Joseph Speranzini Counsel
Major lending institutions, developers, builders, commercial landlords, manufacturers and distributors retain Joe Speranzini for his honest, experienced perspective and common sense advice. “We know you’ve come to us because this is important to you,” he says. “We give your file the attention it deserves.”
He wins when you do.
Joe Speranzini makes your priorities his, including fast, cost-effective service. “Lawyers are notorious for being painfully slow,” Joe says. “Not us. We know this is coming off your bottom line so we work quickly.”
Joe has a practical approach that he adjusts to meet the needs and expectations of each client. Some are risk averse and others are eager to take a leap of faith. Some want a lawyer to be in constant communication and others don’t want to bothered with the details. “It’s about putting their needs ahead of ours,” he says. In all cases, Joe works to keep the focus on what matters. “Clients are looking for the right advice for their circumstances,” he says. “We have to identify real concerns and not fuss about the minutiae.”
Scarfone Hawkins has a team-friendly culture and Joe welcomes the contributions of other professionals involved in files, including surveyors, engineers, planners, accountants and mortgage brokers. “Our clients have their own relationships and we respect those and work well with them. But if they need someone, we’ll recommend the best person for the job.”
For Joe, the joy of the job comes from seeing files through to completion—a development project that breaks ground, two companies that smoothly merge, a family-owned business that is sold for a healthy profit, a lender that meets timelines and targets with ease. In Joe’s words: “We thrive off people’s success.”
Featured Work
Joe acted for the lender in the construction financing and lease of a $60 million power centre in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
He was instrumental in assisting the Venetor Group, the largest independently owned equipment rental provider in Ontario, in its acquisition by United Rentals of Canada, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE:URI). United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world, with an integrated network of 531 rental locations in 48 states and 10 Canadian provinces.
He provided the title opinion in support of a $2 billion U.S. financing secured by a 1,000 acre, 100-plus-year-old industrial property.
He acted as lead counsel for the Ontario-based purchaser of an out-of-province automotive sales and leasing business.
He acted for the vendor in a multi-million dollar severance and sale of industrial facilities and businesses located in the GTHA, including securing the required municipal approvals for the sale.
Joe acted for the developer of a 186-unit residential condominium located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), including approvals, construction and unit sales.
He acted for the developer in a public-private partnership for the construction and partial sale of a seniors’ affordable housing and municipal building in the GTA, including a strata severance.
He advised Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in its largest contribution under the federal Business Credit Availability Program to date—the $57 million financing of McMaster Innovation Park.
Joe provided advice in the merger of a group of independent Ontario car dealers, including the negotiation and implementation of shareholder and voting trust agreements.
He assisted the shareholders of Edson Packaging Machinery (2007) Limited in the sale of their shares to a Canadian subsidiary of U.S.-based Pro Mach Inc.
