Expert legal advice and experience are givens.  We are committed to understanding the business objectives of our clients and working with them to achieve those objectives. We aim to provide commercially realistic advice and analysis based on our specialist knowledge of all industry sectors.

We deal with all aspects of major property transactions, including:

• planning and environment issues

• ownership and development structuring and finance

• due diligence and acquisition

• titling

• development and construction

• leasing, liquor licensing, management and sales.

We have a thorough understanding of direct and indirect taxation issues and other government regulatory requirements relating to the acquisition, development and ownership of property. Like other firms, we pride ourselves on our technical competence and experience. We are different because:

• we are commercially aware and able to ‘see the deal’. Commercial acumen and legal knowledge are of little value unless actively used, not passively observed. Our ability to pick the issues in the context of the client’s objectives, to know when and how best to compromise and to ‘make the call’ are integral to delivering value.

• we are committed to our clients. Our client's business is our business. This means that our clients trust and respect our advice, leading to our many long term client relationships.

• we are dedicated. Our lawyers are dedicated.  They put in the time. Our Partners are always accessible. There is clear communication amongst the team which is doing the work.  Dedication to service means consistent advice, decisiveness, responsiveness and cost effectiveness.

About us

We chose to build an expert property law practice over 20 years ago. Unlike other firms, our group did not develop as an add-on to other core practice areas.  Instead it is one of our focused practice groups with a clientele, personnel and reputation envied by rivals. Our Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane offices each has a purpose-built property, environment and construction practice, together comprising 13 partners and growing.  We also have a network of trusted agents in all other jurisdictions, enabling us to deliver our services nationally.

Our clients

We act for Government Departments, statutory authorities, banks, listed and unlisted corporations and trusts, managed investment schemes, superannuation funds, developers and landowners. 

Our context

It is one thing to know a client's business, but without understanding the ‘environment’ in which the business operates, that knowledge is flawed. We understand the whole property environment including the physical, jurisdictional, regulatory, economic and sectoral elements.  We also understand the motivations of each stakeholder such as buyer, seller, agent, developer, financier, tenant, property manager, insurer, officer, shareholder or unitholder. We have the legal, managerial and interpersonal skills to operate in the total property environment to the best advantage of our clients.

Service delivery

Our Partners are ‘hands on’, so that clients have access to the person they know and trust. We have a no-nonsense personalised approach. We have smaller but more effective teams, because each member understands both the big picture and their role in it, eliminating duplication and over servicing.

Cost effectiveness

We are committed to delivering services at a realistic cost, a goal reached in partnership with the client.  We clarify the client’s objectives, agree upon the scope of work, who will do it and how, provide cost estimates, regularly report on fees incurred and deliver transparent and detailed accounts.