David Wilkie

Partner Sydney

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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 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.

David Wilkie

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