About Divestiture
Founder
After graduating from the combined JD/MBA program from the University of Ottawa, Jeff worked in various capacities, including at a general litigation law practice, and a national accounting and business valuation firm.
After gaining exposure to expropriations while working in business valuation, Jeff recognized an opportunity in the law practice industry to open a specialized law firm, primarily focused on assisting business owners subject to expropriation. For those unfamiliar with this area of law - government infrastructure projects typically require the acquisition or expropriation of land; for instance, to build new subway stations (think the Eglinton LRT or Ontario Line Transit Project).
In the course of these land acquisitions, private businesses are impacted - to the extent that they are often forced to either close or be relocated by the public authority. Jeff has successfully resolved several dozen cases involving business buy-outs and valuations; and relocations of private businesses, which has given him significant insight into the operating environments, capital structure, and human capital required to run a successful (and unsuccessful) enterprise.
In addition to representing dozens of business owners in expropriation law, Jeff is an “ideas person” and an entrepreneur. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he realized on a long-sought-after objective to acquire a private business. After researching and exploring opportunities for several months, Jeff acquired a Benjamin Moore paint store, and not long after acquired a second store - an interesting venture that is not a typical “franchise” type model, but which operates on a licensing/distribution basis, offering more attractive and less onerous terms than a typical Franchise Agreement.
Through the initial process of searching for opportunities, Jeff developed an extensive list of sources in the Greater Toronto Area to tap for private business sales and listings, developed key and synthesized criteria to focus his search to meet his financial and lifestyle requirements, and, applied his legal and negotiation skills to craft a deal in his financial and legal interest. Jeff quickly discovered that the returns on invested capital in a private business acquisition are vastly superior than those opportunities more commonly documented in the real estate or equity markets.
Jeff had then sold one of his stores to free up capacity to operate and grow a medical equipment business he founded called Wheel Walkers Inc. This business was launched out of identifying a shortage of supply, and a demand form medical mobility equipment, specifically rentals thereof, in downtown Toronto. With an initial investment in one mobility aide, and building a website on his own, the business has carved out meaningful market share, striking deals with a major hospital network in Toronto, and providing devices to visitors to major exhibitions as well.
While Jeff had invested in some early-stage technology companies as well, and generally fared rather fortunately, he is not a strong proponent of investing on an “idea” or in opportunities that are not cash-flow positive or have strong investment fundamentals, with strong consideration given to the principal of margin of safety originally elucidated by Benjamin Graham in the Intelligent Investor.