’s Campus in Thorold, Ontario.
- Advising a not-for-profit affordable housing provider on a joint venture to develop a complex mixed-use development. The project will feature 601 rental housing units, 200 of which will be owned by the affordable housing provider and operated as affordable housing, public space, retail space, a daycare, community hub and on-site programming. The project will be funded by affordable housing programs and requires a novel legal structure.
- Advised Woolworths on the New Zealand aspects of the creation of SCA Property Group, an independent retail estate investment trust listed on the ASX in December 2012, acting as the landlord and manager of 56 retail properties valued at AUS$1.4 billion in regional and neighbourhood areas, approximately 20 of which were located in New Zealand, including the leaseback and development agreements for each property.
- Advised Progressive Enterprises on the creation of Vinegar Lane, a large mixed-use development in Ponsonby, Auckland including the subdivision and sale of 31 fee simple lots with design restrictions, and a mixed use building comprising a parkade, retail shopping and office uses.
- Advised Argosy Properties on the acquisition, development, construction and lease of 15 Stout Street, Wellington, a heritage building that underwent extensive restoration work and green certification and won a number of industry awards.
- Advised various clients in relation to mining rights.
- Advised a major forestry fund on the acquisition of major forestry assets.
- Advised various municipalities and other public sector bodies on the sale, acquisition, disposal, leasing, development, and co-ownership of land.
- Advised KiwiRail on mandates including a project to build a development over the busiest rail interchange in New Zealand, the redevelopment of industrial rail yards and other real estate and construction matters.
- Advised Biffa Waste Services on their portfolio of commercial real estate including the acquisition and development of lands for uses such as Energy from Waste, Materials Recycling Facilities and Anaerobic Digestion Plants.
- Advised Thames Water Utilities on their disposition and development of surplus lands including complex profit participation and joint venture arrangements.