Unlike many lawyers with a Chinese background, most of my career has been spent in large national law firms and as an in-house legal counsel for corporations. It was in these environments that I developed a strong passion for commercial property law.
As lawyers, professional ethics are very important — so the matters I share here are already public knowledge, the kind you could read about in the papers.
1. Two Landmark Hotels – Gold Coast and Brisbane
One of the most challenging matters I have worked on was acting for the purchaser in the acquisition of two large hotels, one on the Gold Coast and one in Brisbane.
The Brisbane hotel was subsequently resold to a third party, making the transaction even more complex. The entire process stretched over seven to eight months, with numerous negotiations and sleepless nights before reaching settlement.
The best part? Through this transaction, I built a strong relationship with the Japanese seller — a connection I still maintain today.
2. A Major Brisbane Shopping Centre Redevelopment
The second project that stands out was acting for the landlord in the redevelopment of a large shopping centre in Brisbane’s western suburbs.
I was involved from day one, handling:
- Land resumption and amalgamation
- Negotiating over 70 specialty tenant leases
- Securing agreements for lease with four anchor tenants — Woolworths, Coles, Target, and ALDI
- Guiding the entire project through to the final sale, where the centre was sold for over $150 million to a major Singaporean fund
This project lasted more than two and a half years and was one of the most exciting and demanding experiences of my career — full of intense negotiations, complex documentation, and, yes, plenty of sleepless nights.
Why These Projects Mattered
Both matters taught me that commercial property law is never just about drafting documents — it’s about solving problems, managing risk, and helping clients achieve long-term business goals.
These projects also deepened my appreciation for working closely with developers, financiers, and other stakeholders to deliver outcomes that transform communities.
