With a proven record of success, Tzen is sought after by clients to provide practical and strategic advice across a range of sophisticated commercial real estate transactions.

Tzen is a partner in our Toronto office and a member of the firm’s Real Property, Construction Law, Securitization and Asia Groups. He is also a member of the firm's Board of Partners. Clients benefit from Tzen’s comprehensive market knowledge and broad range of industry experience to manage their complex commercial real estate transactions. Tzen maintains a general commercial real estate practice with a particular emphasis on real estate financings (including private placements, mortgage bonds, credit tenant financings, syndicated bank facilities, project financing and traditional mortgage lending), acquisitions and sales, property development and commercial leasing (including solar panel rooftop leases). Additionally, Tzen has extensive experience in the area of public offerings/private placements of commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Clients appreciate his ability to distill complicated legal concepts into concise, articulate, common sense advice and his responsive, approachable nature. Recognized as a deal-maker, Tzen’s keen insights and deep understanding of the market and industry helps ensure a seamless experience for all parties. He has acted as lead counsel in many complex transactions, providing tactical advice and innovative solutions to help clients meet their target objectives. Some of his recent notable work includes:

• Successfully advised Stelco Inc. on all aspects of a $114 million real estate acquisition from Legacy Lands Limited Partnership;
• Served as lead counsel for a Canadian life insurance company on its largest ever bilateral mortgage financing ($240 million) and one of its more complex transactions due to the interest being financed being a co-ownership interest in leasehold lands;
• Acted as lead counsel for the lenders on the takeout financing for the recently constructed Halifax Convention Centre in Halifax, NS, worth $150 million;
• Successfully guided the vendor to a successful closing of a complex hotel sale valued at $31 million.

An active member of the community, Tzen is a founding member and sits on the board of Ascend Canada, a not-for-profit pan-Asian business leaders association. Within the firm, he is heavily involved in various mentorship opportunities. Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, Tzen worked as a journalist at The China Post, Taiwan’s national English newspaper, and studied Mandarin Chinese at the National Taiwan Normal University.

Tzen received his BA (Hons.) (English Literature) from Queen's University in 1996 and his LLB from the University of Windsor in 2000.