Although LaSalle has been in the Canadian market since the early 2000s, my first direct exposure to LaSalle was with the Public Securities team during my time in equity research. I always thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated our discussions about the Canadian market, developments in the REIT sector and our research insights. It was easy to tell this was a group that was dialed into the fundamentals.
A few years later, in 2017, a former colleague who had recently joined LaSalle reached out. They knew I was exploring my next opportunity and spoke highly of the firm’s growth prospects—particularly the launch of a new core fund, the long-standing value-add series and the strong team. I met with a number of the Canadian team members and it immediately felt like the right place to continue my career.
My initial role at LaSalle was as part of LaSalle’s Asset Management team, which I joined shortly after the launch of the LaSalle Canada Property Fund and while our value-add fund was deploying its remaining capital and preparations were underway for launching the next vehicle. In addition to my asset management responsibilities, I became more involved in fund-level strategy, helping to manage it and supporting the design and launch of future Canadian value-add initiatives. Over time, this led to my current role as Deputy Fund Manager for LaSalle’s value-add platform in Canada.
In addition to my portfolio management responsibilities, I also saw an opportunity to streamline our approach to leverage and optimize lender relationships. Given my background in commercial lending and equity research, I stepped into the role of leading debt capital markets for our Canadian platform.
One of my favorite aspects of my job is the opportunity to solve problems creatively. It keeps the work dynamic and challenges me to think beyond the obvious. Whether it’s structuring a new fund, collaborating with the asset management team on property-level strategy, or crafting the debt strategy for a core fund repositioning, I find it incredibly rewarding to contribute ideas that drive meaningful outcomes.
Prior to joining LaSalle, I began my career in the Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities group at one of Canada’s largest non-bank lenders. When the global financial crisis brought the market to a standstill, I pivoted to more traditional lending, with a focus on government-insured multifamily financing through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In that role, I was responsible for originating, underwriting and securing credit approval for new business across Canada.
From there, I transitioned out of the lending world and joined the Capital Markets division of one of Canada’s big five banks, where I worked in the Institutional Equity Research team covering Canadian real estate and REITs. It was an exciting time in the REIT space in Canada, marked by a wave of IPOs, M&A activity and global portfolio expansion by Canadian REITs and REOCs. My time in equity research was invaluable and foundational to the success I have had during my time at LaSalle.
Beyond my work at LaSalle, spending time with my family is a top priority. My wife and I have two kids – a seven-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter – who keep us on our toes. I also make sure that I am balancing work and life through making time to stay active throughout the year, snowboarding in the winter and golfing and running during the warmer months. Last fall, a good friend organized a 50-kilometer run around the Manhattan Loop. I quickly realized my sweet spot is a half-marathon – I’m currently training for one coming up in a few weeks!
Trevor’s career path:
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