Government policy developments, from urban renewal and land releases to tax incentives and building industry legislation, have presented both risks and rewards for developers and financiers.

Many of Australia and Asia’s leading property development companies and property fund managers choose us for our understanding of the industry and our ability to provide innovative legal advice that maximises the commercial solutions they are looking for on property transactions.

Freehills bring to bear a practical, commercial and problem-solving approach to help our clients achieve their development goals. Out team has vast experience in advising and assisting clients on strategic, tactical, political and commercial aspects of those goals.

In the current market, property development projects usually involve long lead times, including:

• planning and environment approval processes
• competitive bidding for development rights, and
• a complex array of legal arrangements between project sponsors, developers, financiers, contractors and end-use tenants and facilities managers.

By leveraging the integrated approach we bring to these complex projects, we are able to offer legal advice to clients focused on commercially-sound risk management solutions and ‘bankable’ project documentation.

Our experience includes:

• Barangaroo, New South Wales – adviser to Lend Lease in relation to the $A6 billion, Stage 1 development.
• Docklands, Victoria – adviser in relation to a large number of developments, including offices for ANZ, NAB, National Foods and Fairfax, and the C3 and C4 developments.
• HQ Project, Queensland – adviser to Leighton Properties and Leighton Contractors on this project, comprising two commercial office towers.
• Darling Park, New South Wales – adviser to the developers of this project. 
• Darling Walk, New South Wales – adviser to the developers of this project, including the negotiation of development agreements with Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. 
• 400 George St, Queensland – adviser to Leighton on its joint venture to develop this commercial office project, a state-of-the-art, 34 storey building with five star green rating. 
• Springvale Shopping Centre, Victoria – adviser to IKEA on its development, with Harvey Norman, of a 72,000 square metre shopping centre. Industry commentators believe the centre will be the biggest of its kind in Australia.
• Rouse Hill Regional Centre, New South Wales – adviser on this $2 billion planned community development in Western Sydney.  
• Kogarah Golf Club, New South Wales – adviser to the club in relation to this $1.5 billion redevelopment.
• The Peninsula at Burswood, Western Australia – adviser to Mirvac in relation to the largest master-planned community in Western Australia. This development includes seven residential towers and over 1200 living units. It has a projected value of $750 million. 
• Star City Casino, New South Wales – adviser on all aspects of the $500 million redevelopment, which includes the design and construction of a new hotel, redevelopment of a gaming floor, and expansion of retail and entertainment outlets. 
• Orrong Road residential development, New South Wales – adviser to Lend Lease Development in relation to this $300 million plus development.  
• Darwin City Waterfront Project, NT – adviser to the private developer. This project included the development of a 137 room hotel, and the staged development of 1500 apartments over 12 years. 
• Riparian Plaza, Queensland – adviser to Bloomberg on this development, which comprises 53 levels of office, retail and luxury apartments.
• Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Western Australia – adviser to Multiplex. This project included the development of the Centre, an office building and a serviced apartment hotel.
• Greenwich Peninsula Regeneration, UK – adviser to Lend Lease on its landmark agreement with the UK Government to regenerate London’s Greenwich Peninsula area, which includes the Millennium Dome and prime Thames riverfront land. 
• The Point, Western Australia – adviser to Mirvac on the completion and settlement of this development, which comprises three towers with residential apartments, serviced apartments, a hotel, bar and brasserie and speciality retail space. 
• Hotel, Germany – adviser to the Toga Group (in conjunction with German lawyers) in connection with the development of a new hotel in Frankfurt, Germany.

Over the last decade, Australia has seen a significant increase in the size and complexity of large property development projects. These have included:

• significant office tower developments in major cities
• development of major sporting and entertainment complexes
• waterfront redevelopment projects
• mixed use, staged and planned community developments.

Whether by way of site acquisition and development, PPP or long-term lease arrangements, Freehills has been a market leader in advising property clients on these types of projects.

Testimonials

• ‘The team “combines a great understanding of commercial realities with expert legal know-how,” and is “well respected by the business community.”’ Chambers Global Guide 2009