About Jessica

Jessica is a highly experienced commercial partner, recognised for her unique expertise in real estate and property development, as well as consumer markets sectors. She is highly regarded for her positive and solutions-driven approach, her approachable personality, and her ability to complete business critical transactions within the desired timeframes. 

Jessica has particular and in depth expertise in the property development sector, and advises private developers, investors and listed entities on land acquisition and development structures and the negotiation of joint ventures, development and service arrangements.

Jessica is trusted by her clients to advise them on their business as usual matters as well as on key transactions in their business’ trajectory, such as, mergers, acquisitions, distribution and licencing arrangements, joint ventures and shareholders agreements. Her negotiation and structuring acumen has been borne out of acting across a range of industries. In addition to advising leading property developers, Jessica has acted for leading Australian and international brands in the FMCG, automotive, finance and leisure sectors, where she advises on regulatory compliance, supply chain structuring, corporate governance and growth strategies, making her an invaluable asset to her clients' everyday commercial needs.

Her comprehensive understanding of commercial law has earned her recognition by Best Lawyers in Australia, solidifying her reputation as a leading advisor in the field.

Experience

• Property development

  Jessica has an extensive track record in acting for listed and private Australian and international developers and investors, and assisting them in establishing and documenting effective land owing and project delivery structures, and entry into and exiting projects. She has a core skillset in negotiating and documenting joint venture arrangements; development and project delivery agreements; development and project management agreements; sales and marketing agreements; and related project documentation.

  Jessica understands the specific drivers of participants in the sector, and she is respected for her considered, thoughtful and practical advice which takes into account her clients’ specific drivers and long term objectives. 

  • Supalai: Advising on a joint venture partnership with Stockland to purchase 12 master planned communities from Lendlease including advising on the terms of its joint venture arrangement and ongoing management of the assets.
  • Fitzroy Gasworks – advising a consortium comprising Milieu, Assemble Communities and Hickory on their successful bid to transform of a portion of the iconic Fitzroy Gasworks site in Melbourne. The consortium was selected by Development Victoria following an extensive process and will deliver new housing across parts of the site that will include more than 800 new residences.
  • An ASX listed entity (confidential) – advising on the acquisition of a greenfields site for the development of 500+ home master planned community by way of a share sale agreement.
  • Time & Place – providing structuring advice as well as negotiating and documenting its joint venture and development documentation for a $500m mixed use development of 240 apartments in South Melbourne.
  • Milieu – Advising Milieu on a range of developments including the ABC Studios site in Elsternwick, and its successful bid with the Tasmanian Government for The Escarpment, which was to be a $100m mixed-use precinct at Macquarie Point in Hobart. 
• Mergers and acquisitions

  Jessica acts across the lifecycle of the M&A process (including partial sales and investments) and advises buyers and sellers of businesses during preliminary stages, including vendor and purchaser due diligence, through to the negotiation of transaction documents and management of completion. Jessica understands the need to look beyond the particular matter at hand to provide holistic and, importantly, commercial advice.

  • Haulaway - advising the founder of Haulaway on the divestment of the business to Waste Services Group, which was a portfolio company of Livingbridge. The 100% divestment of the business saw Haulaway consolidated into WSG’s operations including its Transfer Station, Haulaway’s post collections capability.
  • Porta Group – advising the family owners of the Porta business on the 100% divestment of its business via a trade sale.
  • Frontier Media – advising the founders of Frontier Media on the sale of a majority interest to Havas Group, and membership of Havas Group’s Edge Performance Network, which is the largest global performance marketing network.
  • Developers and landowners – advising multiple private developers and landowners on the sale of interests in active land developments and restructuring of capital arrangements. 
• General commercial advice

  Jessica advises emerging and established manufacturers, distributors and retailers across the FMCG, automotive, finance and leisure sectors with a particular expertise in assisting them with: complex competition law advice; selecting and executing various expansion models; mergers and acquisitions and post deal structuring; protecting and exploiting intellectual property and resolving disputes with shareholders.