Commercial Property

Our dedicated commercial property team has extensive experience throughout the sector. We have built a reputation for providing measured, uncomplicated advice that delivers the best use of a client’s assets for the highest return. The guidance this specialist team provides our clients is further complemented by our ability to draw from other disciplines within the firm, including environment and planning, corporate and construction. We well understand the need to balance commercial and regulatory requirements and have done so with great dexterity for many clients. We act for publicly listed companies, portfolio landlords, national and international retail chains, private owners, developers, occupiers and investors.

How we can help

Our team regularly advises clients in the following areas:

  • Acquisitions and disposals (single asset to national portfolios)
  • Development (commercial office, industrial, retail, mixed use, infrastructure – single asset to town centre developments)
  • Leasing and licensing (commercial office, industrial, retail, mixed use, infrastructure, telecommunications, digital signage, rural and bare land)
  • Ownership structuring (ground leases, subdivision, unit titles, joint ventures and forward funding arrangements)
  • Overseas investment advice and consent applications
  • Portfolio optimisation and management (landlord and tenant negotiations, seismic and refurbishment projects, asbestos management, flexible leasing and alternate revenue streams, disputes, health and safety)
  • Forestry, viticulture, dairy solar and wind projects
  • Public, private partnerships and negotiating with public bodies
  • Agreement to Design, Build and Lease new 12,350m2 industrial premises (including 7,045m2 warehouse, 2,1202m2 breezeway and associated office/amenities).
  • Advising national retail chains on the acquisition, development, leasing, subleasing and licencing of their national portfolios including multiple agreements to design build, lease (both landlord and tenant managed developments), due diligence and sale and purchase agreements for new stores with related construction and infrastructure documentation, Covid disruption advice and major store renovations and expansions.
  • Wind farm development and wind right agreements for new turbines and related infrastructure.
  • Advising Hall’s in relation to the sale of its national logistics and related Icepack cold storage business and national property portfolio to Talley’s Group Limited.
  • Advising Milford on its investment into Real Group Limited involving over 50 properties and coastal permits including ski-fields, berth licences, lakebed and historic Land Act and Pastoral leases.
  • Development and ground lease structuring of Christchurch’s Youth Hub. A transformational project combining supported housing facilities (hostels and townhouses) and wrap around services including offices, recreation and sporting spaces, events spaces, an art gallery, café, education and training areas.
  • Subdivision and consenting advice for 107-hectare Amberfield town centre development, Hamilton.
  • Overseas investment advice and consent applications including farmland advertising for sensitive land acquisitions.
  • Due diligence and negotiation of sale and purchase agreements for individual investors of commercial property assets.

Key Contacts

Ed Smithies

Partner