Real Estate

Overview

Real estate transactions require disciplined structuring, regulatory navigation and calibrated risk allocation across capital-intensive development settings. Title exposure, planning controls, tax treatment and ownership structuring determine whether value is created or destroyed at each stage of the asset lifecycle.

Thomsons advises investors, developers, landlords and occupiers on the execution and governance of property transactions where planning controls, tax exposure and contractual frameworks determine, or play a major role in, commercial outcomes.

We structure, negotiate and implement property transactions across the asset lifecycle, from site due diligence and acquisition and development structuring through to capital transactions, major financing and divestment.

Areas of expertise

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We advise buyers and sellers on major capital transactions across commercial, industrial, retail and agribusiness assets. Our work includes foreign investment review, regulatory approvals, acquisition structuring and the negotiation of complex transaction documents across multiple counterparties and jurisdictions. Clients include government agencies, institutional investors and multinational corporates.

Development projects require integrated legal work across ownership structure, development agreements, financing, tax and planning. We advise developers and landowners on joint ventures, development agreements, staging arrangements and financing structures, with particular depth in build-to-rent, student accommodation, mixed-use and social infrastructure asset classes. We manage the documentation required to construct, fund and operate major developments, including complex corporate structuring and performance fee arrangements across multiple parties.

We represent governments, community housing providers and developers on social and affordable housing projects, drawing on expertise across property, planning, tax and finance. Our work spans build-to-rent developments, purpose-built student accommodation and social infrastructure assets including health, aged care and disability services. We advise on both structuring and operational arrangements, including operator and management agreements.

We advise on site acquisitions and disposals across residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use assets. Due diligence work covers title, zoning, environmental exposure and planning compliance. We structure ownership vehicles, staged lot sales, strata and community title arrangements and portfolio divestments. Our conveyancing practice supports developers in high-volume contract execution, settlements and reporting, using leading technology platforms to manage scale and deadline risk.

Our experience

Infrastructure NSW – Central Barangaroo

Advised Infrastructure NSW on the legal framework and transaction documents for the Central Barangaroo mixed-use precinct, a State Significant Development comprising residential, retail and commercial buildings, cultural spaces and a Sydney Metro station on Sydney Harbour.

Infrastructure NSW – The Cutaway, Barangaroo

Advised on the property and transaction framework for The Cutaway, an underground and above-ground pedestrian connection linking the Sydney CBD to Barangaroo Reserve, incorporating retail, arts and cultural facilities.

Mobil – Oil refinery site sale

Acted for Mobil, part of global oil and gas giant ExxonMobil, on the sale of the 230ha former oil refinery site in Lonsdale, Adelaide, to property developer MAB. The developer plans to build a new neighborhood on the site with about 3600 dwellings.

The Salvation Army – Partnership for co-living apartments

Advised The Salvation Army on its partnership with real estate investment manager Investa on a landmark A$230 million redevelopment in the heart of Sydney to create 245 co-living apartments. Thomsons advised on drafting, negotiating and execution of the project delivery agreement and other ancillary agreements.

St George Community Housing – Apartment acquisition

Advised St George Community Housing, a major Australian community housing provider, on acquiring apartments in Sydney's prestigious Barangaroo Residential Development for key worker housing and the Arncliffe Central Development for affordable housing.

Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation (JOIN) – Rozelle Village investment

Acted for Japanese Government agency JOIN (Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development) in all aspects of its acquisition of an interest in the A$285 million Rozelle Village apartment development in Sydney. Our services included advising on the acquisition structure, negotiating joint venture arrangements, and addressing Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) requirements related to JOIN's investment into Australia.

Licella Holdings – Advanced recycling facility development

Advising recycling company Licella on the development and construction of an advanced recycling facility in Altona, Victoria to process 20,000 tonnes per year of waste plastic back to its chemical building blocks (a recycled oil generated from chemical recycling). Thomsons services included negotiating the long-term lease and site services agreement with the landlord, attending to the environmental approvals, and all other aspects relating to the development and construction of the facility.

Lendlease – Real estate transactions and developments

Advising ASX-listed developer Lendlease on a wide range of real estate transactions and developments across Australia, from prestigious housing projects to industrial and warehouse transactions.

ICD Property – Market Square development

Advising ICD Property, the developer leading the A$400 million redevelopment of Adelaide's iconic Central Market precinct that will create new offices, apartments and a hotel.

Overview

Areas of expertise

Capital transactions

Property development, joint ventures and financing

Housing and social infrastructure

Acquisition and disposal

Leasing

Land subdivisions and community titling

Corporate real estate

Tax and duty structuring

Planning and development approvals

Our experience