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GiaC 510

About Gia

Gia Cari is a partner in the firm’s property & development group. She provides a broad range of advice to private, corporate and institutional clients. Gia advises on acquisitions, disposals, developments, real estate finance and leasing transactions.

Gia is a strong property generalist and regularly acts for private and institutional investors in relation to various property types, including commercial, retail, industrial and mixed-use property and has specialist experience in advising on complex title issues and land subdivisions.

She joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 2008 and was appointed as a partner effective July 2019. She graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

She is ranked by Chambers Asia PacificLegal 500 Asia Pacific and Doyle’s Guide Australia in the area of property and real estate law.

“What we enjoyed most as a client was the commercial outlook that Gia took to seek the best outcome for our business and its investors.”

Client quote, Real estate investment management firm

Practice focus

Gia’s practice focuses on the following areas:

  • sales and acquisitions of commercial, retail, industrial and mixed-use properties
  • property due diligence
  • development projects
  • advice on complex title issues
  • land subdivisions and staged residential and commercial land development
  • commercial, industrial and retail leasing.

Experience

Gia has acted on a variety of property matters for private clients, commercial property developers and property investors, including on behalf of:

Private clients

  • TMG Developments: in relation to the sale of the Manly Wharf Shopping Centre and Manly Wharf Hotel to a private investor and the Hotel Lindrum to real estate developer Time and Place
  • Trawalla Group: the sale of its Parliament Square development in Hobart to Tasmanian-based super fund Spirit Super for $330 million
  • Merricks Capital: in relation to all property aspects of the $465 million syndicate to finance the acquisition of Milligan Group’s landmark development at Pitt and Hunter Street, Sydney
  • Walker Corporation: in relation to the various projects, including the acquisition and development of all of the land known as Collins Square, Victoria and the Walker joint venture with Abacus in relation to the North and South Good Shed
  • MECCA Brands: in relation to a lease for its flagship store in Melbourne’s Bourke Street mall
  • Journal Student Accommodation Fund: in relation to the sale of two student accommodation buildings in Melbourne for $459 million to German investment house Allianz Real Estate
  • Beulah International: in relation to the acquisition of 185 City Road, Southbank from BMW for $101 million, including ongoing advice in relation to the redevelopment, leasing and subdivision of the site
  • Dial-A-Dump: in relation to the property aspects of Ian Malouf’s sale of the business to ASX-listed Bingo Industries for $577.5 million
  • Visy Industries Australia: in relation to the sale of industrial paper manufacturing and warehouse and distribution facilities in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia
  • Private clients: in relation to various property advisory matters, leasing requirements, complex and staged land subdivisions
  • Private clients: various private high net wealth landowners and investors in relation to documenting and negotiating the sale and acquisition of land in Victoria

Corporate clients

  • Honda Australia: in relation to the joint sale of two properties to privately held real estate investor and manager, Hines
  • BGH Capital: on property matters relevant to its bid to acquire Virgin Australia
  • Probiotec: advised the ASX listed group on various leasing and property advisory matters
  • Charter Hall: in relation to
    • an agreement with BP for a stake in 225 convenience and fuel outlets for $840 million
    • the acquisition of a 49% interest in Telstra exchange property trust worth $1.43 billion
    • property matters, due diligence and documentation of the acquisition of the Coles distribution centre, Smeaton Grange NSW and acquisitions for the Charter Hall wholesale partnership including home improvement focused assets such as the Bunnings Mornington, Tasmania and Bunnings Gungahlin, ACT
    • the acquisition of Telstra’s Melbourne headquarters for $830 million
  • Charter Hall and GIC: in relation to the acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in the Ampol Property Trust
  • Spotlight: on property and leasing matters relating to the acquisition by Spotlight of Harris Scarfe from insolvency, via a Deed of Company Arrangement
  • Century Group: in relation to the sale of their development ‘Flinders Bank’ to property developer Mirvac for $200 million

Public interest law clients

  • Foodbank Victoria in relation to the negotiation and documentation of funding agreements and property transaction documents for the development of two regional hubs to deliver food and services to the Victorian community
  • Munarra Limited: advice on its partnership with Shepparton City Council and the Victorian State Government to deliver the State’s first regional centre for excellence supporting science, sport, art and cultural development for the next generation of indigenous leaders
  • Pathways to Politics: Co-convenor of ABL Legal Clinic to provide pro-bono legal advice to alumni candidates of the Pathway to Politics Program in the Federal and State elections

"Gia's availability to respond and advise on any situation is outstanding.”

Client quote

Awards & recognition

Gia is recognised as a leading lawyer by various international guides to lawyers and law firms, including

  • Chambers Asia Pacific: real estate,
  • Doyle’s Guide: property and real estate, and
  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific: real estate.

Directorships & memberships

  • Director, Board of Australian Communities Foundation.
  • Committee Member (Commercial Office, Victoria) of the Property Council of Australia.

Recognition & publications

Take a look at Insights & News articles referencing Gia Cari