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Robert Lyons

LLB, BA

Special Counsel - Brisbane

Areas of Expertise

Property, Planning & Development

Expertise

With over 20 years’ experience in private practice, Robert understands not only the legal principles underpinning property law but also its commercial drivers. He has a strong and proven track record in a broad range of commercial property transactions. While his practice is specialised in the property and hospitality field, his client base and range of experience within that field is broad.

Experience

Robert’s expertise includes:

Hospitality

  • provides advice on complex compliance and unusual liquor licensing and gaming issues to both state and national clients 
  • hospitality and licensing regulations, as well as acquisition and divestment of hotels, gaming operating authorities and hospitality businesses
  • acted on behalf of an international hotel chain in relation to the liquor licensing requirements for its properties in Queensland.

Renewable energy

  • reviewing and advising on existing solar and wind farm option, lease and easement documentation granted in relation to large pastoral holdings, on  behalf of buyers of the holdings
  • acting for solar and wind farm tenants in renegotiating aspects of their long-term leases with the land owners
  • conducting extensive due diligence on behalf of an experienced solar and wind farm project operator, in relation to the acquisition of several projects.  The projects included both existing operations, and those still under option with the landowners.  The due diligence involved examination and critique of all existing lease, option and contract documentation and all usual aspects of property due diligence.

Commercial property

  • large scale commercial property transactions including acquisitions and disposals of CBD and office buildings, hotels, pubs and clubs
  • rural property acquisitions and disposals (including some of the largest rural holdings in Queensland)
  • commercial, retail and industrial leasing, including development and ground leases involving some of the largest companies in Australia
  • community title development
  • negotiation and drafting of development agreements
  • advice on taxation and revenue aspects of transactions
  • personal property securities compliance and advisory
  • advisory on regulatory issues affecting the property and development sector, such as building energy efficiency disclosure compliance and property occupation licensing.

Publications

20 September 2023 - Knowledge

A balancing act: New termination process for uneconomic community title schemes

#Property, Planning & Development

We discuss the proposed reforms introduced to the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld), with a focus on the new termination process for uneconomic community title schemes.

22 March 2023 - Knowledge

Reduced fee on selling gaming machine authorities in Queensland – trial ends 30 June

#Property, Planning & Development, #Government

The Queensland Government is wrapping up its one-year trial on reduced fee for gaming machine authority sales on 30 June 2023. What can hoteliers expect next?