Kate Thomas
Clayton Utz
Kate Thomas' track record as a property lawyer covers a broad range of real estate transactions, including the construction and establishment of BP's Newcastle fuel pipeline.
Highly respected for her negotiating skills, her practical and commercial approach to problem solving and her ability to work constructively with all parties in a transaction, Kate acts for government and major private sector clients on a variety of transactions and development projects.
A large part of Kate's practice involves property development projects, where her advisory work extends to multi-party arrangements, regulatory matters and related transactions. She also has extensive experience in the sale and acquisition of commercial, retail and industrial properties and urban release areas, commercial and retail leasing, licensing arrangements, and she often advises on property matters arising out of major corporate acquisitions, including the conduct of and reporting on due diligence investigations.
- BP (Newcastle fuel pipeline): Kate undertook the drafting and registration of the statutory easements, negotiated with landowners and was the legal liaison for BP's pipeline licence application.
- BP (Property matters): Kate's other property matters for BP include acting for BP on the initial acquisition, development arrangements (including with other parties such as fast food restaurants and other developers), leasing and all other property related work in respect of many projects and other matters over the last 18 years.
- Jones Bay Wharf: Kate acted for the tenant/developer in the redevelopment of the Jones Bay Wharf Sydney.
- Macquarie Bank: Kate has acted for the responsible entity of a managed investment scheme in relation to acquisition of numerous shopping centres and free standing supermarkets. Her role involved preparing, advising and negotiating transaction documents, advising on associated contracts and leases, conducting due diligence and providing strategic advice in relation to the redevelopment and management of assets in the scheme.Kate acted for one of the Bank's listed property trusts in relation to its conversion to a managed investment scheme.
- Westpac: Kate acted for Westpac in the establishment of a trust to hold in excess of 50 family restaurants throughout Australia and on the registration of this trust as a managed investment scheme. Kate was secretary of the Due Diligence Committee and was responsible for negotiating the master contract and drafting and negotiating the leasing arrangements.
- Woolworths: Kate acted for Woolworths on the development and redevelopment of many supermarkets. Kate also acted for Woolworths on its implementation of GST and its compliance with the price exploitation provisions of the Trade Practices Act.
- Private Developers: Kate has acted for numerous private developers including on the acquisition of a significant site in Western Sydney for development as part of an urban release area for residential development, including advising on the acquisition of additional land to expand the development site.
- Other property matters: Various matters for AMP, Mirvac, Metropolitan Aboriginal Association, Coil Steels Group, Origin Energy, Australian Rail and Track Corporation and many others.