David Colenso Consultant

David is a real estate lawyer specialising in property investment and development, major projects and joint ventures.

David has a reputation for facilitating transactions, combining experience with intuition. He brings a refreshing commercial perspective to property deals and has a strong appreciation of the need for lawyers to be nimble and astute.

David’s legal skills embrace acquisitions and sales, development projects, comprehensive due diligence, joint ventures, leasing and project work. His commercial skills include negotiation, facilitation and execution, structuring transactions, project management and astute risk identification.

David has represented clients in many large, complex and innovative property transactions. He has been rated by Asia Pacific Legal 500 as one of Australia’s leading real estate lawyers.

Experience

Development

Brisbane Hebrew Congregation

Advising in the sale and development of a portion of its Brisbane CBD site as part of a proposed 80-story residential tower by the developer of the adjoining site in Mary St Brisbane CBD.

Wanda City (Gold Coast) Development

Representing the vendor of a 44 hectare lot at Nerang in its sale to Songcheng (Australia) Entertainment including advice on FIRB, regulatory matters, due diligence, vendor warranties and capital gains tax.

Firstlight Noosa Pty Ltd

Acting in relation to a proposed $300m, ultra high-end residential project on the Seahaven Resort site in Hastings Street, Noosa.

Hope Island Gold Coast

Advice to the owners of the parent development parcels on titling issues, infrastructure agreements with Gold Coast City Council, construction and development, creating master sales agreements and strategy.

Silverstone Developments

Acquisition of residential development sites at Milton, Toowong, South Brisbane, Newstead and Dutton Park including project structuring, strategy and project delivery.

Consolidated Properties

Advising in relation to the $1.2 billion Casuarina Beach Township development in northern NSW, including advising the developer on all planning issues, development applications and approvals, acquisition of land, financing, subdivision, sale of lots and development of the resort.

Beaudesert

Advising the developer in its option to purchase 340 hectares adjoining Beaudesert township for the development of a master planned residential community with a 20 year development horizon. Advice on project structuring, GST, acquisition and development to create a new residential township within the Scenic Rim for 3,000 – 4,000 residents.

Industrial

Alberton Holdings

Advising on its planning, development and sale of lots in a new industrial estate at Brendale.

Neilsen Group

Advising on its corporate real estate portfolio including acquisition of future quarry sites, sales of quarries, environmental and statutory compliance, development and project advice.

Adelaide Brighton Ltd

Representing Adelaide Brighton Ltd in its Queensland real estate work – sales, acquisition and operational advice.

Interchange Industrial Estate – Narangba Brisbane

Advising the developers on the structured sale of the estate and future development rights.

Neilsen Group

Advising on its corporate real estate portfolio including acquisition of future quarry sites, sales of quarries, environmental and statutory compliance, development and project advice.

OneSteel

Advising on its real estate requirements for its industrial facilities in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

Origin Energy

Representing the APLNG joint venture in real estate and tenure issues for its high pressure gas network in Queensland.

Yatala

The land acquisition, development agreement and construction contract for the $75 million, six hectare parts and distribution facility for Caterpillar to service Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia and throughout the Pacific for Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Noumea.

Commercial

Forwin International Group

Representing the seller in the $79 million sale of a mixed use site in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley comprising The Valley Heart portfolio of office, retail, car park and commercial uses.

Brisbane CBD

Advising a landowner on a sale and development proposal to develop a 50 storey mixed use tower between Mary and Margaret Streets.

Listed property trusts and investors

Advising in the sale and acquisition of CBD buildings in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne.

Mosaic Hotel Brisbane

Advice to hotel purchaser and operator of 48 room hotel in an off the plan structured acquisition from the developer.

Sheraton Mirage

Representing the purchaser in the $200 million acquisition of the Sheraton Mirage resorts at the Gold Coast and Port Douglas.

Stockland

Representing in its due diligence and acquisition of Waterfront Place and Eagle Street Pier in Brisbane (value $310 million).

Verde Property

Site acquisition, project structuring, leasing, construction and development of 7,000 m2 commercial office tower in Mackay and 10,000 m2 office tower in Townsville both pre-leased to Queensland State Government.

Wilson Parking

Advising on leases, car park management agreements and commercial agreements.

Resources and Infrastructure

Project consortia and developers

Preparing due diligence reports for property, resources and infrastructure acquisition and projects.

Confidential Purchaser

Advising the purchaser of a coal royalty income stream for Queensland mine.

Abbot Point Coal Terminal

Undertaking the property, tenure and titling components of the due diligence for a bidder in the acquisition of this asset from the Queensland State Government.

Airtrain Brisbane

Undertaking the property, tenure and titling components of the due diligence for the successful bidder in the acquisition of this asset.

Project consortia and developers

Preparation of due diligence reports for property, resources and infrastructure acquisition and projects.

Recognition

Career & qualifications

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Queensland
  • Master of Laws, Queensland University of Technology

Memberships

  • Foundation Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Law Council of Australia
  • Property Council of Australia
  • Queensland Law Society

Insights Read more insight

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