carsley-fred

Fredric L. Carsley

Counsel
Legal assistantSusan Sztrolovics514.878.8615ssztrolovics@dgchait.com

Fredric L. Carsley, a passionate Quebec real estate law practitioner.

With over 45 years of experience in commercial real estate acquisition, development, financing and leasing, Fred Carsley has won the admiration and loyalty of many renowned players in the retail, office, industrial and multi-residential sectors.

Identified by various national and international directories as a leading law practitioner in the fields of real estate development and property leasing, Fred is often referred to as “the go-to person in Quebec” by out-of-province clients and referring colleagues. He is particularly recognized for his way of simplifying the differences between Common Law and Quebec civil law.

Clients praise him for his expertise, dedication and responsiveness and appreciate the fact that he handles every case as if he had a vested interest in its outcome. Fred is thorough and effective, driving results by proposing practical solutions that are beneficial for all parties.

Since 1978, Fred has been a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), where he has served in a number of roles. On behalf of the ICSC, he has lobbied the Quebec and British Columbia governments against a tax on parking spaces, which earned him the ICSC’s Trustees Distinguished Service Award, the highest award bestowed by the global retail real estate industry. Always willing to give back to the industry, he currently serves as an ICSC Ambassador and as a next generation mentor.

As ICSC Canadian Division Government Relations Chair, Fred lobbied the Federal Government to change the Canada Interest Act in order to facilitate long-term mortgage lending. This effort was central to his admission as a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, where he currently serves on the Title Insurance and Membership Admission Committees.

Fredric L. Carsley, a passionate Quebec real estate law practitioner.

With over 45 years of experience in commercial real estate acquisition, development, financing and leasing, Fred Carsley has won the admiration and loyalty of many renowned players in the retail, office, industrial and multi-residential sectors.

Identified by various national and international directories as a leading law practitioner in the fields of real estate development and property leasing, Fred is often referred to as “the go-to person in Quebec” by out-of-province clients and referring colleagues. He is particularly recognized for his way of simplifying the differences between Common Law and Quebec civil law.

Clients praise him for his expertise, dedication and responsiveness and appreciate the fact that he handles every case as if he had a vested interest in its outcome. Fred is thorough and effective, driving results by proposing practical solutions that are beneficial for all parties.

Since 1978, Fred has been a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), where he has served in a number of roles. On behalf of the ICSC, he has lobbied the Quebec and British Columbia governments against a tax on parking spaces, which earned him the ICSC’s Trustees Distinguished Service Award, the highest award bestowed by the global retail real estate industry. Always willing to give back to the industry, he currently serves as an ICSC Ambassador and as a next generation mentor.

As ICSC Canadian Division Government Relations Chair, Fred lobbied the Federal Government to change the Canada Interest Act in order to facilitate long-term mortgage lending. This effort was central to his admission as a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, where he currently serves on the Title Insurance and Membership Admission Committees.

50 Best Lawyers in Canada of Corporate INTL Magazine
2011

Best Lawyers in Canada®
Real Estate Law – 2006 to 2024
Commercial Leasing Law – 2021 to 2024

Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory
“Consistently Recommended” in Property Leasing – 2017 to 2024
”Repeatedly Recommended” in Property Development – 2017 to 2024

Canadian Who’s Who
2011, 2013 to 2015 and 2018

Chambers Canada
Real Estate
“Band 4” in Québec – 2023, 2024
“Band 3” in Québec – 2016 to 2022

Chambers Global
Real Estate
Leading Practitioner – 2014 to 2016

Cross-Border Corporate Real Estate Handbook
Recommended practitioner

Lexpert® 500 Leading Lawyers in Canada
2012

Martindale Hubbell AV
Since 1999

Who’s Who Legal Canada
Real Estate – 2018 to 2020

Who’s Who Legal International
The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers – 2013
The International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers – World’s leading Real Estate Lawyers – 2012

  • Contributor, Trends and Developments Real Estate 2022
    Chambers and Partners Practice Guide, Canada, 2022
  • Panelist, Landlord & tenant rights and remedies: issues that you need to understand in today’s market
    Montréal Real Estate Strategy & Leasing Conference, 2012
  • Advanced Sub-Leasing
    The Canadian Institute, 2012
  • Reciprocal Servitudes and Operating Agreements with Shadow Anchor Retailers
    The Canadian Institute, 2011
  • Sale-Leaseback Transactions
    The Canadian Institute, 2010
  • Money Laundering and the Real Estate Business
    The Canadian Institute, 2009
  • Les considérations spéciales et essentielles lors de la négociation des baux dans des mégacentres
    The Canadian Institute, 4th Québec Forum on Commercial Real Estate, 2008
  • Sale-leaseback transactions involving Single Occupancy Credit Tenants: Balancing the interests of the Landlord, the Tenant and the Securer Lender
    The Canadian Institute Québec Forum on Commercial Real Estate, 2007
  • Section 10 of the Canada Interest Act and Over Five-Year Closed Mortgage Loans: Making Sense of Outdated Legislation
    ICSC Shopping Center Legal Update, 2006
  • Section 10 of the Canada Interest Act and Over Five-Year Closed Mortgage Loans: Commercial leases for megashopping centres
    The Canadian Institute, 2006
  • Commercial leases for megashopping centres
    The Canadian Institute, 2006
  • Parking tax: where are we now and what can we expect?
    The Canadian Institute, 2005
  • Government Relations Updates
    ICSC Canadian Law Conference, 2004
  • Phased Development Workshop
    ICSC US Law Conference, 2003
  • Protecting a Major Retailer’s Exclusivity by Servitude Achievable in Québec?
    ICSC Shopping Center Legal Update, 2003
  • Municipal Mergers in the Province of Québec
    ICSC Shopping Center Legal Update, 2002
  • How The Super C Judgments affect the Quebec Shopping Centre Industry
    Canadian Bar Association, Québec Division – Real Estate Section, 2001
  • Doing Business in Canada
    ICSC US Law Conference, 2000
  • Commercial Lease Registration in Quebec: Reversing the Adverse Effects of Judgments through the Legislative Process
    ICSC Shopping Center Legal Update, 2000

LL.B.
McGill University, 1975

B.C.L.
McGill University,  1974

B.A.
Loyola College Montréal,  1971

Member, Barreau du Québec
Member, Institut de développement urbain du Québec

Past Board and Faculty member, Georgetown University Law Center, Advanced Commercial Leasing Program
Honorable Past member, Association of Fellows and Legal Scholars, Center of International Legal Studies
Foundation Scholarship Judge, Innovative Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC), 2022

American College of Mortgage Attorneys
– Former Chairman of the Quebec Branch
– Copresident of the Canadian Section
– Title Insurance Committee member, 2018

International Council of Shopping Centers
– Ambassador, Canadian Division
– Past member, State/Provincial Government Relations Advisory Group
– Judge, ICSC Foundation JTR Scholarship, 2018
– Mentor, ICSC Foundation Mentorship Program, 2020 – to date
– Member, ICSC Foundation Mentorship Program, 2022
– Chairman from 1999 to 2006, Québec Government Relations Committee
– Chairman from 2002 to 2006, Canadian Branch Committee