Steve Aitchison | Special Counsel | Melbourne

After a solid grounding in general commercial practice, Steve has focussed over the last 25 years on major development, construction and infrastructure projects.

Steve's combination of skills in property and development transactions, construction, facilities maintenance and operation, and general commercial work, as well as tendering, probity and government policy in major contract delivery areas enable him to provide a fully integrated service which is highly regarded by our clients in both the private and public sectors.

Examples of relevant work experience include:

Private Sector Development

• Advising and representing Cbus Property Pty Ltd in relation to numerous commercial property transactions including acquisition and disposal of property interests, joint venture arrangements, structuring and finance, and related stamp duty, tax and prudential issues.
• Representing Australian Retirement Fund (now AustralianSuper) in relation to joint venture development projects (residential and CBD commercial) with a major development partner providing in-house construction and project management resources.
• Representing Ardent Leisure Trust in relation to the sale of various leisure assets (with lease-back) and various leasing commitments throughout Australia
• On behalf of Stockland Development Pty Ltd, preparation of joint venture documentation for joint acquisition and development of greenfield residential land.
• Representing ING in connection with a number of projects and acquisitions including retirement villages and health infrastructure (ING Real Estate Healthcare Fund) under a joint venture arrangement.
• Acting for the respective developers of 11 Exhibition Street and 460 Lonsdale Street (office towers) in Melbourne, involving preparation and negotiation of construction contracts and major tenancy agreements.
• ANZ Contact Centre, South Melbourne –principally responsible for the preparation and negotiation of long term leasing arrangements including detailed construction and fit-out delivery obligations for over 20,000 square metres.
• Epworth Eastern Private Hospital, Box Hill – acting for the developer in relation to the construction of the Epworth Eastern private hospital, including preparing and negotiating all construction documentation and the operating lease with Epworth Foundation (including integrated fit -out), specialty leases and related land titling documents.
• Representing Schiavello (Vic) Pty Ltd in relation to property and financing matters.
• Acting for Gresham Property Funds Management Limited in relation to mezzanine funding arrangements for a number of private mixed use developments around Melbourne.
• Representing a number of private developers on joint venture arrangements and development deals based on pre-commitments and take out arrangements.

Public sector

• Director of Housing – preparation of tender and development documentation in relation to various social housing projects, and related issues including early works contracts, land exchange agreement with Council etc.
• Biosciences Research Centre – Partnerships Victoria project. – Representing DPI in relation to its joint venture arrangements with La Trobe University in relation to this project.
• Royal Melbourne Showgrounds - Partnerships Victoria project.  Representing Major Projects Victoria in relation to the redevelopment of the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds involving tendering and tender assessment process and probity issues, preparation and negotiation of concession agreement and all other documentation involving leasing, design and construct delivery, operations and facilities management, including finance and security arrangements with private financiers, access arrangements for use of the facility and documentation for staged commercial development.  
• Film & Television Studios - Partnerships Victoria project.  Acting for DIIRD on this project involving the EOI and tender process and probity issues, preparation and negotiation of all project documentation including principal concession document (design and construct delivery obligations) crown lease, government funding and payment arrangements and commercial development agreement (with staged development and purchase rights).  
• Advising the Department of Infrastructure in connection with a number of rail projects including the Craigieburn Electrification Project and Dynon Road Rail/Road upgrade project.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws - University of Adelaide