Law for Real Estate

“Cynthia’s love for puzzles turned into a knack for solving business problems.”

Cynthia Lam

Lawyer & Owner

Cynthia is the owner of GBC Law and also leads the firm’s Business and Real Estate law practice. She advises clients on how to make informed decisions based on their objectives and assists with all aspects of business and real estate ownership.

In addition to her legal work, Cynthia is actively involved with the Burnaby Board of Trade as a director and member of the Pacific Gateway and Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committees. She is also volunteers her time as a mentor to students through the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers BC and spearheads various community initiatives through the firm in support of causes such as Refood, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Burnaby SPCA, Elizabeth Fry Society, and London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for Seniors.

As a lawyer, Cynthia is fulfilled by helping people navigate through complex situations and seeing local businesses succeed. Outside of work, she enjoys trying out new restaurants, spending time with her dog, and expressing her creativity through her Etsy shop.

cynthial@gbclaw.ca

(604) 629-3885

“Stefano’s devotion to helping his clients achieve their goals is unquestionable.”

Stefano Beninteso

Lawyer

Stefano practices in all of GBC’s core service areas, with a focus on business law and residential real estate. He enjoys being a friendly face for clients while helping them dive into their legal matters with confidence. What Stefano wants most is for his clients to feel listened to throughout the process, and self-assured with the critical decisions they have to make.

Growing up, Stefano thought that a career as a lawyer was not in his cards, but always enjoyed helping others with their hardships. In a leap of faith, he decided to go for it. Many long, studious nights later, Stefano is grateful to have found a place at GBC Law where he can help others through the legal complexities of the significant milestones in their lives.

If that doesn’t convince you of Stefano’s devotion to his passions, look no further than his unwavering devotion to the Vancouver Canucks. After many years of heartache and pain watching his team through all of its ups and downs, Stefano is as convinced as ever that, in the near future, the Canucks will bring the Stanley Cup home to Vancouver for the first time since 1915.

stefanob@gbclaw.ca

(604) 468-6862

“Joanna approaches every problem by first stepping into the client’s shoes.”

Joanna Shen

Office Operations Coordinator / Legal Assistant (Real Estate & Corporate)

Diving into the intricacies of the Metro Vancouver real estate market is what Joanna does on a daily basis. Her love for organization, combing through details, and comfort with working under pressure allows her to thrive in this fast-paced world! She’s also certified as both a Legal Administrative Assistant and Paralegal.

To serve her clients best, Joanna often finds herself trying to see the world through the lens of her client. This allows her to dial into spotting problems and offer proactive solutions before they come up.

Outside of work, Joanna enjoys yoga, reading, and bullet journaling. The best piece of advice she’s ever been given is “To accept all the pieces of life – the wrong turns, traumatic moments, bad choices and their consequences, along with all the magnificence and beautiful, life-affirming decisions – and to own them all.”

joannas@gbclaw.ca

(604) 629-3887

Minyoung does not believe in “one solution fits all” when it comes to helping clients.

Minyoung Lee

Lawyer

Minyoung assists GBC’s clients with personal planning and anything estate-related, whether it be preparing a Will, Power of Attorney, or Representation Agreement, obtaining grants of probate or administration, or estate litigation. When it comes to helping clients, Minyoung does not believe in “one solution fits all”. She recognizes that every client has different priorities when faced with a legal issue and that there are often different ways to resolve any issue. With this in mind, Minyoung focuses on tailoring solutions based on the client’s concerns and does so with efficiency in mind.

Growing up, Minyoung did not always have aspirations to become a lawyer. Prior to beginning her career in law, she worked in retail management and an assisted living residence and gained extensive customer service experience. Her passion for listening, advising others, and problem-solving eventually led her to switch her career path. As a lawyer, she loves being able to apply her skills to help clients feel at ease and in control, and finds this very meaningful and rewarding.

Outside of work, Minyoung enjoys spending quality time with her family. The best piece of advice she’s ever been given is “You have to earn your future, otherwise, you continue living in the past”.

minyoungl@gbclaw.ca

(604) 468-6863

“Valerie strives to be a ‘mind reader’ and diligently anticipates client’s needs.”

