Hello, I’m Stephen Kwok from Ensure Legal. As a law firm that specialises in real estate law, we assist our developer clients in running various development projects. Today, I want to take a couple of minutes to walk you through the six major steps in which we provide legal assistance to our developer clients.
1. Project Understanding
The first and most important step is project understanding. It’s crucial that we fully understand how our client wants to approach their project right from the start. This enables us to formalize a legal strategy that aligns with their vision and objectives. Proper planning at this stage sets the foundation for the entire project, ensuring that we cover all legal aspects and avoid unnecessary issues later on.
2. Contract and Disclosure Preparation
Most development projects nowadays are conducted through off-the-plan contracts, which are crucial for two reasons. First, from a developer’s perspective, it’s essential to know that a certain number of buyers are already interested and committed to the project. Second, from a project finance perspective, financiers typically require a minimum level of pre-sales before they are willing to fund the development. We prepare the necessary contracts and disclosures, ensuring our clients are legally protected while meeting all pre-sale requirements.
3. Addressing Construction and Operational Issues
As the project moves forward, we work alongside our clients’ project managers and development managers to resolve any construction or operational issues that may arise. This includes issuing further statements if required by law, ensuring that every step complies with legal regulations. Our aim is to minimize disruptions and keep the project on track while taking care of the legal side of things.
4. Handling Plan Sealing and Easement Issues
In addition to working on construction-related matters, we also collaborate with surveyors and town planners to manage any plan sealing or easement issues that might come up. These are often complex matters that require precision and coordination, and we ensure that they are handled efficiently to keep the project moving smoothly.
5. Lodging Plans with the Titles Office
Once everything is in order, we proceed to lodge the plan with the titles office. This step is essential for the creation of individual titles for the development. We take care of all the required documentation and make sure the titles are processed correctly, helping our clients stay on schedule.
6. Calling for Settlement
Finally, when the project is ready, we call for settlement. At this stage, we also work closely with the client’s financier to prepare for the discharge of any mortgage and ensure that all settlements are completed smoothly. Our team handles the entire settlement process, ensuring that every detail is taken care of to achieve a successful project completion.
Conclusion
These six steps—understanding the project, preparing contracts, addressing construction issues, handling plan sealing, lodging titles, and calling for settlement—form the backbone of how we assist our developer clients at Ensure Legal. If you’re a developer looking for legal support on your next project, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Contact us at Ensure Legal today to learn more about how we can support your development projects.
