Paul J Brown
Shareholder
Paul has over 30 years of experience advising clients on real estate, corporate and commercial transactions. Paul is efficient and effective. He is driven to achieve successful results for his clients in a practical and cost-effective manner. He takes a common-sense, hands-on approach. Paul would be pleased to discuss your matter with you in person, and he would invite you to contact him directly at the telephone, email or fax details listed on this page.
In his 30+ years of practice, Paul has developed a broad solicitor practice. Paul specializes in commercial real estate transactions (purchases, sales, financings, leasing, dispute resolution, etc.), from small single-tenant projects to large office complexes and shopping centres. Paul also advises his clients on a wide variety of business, corporate, and commercial transactions.
Paul grew up in Vancouver, graduated from Vancouver College high school and obtained two degrees (Business and Law) from UBC. Having lived all his life in the Vancouver area, Paul has many life-long connections. Many of Paul’s clients have known him for decades.
Paul’s clients range in size from individuals and small business owners, to large multi-million dollar corporations, REITs, and government entities. Paul acts for a variety of Canadian, American and European clients. He acts for land owners and developers, commercial landlords and tenants, investors, hotel and resort owners, utilities, broadcasting and telecommunication companies, insurance brokers, insurance adjusters, aviation companies, fabricators, manufacturers, and retailers and wholesalers.
In the past, Paul acted as special counsel to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation on infrastructure projects.
Paul acted for the Vancouver International Airport Authority in 1992 when YVR was “privatized” by the Federal Government. To this day, Paul’s name still appears as the “Applicant’s Solicitor” on the registered lease pursuant to which the Government leased the Airport to the Airport Authority.
Paul has also acted on other unique transactions, including the acquisition and financing of “Rogers Arena”. For years, Paul acted for the owner of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies (now the Memphis Grizzlies).
Paul also acted for the owner of the NHL’s Boston Bruins in connection with the acquisition, financing and management of a well-known B.C. resort hotel and golf course, and dealt with complex mineral springs water licensing issues.
Paul has acted as Owen Bird’s co-managing partner, and served on Owen Bird’s student hiring committee for several terms. Paul often acts as a mentor to other lawyers.
Paul isn’t your typical lawyer. Being a lawyer is just his day job (although, depending on how many deals he has on the go, sometimes it’s also an evening job, and sometimes a weekend job too). Paul has many interests and activities outside of work. Paul is very involved in the activities of his two teenage children. He is a director of Providence Health Care (see “Community Involvement” below). Paul is also a volunteer elementary school basketball coach. He plays basketball and is an avid downhill skier and downhill mountain biker. When time permits, Paul enjoys working on his many home renovation projects.
- Admitted to the British Columbia Bar, 1990
- Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) / Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), University of British Columbia, 1989
- Bachelor of Commerce & Business Administration (B.Comm.), University of British Columbia, 1989
- Member, Law of Society of British Columbia, 1990 to present
- Member, Canadian Bar Association, 1986 to present
- Member, Vancouver Bar Association, 1986 to present
- Past Member, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
Paul is a director of Providence Health Care. Providence is one of the largest faith-based health care organizations in Canada, operating 16 facilities in Greater Vancouver, including St. Paul’s Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. Providence’s programs and services span the complete continuum of care. Guided by the principle “How you want to be treated,” Providence’s more than 1,000 physicians, 7,200 staff and 1,500 volunteers deliver compassionate care to patients and residents in B.C., with a focus on six “populations of emphasis”: cardiopulmonary risks and illness, HIV/AIDS, mental health, renal risks and illness, specialized needs in aging, and urban health.