David Wilkie
Clayton Utz
Partner
Sydney
David is a very experienced lawyer and this experience is invaluable when issues arise on transactions as he has undoubtedly seen it all before.
– Chambers
Overview
David is a market-leading lawyer trusted for his adept commercial and legal judgment in public/private mergers, acquisitions/divestments, equity investments, project developments, joint ventures and more. With a focus on client needs, he's a trusted adviser to global private equity giants, leading developers and sovereign wealth funds, boasting expertise in real estate and infrastructure. David is also a trusted adviser to the NSW Government, regularly advising on complex infrastructure projects in the transport and healthcare sectors. His deep-seated involvement in intricate, multinational transactions and projects underscores his commitment to excellent client service.
Notable Work
- Blackstone: advised on its A$8.9 billion acquisition of Crown Resorts Limited by way of scheme of arrangement, its largest investment in the Asia Pacific at the time, and one of its largest globally.
- Dye & Durham: advised on its proposed A$3.5 billion takeover of Link Group by way of scheme of arrangement.
- Blackstone: advised on its A$500+ million acquisition of Student One, a portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane and the related operating business.
- Industrial real estate sector: advised on some of Australia's largest transactions, including:
- Blackstone on its A$3.8 billion dual track disposal of the "Milestone" industrial logistics portfolio, comprising 45 industrial assets across 5 states. This transaction is Australia's largest ever direct property transaction;
- Blackstone on its A$2.1 billion acquisition of a 50% interest in Dexus Australian Logistics Trust, which holds 77 premium-grade logistics assets concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne;
- Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing on its A$363 million JV with Centuria Industrial REIT, comprising a portfolio of eight industrial assets across 3 states; and
- Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing on its A$430 million JV with Lendlease, comprising a portfolio of eight industrial assets across four states.
- Mitsui Fudosan: advised on its entry into the Australian real estate market, including on its JVs with Frasers Property Australia to develop four buildings in Midtown MacPark, a new urban village in Macquarie Park, NSW slated to contain over 3,000 apartments when complete.
- Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing: advised on its A$210 million healthcare JV with Centuria Capital, comprising a portfolio of three seed assets across three states.
- Hotel real estate sector: advised on some of Australia's largest transactions, including:
- Frasers Hospitality on its A$200 million acquisition from LaSalle Investment management and A$315 million disposal of the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth to KKR. At the time of the disposal, this transaction was Australia's largest single-asset hospitality deal;
- A sovereign wealth fund on the repositioning of two key assets through the development of 2 upper upscale hotels.
- Bright Ruby on its A$442 million acquisition of the Sydney Hilton Hotel; and
- Sunshine Insurance on its landmark A$463 million acquisition of Sheraton on the Park.
- Office real estate sector: advised on some of Australia's largest transactions, including:
- Blackstone and Brookfield on their $1+ billion sell-down of their interests in the Southern Cross Towers in Melbourne;
- Invesco on its A$800 million acquisition of a 50% interest in the development of One The Esplanade on a fund through basis;
- Mitsubishi Estate Asia on its acquisition from Lendlease of a 30% interest in the development of the Salesforce Tower at Sydney Place; and
- CIC on its A$2.45 billion acquisition of Investa Property Trust. At the time of the acquisition, this transaction was Australia's largest ever direct property transaction.
- Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing: advised on various development fund through arrangements, including on its:
- development of a healthcare asset in Victoria with Centuria Capital on a fund through basis; and
- office development of 664 Collins Street, Melbourne with Mirvac on a fund through basis.
- industrial development of Calibre, 60 Wallgrove Road, Eastern Creek with Mirvac on a fund through basis.
- NSW Government: advised on complex infrastructure projects, including on:
- the sale of the WestConnex Project, the largest integrated transport and urban revitalisation project in Australia;
- Australia's first Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility and RNA Research and Pilot Manufacturing Facility.
- NSW Government: advising on complex healthcare projects, including:
- the establishment of the new A$658m Minderoo Children's Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Randwick, the first children's comprehensive cancer centre in Australia; and
- the construction and establishment of the A$650m Sydney Biomedical Accelerator in Camperdown, a first-in-Australia, world-class biomedical research innovation precinct tackling some of the world's most complex healthcare challenges, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disease.
- Sovereign wealth fund: advised on the establishment of joint venture investment funds, including a A$1.1b tactical club for the purposes of investing in a range of deep value real estate opportunities across APAC.
- EG Funds: advised on the establishment of a A$400m property investment fund with GIC focusing on revitalising commercial real estate assets and neighbourhoods in Sydney and Melbourne.
Insights
Media Release: Clayton Utz advises an investment vehicle sponsored by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing on ~$600m capital partnership with Frasers Property
28 Apr 2025 | Media Release
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Build to rent: regulatory change paving the way for foreign and domestic investment
26 Sep 2024 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advises Mitsui Fudosan on its largest acquisition in Australia
10 Jul 2024 | Media Release
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Whether an offence "involves dishonesty" or not in the automatic disqualification of company directors
23 May 2024 | Article
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Media Release: 'Net zero exceptionalism' drives foreign interest in local energy transition
22 Mar 2024 | Media Release
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advises NSW Government on new company to operate world-leading viral vector manufacturing facility
4 Mar 2024 | Media Release
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Media Release: Clayton Utz congratulates MA Financial on its acquisition of Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Melbourne's Docklands
16 Feb 2024 | Media Release
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Media Release: Clayton Utz congratulates Realterm on its joint venture with Partners Group leading to the acquisition of Sydney industrial outdoor storage facility
5 Feb 2024 | Media Release
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Parliament signals a comprehensive review of corporate insolvency law in Australia
20 Sep 2023 | Article
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Determining "current market rent" under the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW): what standards must a valuer meet?
7 Jul 2023 | Article
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ASIC releases and clarifies its corporate finance priorities for the coming quarter
24 May 2023 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz congratulates Blackstone on successful implementation of Crown Resorts scheme
24 Jun 2022 | Media Release
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advises on two winning Deals of the Year at IJGlobal Awards - Asia Pacific
10 Apr 2019 | Media Release
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Clayton Utz congratulates clients shortlisted for global accolades at prestigious Partnership Awards
6 Mar 2017 | Media Release
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