Paul Avis Photo
Paul Avis Photo
Paul Avis Photo

Paul Avis is highly regarded across the financial services industry for his expertise in banking, finance and commercial real estate law. He is recognized for his extensive experience assisting Canadian and US financial institutions on the structuring and implementation of domestic and cross border financing transactions, including his work relating to major construction and development projects. He is a leader in the firm’s Financial Services Group.

With experience that encompasses all areas of debt financing, Paul plays a leading role in facilitating syndicated loans, real estate project and portfolio financings, capital call facilities, asset based lending and subordinated debt and mezzanine loans. He also advises clients on the development and maintenance of standard loan and security documentation, and acts on loan portfolio acquisitions and divestitures for institutional and other clients.

Chambers Canada has consistently listed Paul as a leading lawyer in banking and finance, and Best Lawyers in Canada has recognized his expertise in asset-based lending and banking and finance law.



Representative Matters

  • Leading a $425 million senior syndicated loan facility to a public real estate investment trust in conjunction with a concurrent $200,000,00 private placement of debentures and warrants
  • Leading a $310 million senior syndicated insured construction loan financing to a condominium hotel project
  • Leading a $400 million senior syndicated cross border debt financing to a public company
  • Acting on a $90 million asset based loan financing in conjunction with a concurrent $70 million second lien loan
  • Leading a $750 million senior syndicated debt financing to finance a takeover bid for a publicly traded real estate investment trust
  • Leading a $545 million senior syndicated debt financing to a financial services income trust specializing in mortgage loan origination, securitization and administration
  • Leading a $525 million senior syndicated Canadian debt financing and acting as Canadian counsel on a concurrent US$200 million syndicated term loan financing to a Canadian based international company
  • Counsel to the lender on margined securities debt facilities secured by publicly traded and private entities
  • Counsel to the agent in connection with a $400 million senior syndicated facility to a leading Canadian food processing company
  • Counsel to the agent in major syndicated condominium project financings

News


Ranking & Recognitions

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2024) as a leading lawyer in the area of Asset-Based Lending Practice and Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2023 Lexpert Special Edition on Finance and M&A as one of Canada’s Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers
  • Recognized in the 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions and a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending, Project Finance and Property Development
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2023) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending and Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2022 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers as an Infrastructure Lawyer
  • Recognized in the 2022 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Banking & Financial Institutions and Project Finance and a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending, Project Finance and Property Development
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking & Finance
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2022) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending and Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Infrastructure Lawyers as a Infrastructure Lawyer
  • Recognized in the 2021 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Banking & Financial Institutions and Project Finance and a Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending and Property Development
  • Recognized in the 2021 Lexpert Special Edition on Finance and M&A as one of Canada’s Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers
  • Recognized by the Best Lawyers in Canada (2021) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending and Banking & Finance Law
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada (2021) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking & Finance
  • Recognized in the 2020 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions and a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending, Project Finance and Property Development
  • Listed in the Legal500 Canada 2020 as a “Recommended Lawyer” – Banking and Finance
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada (2020) as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance Law
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2020) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending and Banking & Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2019 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions and a Repeatedly Recommended lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending, Project Finance, and Property Development
  • Recognized by Chambers Canada 2019 as a leader in Banking & Finance
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada (2019) as a leading lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending and Banking & Finance Law
  • Recognized in the 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Consistently Recommended lawyer in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Recognized in Chambers Canada 2018 as a leading lawyers in the area of Banking and Finance
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2018 as a leading lawyers in the area of Banking and Finance
  • Repeatedly recommended, Banking & Financial Institutions, in the 2017 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada 2017 as a leading lawyers in the area of Banking and Finance
  • Recognized in Chambers Canada 2017 as a leading lawyer in the area of Banking and Finance
  • Recognized in the 2016 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in the areas of Asset-Based Lending, Banking & Financial Institutions and Property Development
  • Recognized in the 2016 Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada in the area of Banking & Financial Institutions

Directorships & Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association

Education & Admissions

1981
Called to the Ontario bar
1979
LLBOsgoode Hall Law School