Carla has advised the private major players in the property sector and is experienced in all aspects of property development projects including capital transactions, fund through arrangements, urban renewal projects, over station developments, co-ownership arrangements, real estate structuring, due diligence and major development leasing.

Carla has been included in the Best Lawyers 2022, 2021 and 2020 in Real Property Law, as well as moving into band 5 Real Estate individual rankings for Chambers 2022. Carla has also received an Acritas nomination in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Career highlights

Daiwa House: Advised on the acquisition of a majority interest in a build to rent development at Melbourne Quarter in partnership with Lendlease.

Stockland:

• Project Gazelle: Advised on its capital partnering with Mitsubishi on its communities project.
  Melbourne Business Park: Advising on Stockland's industrial development which includes development documents and co-ownership arrangements.
• M_Park development: Acting on all aspects of the development and complex leasing including major leases with Amazon, J&J and a health/medical hub.
• Advised on the joint venture of Stockland's $53 million investment partnership with Supalai PCL for a 50% stake in the Katalia master-planned community.
• Advising on the harmonisation of land lease project documentation.

Mirvac: Advising on a capital partnering arrangement with Mitsubishi for Clyde North mixed use project.

Brookfield: Acting on various industrial acquisitions and fund through developments.

Keppel REIT: Advised Keppel on its $306M acquisition of the Pinnacle Office Park, Macquarie Park and ongoing leasing work.

Frasers Property Australia and Irongate: Advising on the joint venture purchase of the highly sought-after Bradmill factory site in Yarraville, for a proposed A$1B development.

Frasers Property Australia: Advising on the acquisition, development and the capital partnering of Yarraville, The Grove, Parkville, Carlton and Windermere.

UniSuper/Richmond Bridge: Advised on capital transactions as part of a new industrial fund.

Property listed REIT:

• the sale of 8 Nicholson St, Melbourne for $213.7M.
• the sale of Shepparton Marketplace to SLMC Property Australia for $88M.
• divestment of 32 Garden St, Melbourne.

Growthpoint: Advised on capital transactions, developments and leasing with respect to office and industrial assets.

Property Developer client:

• Advising on Melbourne Metro Overstation Development: Partnering with a property developer on its proposed mixed use commercial and retail development of the oversite portion of CBD South above the Melbourne Metro Station including negotiating the Commercial Development Agreement and the pass through with the upstream interface and project documentation.
• Victoria Harbour: Development and capital partnering of commercial office, residential, retail, affordable housing and public library and marina arrangements.
• Melbourne Quarter Development: Acted for a property developer client with Places Victoria valued at $1.6 billion once developed including the joint venture with a third party for the first residential stage and the sell down of the first commercial stage.

• 10 emerging trends for the real estate industry
  

  In 2022 so far, the real estate market has continued to prove its resilience in the face of economic and geo-political uncertainty, highlighting tremendous collaboration and innovation across the industry.

• MinterEllison advises Frasers Property Australia, Irongate Group Joint Venture on Bradmill site acquisition
  

  The transaction is one of the largest land deals in inner Melbourne this year, reflecting the strength of the residential market.

   

• MinterEllison appointed as key adviser to Moonee Valley Racecourse Redevelopment
  

  MinterEllison advises Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) on the Club’s $2bn flagship redevelopment project at Moonee Valley Racecourse.

• Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project
  MinterEllison acted as legal advisors for the Cross Yarra Partnership, a consortium of Lendlease, John Holland, Bouygues Construction and Capella Capital, on the $6 billion Tunnel and Stations Public Private Partnership (PPP) which achieved Financial Close in December 2017, as part of the Victorian government’s wider Melbourne Metro project.
  
  
• Buildings of the future: the challenges of embracing smart technologies
  

  While investment in smart technology is increasingly becoming the key to staying competitive in the real estate market, adopting these technologies introduces challenges for property developers.

• MinterEllison advised superfund on acquisition of a $1.1 billion industrial property portfolio
  

  MinterEllison advises UniSuper and Richmond Bridge on $1.1 billion industrial property acquisition from National Pension Service of Korea.

• MinterEllison advises Daiwa House on $650 million build-to-rent project
  

  MinterEllison advised Daiwa House Australia on their acquisition of a majority interest in a build-to-rent development at Melbourne Quarter in partnership with Lendlease, marking DHA's exciting entry into Australia's build-to-rent market.

• Navigating the Real Estate Industry Horizons: Revitalising our cities and building resilience
  

  As the Real Estate industry moves into the next phase, it is coming to grips with an ever changing landscape as people, spaces, and purpose align to redefine how we think about our cities and how we reimagine them.

• MinterEllison advised Richmond Bridge on a $105m prime industrial site for acquisition
  

  MinterEllison has advised real estate investment management firm Richmond Bridge on a bespoke investment management mandate structure with UniSuper to enable it to acquire and operate a Yarraville property.

• Placemaking: Rethinking cities for the future
  

  Placemaking is both a philosophy and a practical process for transforming public spaces. We outline the key considerations for planners, developers and communities when planning public spaces.

• Frasers acquires Stockland's The Grove Estate in Tarneit
  

  MinterEllison advised Frasers Property Australia (Frasers) on their $202.5 million acquisition of Stockland's The Grove Estate in Tarneit. The acquisition – one of the biggest residential land deals of the year in Victoria – will create additional housing in Melbourne's west to meet the needs of the state's growing population.

• MinterEllison advised superfunds on logistics development deal
  

  MinterEllison advised superfunds on the largest logistics development deal near Sydney's new Aerotropolis. The site known as Burra Park will be developed into a logistics and industrial hub.

• Cities of the future: embracing temporary urbanism
  

  As we emerge from COVID-19, a pandemic which has seen our population retreat from public spaces, temporary urbanism may prove a valuable tool in reconnecting businesses, communities and public spaces.