John is a Principal, Accredited Specialist in Business Law and is one of the original founders of the firm.
He is revered by his clients for his pragmatic and profound advice relating to business structuring, taxation, superannuation and revenue law, as well as the sale and purchase of land and businesses.
John’s accomplished expertise has also seen him instrumental in property development projects spanning the Eastern Seaboard of Australia, including the 20-year life cycle of the Coffs Harbour Health Campus, as well as the winding up of the $30 million Masters Hardware store in Coffs Harbour.
Tax-effective structuring and superannuation
John works closely with his Australian and international clients to ensure assets are structured in a way that is tax effective. He is regularly sought out for his advice in relation to the structuring of acquisitions and the ownership of a business, including partnerships and joint ventures, as well as advising families in relation to intergenerational restructuring.
He advises and prepares documentation in relation to discretionary unit trusts and considers effective superannuation structuring, including limited recourse borrowing arrangements.
Duties and regulatory matters
The regulatory landscape on business and land duties are complex. John, in consultation with accountants, provides comprehensive and bespoke advice relating to foreign interest, including implications of a foreign interest in a trust, transferrring properties into a trust, as well as GST, stamp duty and land tax requirements.
Property development
Working collaboratively with town planners, accountants, and business brokers, John advises on the commercial aspect of a development. He is renowned for his considered advice relating to an acquisition, financing, entity and structuring arrangements, titling including stratum mixed development, leasing, ongoing ownership, as well as the sale, disposal or winding up of an operation.
As a seasoned adviser, he is also pivotal in advising and negotiation in relation to development consent, social impact assessment and venue and operating licensing requirements.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws, University of NSW
Bachelor of Commerce, University of NSW
Expertise
Industries
Services
Projects
Property
- Park Beach Plaza Shopping Centre, Coffs Harbour (major regional shopping centre) – all aspects since 1986 including redevelopments and all leasing including negotiations with major retail chains.
- HomeBase Bulky Goods Centre, Coffs Harbour – (major bulk goods centre) all aspects since 1995 including town planning, development approvals, ongoing leases and general commercial advice.
- Orana Mall Marketplace, Dubbo (major regional shopping centre) – all aspects since 1993.
- Health Campus Specialist Medical Centre – all aspects including acquisition, structuring acquisition entity, titling as stratum development, ongoing development and ownership issues including relating to expansion of adjoining Coffs Harbour Public Hospital, negotiations with North Coast Area Health in relation to access and issues related to the proposed development.
- Woolgoolga Beach Hotel development – all aspects and repositioning in relation to proposed Woolgoolga Hotel development including acquisition, advising and negotiation in relation to development consent, social impact assessment and liquor licensing requirements.
- Masters site Coffs Harbour – all aspects including acquisition, town planning, construction, finance, leasing and negotiations on wind up of Masters business.
- Proposed acquisition, including due diligence of Port Central Shopping Centre, Port Macquarie (major regional shopping centre) (in excess of $100 million).
- Strata Office Project – 300 George Street, Sydney including leases and redevelopment.
- Land subdivisions including The Summit (Big Banana) as a staged redevelopment (being a community title project).
- Numerous land subdivisions, all aspects including ownership structuring advice, financing, acquisition, town planning, civil works contracts, title structuring (including staged development) and sales.
- Advising in relation to consolidation of land owners redevelopment project including preparation of joint participant agreement.
Retirement Village and Aged Care Projects
- Park Beach Retirement Village and Aged Care Facility (Coffs Harbour) development (in excess of $100 million) – all aspects.
- Advising and disposal of aged care sites for the Catholic Church, Coffs Harbour.
- Disposal of aged care facilities (as a going concern) at Tweed Heads.
