A specialist commercial real estate and projects adviser, Rhys has extensive expertise advising on real estate transactions across all sectors.
He is sought-after for his strategic advice in relation to capital transactions, complex real estate and infrastructure projects, development and joint venture structures, and on land issues in highly regulated sectors (including in the transport, energy and resources sectors). Rhys also has extensive experience advising on development and asset management arrangements.
Rhys is a trusted advisor for a number of Australia’s largest institutional real estate investors, developers and infrastructure managers. He acts for public, private and government clients on many of Queensland and Australia’s largest infrastructure projects and complex real estate transactions.
Key deals
Moorebank Intermodal Terminal and Logistics Park
Advised Aurizon on the nationally significant A$1.9 billion Moorebank Intermodal Terminal and Logistics Park project, including advising on all aspects of the development and joint venture of the 241ha intermodal freight precinct, including the IMEX and Interstate terminals, 850,000m2 of warehouse facilities and rail connection.
Blackstone
Advised Blackstone on various large and complex capital transactions, including:
- the disposal by unit sale and acquisition of various office and major retail assets in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia;
- the acquisition of various Queensland industrial and logistics assets in the establishment of an A$1 billion industrial and logistics assets fund; and
- the acquisition and development of one of Australia’s largest build-to-rent projects.
Real Asset Management Group
Advised on the acquisition of approximately A$750 million in retail, office and medical assets across Australia for Real Asset Management Group’s listed and unlisted retail and medical funds and their Australian commercial office mandate.
BlackRock
Advising on the establishment of a joint venture fund with Federation Asset Management to invest in childcare real estate across Australia. The joint venture will become the exclusive funder of new acquisitions and development of childcare assets across Australia valued at A$600 million in projected capital expenditure.
Aurizon
Advisor to Aurizon in relation to real estate issues in respect of the 2,600km Central Queensland Coal Network and the North Coast Line, including advising on complex and highly regulated land and rail infrastructure major projects and access and development matters, including new corridor acquisition, balloon loop leasing, interface risks, and mining activities in or around rail corridor.
Advising on the sale, and sale and leaseback, of various intermodal, rail maintenance and logistics assets, including on some of Queensland’s and Western Australia’s largest rail maintenance, heavy rolling stock maintenance, and intermodal terminal sales.
Aurecon Head Office Lease
Acted for Aurecon in its Agreement for Lease, Lease and related documents for its new Queensland head office, including negotiating the Agreement for Lease, Leases and other transaction documents in relation to the development, lease and sale of the building.
Major Retail Tenancies
Acting for landowners and developers (including Blackstone, Frasers, CPG and others) on the development and lease of various major retail tenancies in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (including the development and lease of supermarkets, cinemas and other tenancies).