Valerie Huang

Legal Assistant (Real Estate & Corporate)

At GBC Law, you will find Valerie primarily assisting with Real Estate matters. With previous experience in a realty office, Valerie was inspired to join a law firm to specifically learn more about conveyancing and to master the process from beginning to end.

To best serve clients, Valerie is trustworthy, organized, and prepared. In fact, Valerie strives to be a “mind reader” and diligently anticipates needs so that she can answer any question before it is ever raised.

In times of stress, Valerie’s motto is to stay calm, breathe, and grab a coffee. In her free time, you will most likely find Valerie relaxing at home reading, playing video games, and watching her favourite movies including the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series.

valerieh@gbclaw.ca

(604) 560-8260

I’m a…

real estate
developer Commercial Landlord
or Tenant

Real Estate Development

The real estate market in British Columbia presents a number of exciting opportunities to developers. However, the real estate industry can be challenging and fraught with a number of legal intricacies. You likely have ambitious goals and may be entering new territory without a clear road map. We love to see these visions turn into reality and can provide the guidance to help you get there. Together, we’ll make sure your project is set up for success from the beginning.

Build the right foundation and the sky is the limit

We know – you’re used to moving quickly and want to avoid complications. We do, too. GBC Law will help you set the groundwork to develop your Metro Vancouver real estate with as few hiccups as possible. From start to finish, you may need legal support with:

Land acquisition
Land subdivision or consolidation
Rezoning applications and permits (while we do not complete these applications, we can help facilitate the process with the municipality)
Construction financing
Preparing a Disclosure Statement and supplementary documents that comply with BC real estate development legislation and regulations
Tracking and registering contract assignees on the Condo and Strata Assignment Integrity Register
Filing a strata plan

Let’s Build

Buying or Selling a Commercial Property

So you’ve found the perfect location for your business or you’re preparing for the sale of your existing premises. With the right advisors, buying and selling commercial property does not have to be difficult. There’s so much more to commercial property than the building alone, and as a result, property owners often find themselves lost in the fine print.

Spotting problems beyond the property

Let GBC Law help to orchestrate your commercial property transaction with confidence. With an eye for detail and experience in the complexities of commercial deals, we work closely with you to protect you from unforeseen issues and ensure your transaction is as seamless as possible. We can help you with:

Preparing an agreement to capture the terms and conditions of the deal
Determining if there are any outstanding work orders issued by the municipality
Reviewing your obligations under existing lease agreements
Reviewing your obligations under existing service contracts (i.e. janitorial services, elevator service agreements, etc.)
Obtaining third party consents for the transfer of service contracts from seller to buyer or terminating service contracts

Let’s Talk

Commercial Leases

For Landlords and Tenants alike, leases play an important role in determining the success of your landlord/tenant relationship. As a landlord, you want to ensure that you are personally protected against liability. As a tenant, you want the confidence to adopt a new location that will be the right home for your business to flourish. Although you may be eager to get started quickly, don’t let yourself overlook the little details.

Before you sign on the dotted line

Our goal is to set you up with a lease agreement that will protect your rights and eliminate surprises. The best way to achieve this is to speak to one of our experienced advisors from the outset to avoid being bound by terms and conditions that are not in your favour. Avoid these problems and save yourself time and money by seeking the professional advice of a lawyer. GBC Law will help you with:

Reviewing your Offer to Lease before it is signed
Preparing or reviewing an agreement to document the lease terms and conditions
Understanding your obligations under the lease agreement
Negotiating changes to the lease agreement
Understanding terms and conditions around future actions (such as demolition, lease termination, right to purchase, etc.)

Let’s Talk

Private Lending for Investors

Investing in properties, real estate developments, and businesses is a business in itself. In any case, it’s important that all parties involved fully understand the terms of the loan. As a lender, you want to ensure that your interests are protected in the event that the loan cannot be repaid.

We can help you with:

Conducting due diligence on the borrower
Setting up security to protect your investment
Documenting the loan conditions (i.e. term of loan, interest rate, and repayment schedule)
Understanding and identifying the risks involved with lending
Understanding your options in the event that the borrower defaults

Let’s Talk

Your Law for Real Estate Team

Cynthia Lam