David V. Westwood
1 lawyer · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 697 handling Real Estate Law.
About David V. Westwood
David V. Westwood is a Toronto sole practitioner whose work is limited to commercial lease law. Westwood has worked in the Canadian real estate industry since 1980, including with the developers Marathon Realty Company Limited and Fidinam Canada Limited, as Senior Legal Counsel with J.D.S. Investments Limited from 1989 to 1993, and as legal counsel with the retailer Dylex Limited. That experience on both the landlord and tenant sides of leasing led Westwood to start a solo practice in 1994, later formalized as David V. Westwood (Commercial Lease Law) Professional Corporation in 2005. The office is at 1 Toronto Street, Suite 900, in a postmodern high rise office building completed in 1989 at King Street East and Toronto Street, about a block east of Yonge Street, in downtown Toronto.
Westwood was called to the bar with the Law Society of Upper Canada in April 1980, holds an LL.B. from the University of Windsor and an Honours B.A. in Political Studies from the University of Guelph, and completed the Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute at Georgetown University Law Center in 2004. Westwood has spoken repeatedly at the International Congress of Shopping Centres' Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference and at the Law Society of Upper Canada's Six Minute Leasing Lawyer program, and contributed a chapter to Harvey M. Haber's book Shopping Centre Leases.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Called to the bar with the Law Society of Upper Canada in April 1980, after an LL.B. from the University of Windsor in 1978 and an Honours B.A. in Political Studies from the University of Guelph in 1974.
- Worked as legal counsel to the retailer Dylex Limited for three years, part of a real estate career that also included Marathon Realty Company Limited, Fidinam Canada Limited, and Senior Legal Counsel at J.D.S. Investments Limited from 1989 to 1993, before starting a solo law practice in 1994 with an emphasis on commercial leasing.
- Incorporated the practice as David V. Westwood (Commercial Lease Law) Professional Corporation in 2005.
- Completed the Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute at Georgetown University Law Center in March 2004.
- Contributed a chapter, Repair, Replacement and Alterations from a Tenant's Perspective, to Harvey M. Haber's book Shopping Centre Leases.
- Presented at the International Congress of Shopping Centres' Canadian Shopping Centre Law Conference in multiple years between 2002 and 2014, and at the Law Society of Upper Canada's Six Minute Leasing Lawyer program in 2008 and 2011.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessibleWho handles what
The neighbourhood
The office sits at 1 Toronto Street, Suite 900, a postmodern office tower built in 1989 at King Street East and Toronto Street, about a block east of Yonge Street, which the firm's own site describes simply as the downtown Toronto business district. It's a fitting spot for a practice built entirely around commercial leasing: the surrounding blocks are lined with the same kind of office and retail towers whose leases make up Westwood's work, and the address puts the firm within walking distance of many of the landlords and tenants it has represented over the years.
This isn't a courthouse-adjacent litigation office or a neighbourhood storefront practice. It's a single lawyer working out of one floor of a downtown highrise, which suits a client base that is mostly commercial landlords and tenants rather than walk-in members of the public.
Frequently asked questions
- Does David V. Westwood handle general real estate law, or just commercial leasing?
- The practice is focused specifically on commercial lease law rather than general real estate work. Westwood has drafted and negotiated lease documentation from both the landlord and tenant sides since starting the practice in 1994.
- Can Westwood act for a landlord negotiating or drafting a commercial lease?
- Yes. Westwood's landlord side work has included drafting master form retail leases, among them one for a Regina, Saskatchewan shopping centre, and for various strip mall landlords.
- Can Westwood act for a tenant negotiating a retail or office lease?
- Yes. Westwood's past tenant clients have included national and regional retailers, and the practice covers negotiating new leases and renewals, as well as remedies and property management issues that come up during a tenancy.
- Does the firm deal with disputes over operating costs or additional rent under a commercial lease?
- This is a recurring focus of the practice. Westwood has written and presented conference papers specifically on operating costs and additional rent in commercial leases from a tenant's perspective.
- How long has David V. Westwood practiced commercial leasing law?
- Westwood has worked in the Canadian real estate industry since 1980 and has run a solo practice focused on commercial leasing since 1994.
- Where is the office and how do I get in touch?
- The office is at 1 Toronto Street, Suite 900, Toronto, at King Street East and Toronto Street, about a block east of Yonge Street, and can be reached by phone or email listed on the firm's contact page.
Where to find them
1 Toronto Street, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2V6 · 416-640-4212
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