Shauna Towriss* (she/her/hers) is a partner in the Real Estate & Development Group at Cassels and is passionate about her clients, their businesses and real estate in British Columbia. Shauna is the daughter and granddaughter of small business owners, and as a result, her approach to the practice of law is to become a trusted advisor to her clients, aiming to understand and appreciate their business needs beyond the particular problem or matter at hand. This approach gives her a view to the bigger picture and business world in which her clients operate, enabling Shauna to add value and provide practical, strategic and creative advice.
Shauna and her team offer extensive experience in advising vendors, purchasers, developers, lenders, borrowers, landlords and tenants in nearly all facets of commercial real estate, with particular experience in the following areas:
- advising on and preparation of a variety of ownership and investment vehicles including co-ownership, joint venture, limited partnership, unit trust, and syndicated mortgage structures
- negotiation and preparation of letters of intent and memorandums of understanding, and related non-disclosure agreements
- negotiation and preparation of purchase agreements in respect of all asset classes on behalf of both vendors and purchasers, ranging from individuals and syndications to institutional investors and public entities
- representing both landlords and tenants in commercial, retail and industrial leasing transactions, including in respect of strata properties
- negotiation and preparation of development agreements, cost sharing agreements, easements, statutory rights of way, and covenants
- land assemblies, municipal approvals, subdivisions, rezoning, road dedications, and servicing arrangements
- representing both institutional and private lenders in a variety of real estate financing transactions, including the negotiation of priority agreements and co-lender arrangements
Shauna clerked at the BC Court of Appeal in 2005, and spent the first 13 years of her career practicing in the real estate group of a prominent regional law firm in Vancouver prior to joining Cassels in 2019. Shauna is a member of the firm’s Student Committee, and is enthusiastic about mentoring young lawyers both inside Cassels and in the larger legal community. She is also a frequent contributor to and presenter with the Continuing Legal Education Society of BC and the Pacific Business & Law Institute.
*denotes Law Corporation
