Simon Taskunas
Clayton Utz
Partner
Perth
Overview
Simon has deep international experience in corporate real estate transactions gained from over 25 years of working on both the advisory and client sides. He regularly advises owners, developers, fund managers, and government clients on major property development projects and investment transactions in Australia. This includes all property classes involving freehold, strata, and State land, and through the entire real estate lifecycle: investment structuring and capital partnerships, acquisitions, joint ventures, disposals, developments, leasing, and workouts.
Notable Work
- Renewable energy: structuring and documenting project documentation, and advising on project approvals required for solar, wind, and renewable hydrogen projects for both landowners and operators in Western Australia.
- Infrastructure: advised Talison on its expansion of the Greenbushes Lithium Operations, including land access and powerline infrastructure arrangements; advised on Alcoa's proposed rail and infrastructure expansion at the Port of Bunbury, including negotiating tenure and third party access arrangements with the Port Authority.
- Commercial office: advised fund management clients from Australia and Asia on the disposal of Alinta Plaza, Workzone West and 181 St Georges Terrace, and the acquisition of 45 St Georges Terrace, 190 St Georges Terrace, Optima Centre, and Clinipath Osborne Park, Perth; advised on and negotiated key anchor leases for existing and new builds.
- Industrial: advised an equity investor and debt provider, and subsequently the joint venture participants, on structuring and documenting the $250M Roe Highway logistics park development project.
- Precinct developments: advised the developer on the inner-city NV mixed use development in Perth comprising over 400 apartments and a hotel, and the Liv apartments project in Fremantle comprising 166 apartments and associated retail uses; advised on the acquisition of the mixed use Old Swan Brewery precinct; advised on the proposed East Perth Power Station redevelopment project.
- Retirement communities/aged care: acted for Stockland on its "Aspire" strata scheme retirement village, the first of its kind in Perth; acted for Oryx Communities on the acquisition of the Queenslea and The Richardson.
- Hospitality & Leisure: advised on hotel acquisitions and leisure project developments in Perth, Fremantle and the North-West, and the sale of Sebel Mandurah.
- FIRB: obtained multiple FIRB approvals and a FIRB Exemption Certificate for foreign company clients on the acquisition of interests in Australian agricultural and residential land.
- Government: advised on the Machinery of Government Changes project including structuring and transferring numerous development projects comprising social and affordable housing lots; advised Water Corporation on statutory powers, land access, tenure powers and rights, acquisition and disposal of land, pipeline easements, and telco access licences; advised the Federal Government on commercial property projects in the Indian Ocean Territories.
- Agribusiness: advised on freehold and pastoral lease acquisitions, negotiated the acquisition and joint venture terms for the operation of Western Australia's largest almond farm at Eneabba, and advised on the acquisition of the Albany-based oyster farm operation, Ocean Foods International.
Insights
Start dates confirmed for Revenue NSW’s changed duties assessment procedures for sale of land of $20 million or more
30 Aug 2024 | Article
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Beware delays as Revenue NSW changes its duties assessment procedures for sale of land of $20 million or more
7 Aug 2024 | Article
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Trading with a WA Government Trading Enterprise? Factor in new approvals and processes
15 Aug 2023 | Article
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Long-awaited tax changes to propel build-to-rent investment in Australia
3 May 2023 | Article
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Real estate 5 Minute Fix 21: unfair contract terms; build to rent, PEXA, rent abatement withdrawal, developer regulation
7 Mar 2023 | Article
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Real estate 5 Minute Fix 20: stamp duty and revenue, land tax, e-conveyancing, and mortgagee protections
12 Dec 2022 | Article
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Real estate 5 Minute Fix 19: WA significant developments, off-the-plan contracts, ACT residential tenancies, REIQ contracts
16 Sep 2022 | Article
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FIRB application fees will double from 29 July: what you need to know
25 Jul 2022 | Article
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One month to comment on draft Policy Framework for diversification leases on WA Crown land
29 Jun 2022 | Article
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Real Estate 5 Minute Fix 18: electronic execution; land tax rent relief, new REIQ commercial contracts, agent licensing, NSW COVID-19 regulation
24 Jun 2022 | Article
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Real estate: 5 Minute Fix 17: COVID-19 measures; exemption approval for foreign Australian-based developers; land tax; off the plan; Property Market Review
17 Mar 2022 | Article
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Real estate: 5 Minute Fix 16: PEXA settlements, e-conveyancing, COVID-19 measures, Windfall Gains Tax
9 Dec 2021 | Article
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New WA procurement regulations raise the stakes for government suppliers
25 Nov 2021 | Article
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Real estate: 5 Minute Fix 15: COVID-19 relief, stamp duty and land tax changes, strata and community title
2 Sep 2021 | Article
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Real estate: 5 Minute Fix 14: e-conveyancing, put options, electronic execution
10 Jun 2021 | Article
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Real estate: 5 Minute Fix 13: COVID-19 relief measures, Vic Owners Corporations law reform , and updated NSW Retail Tenancy Guide
4 Mar 2021 | Article
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2021 Update: What you need to know as COVID-19 measures for commercial and residential tenancies are coming to an end
18 Feb 2021 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz assists Fiveight with purchase of Perth CBD office tower
17 Dec 2020 | Media Release
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Significant Australian foreign investment reforms commencing 1 January 2021
11 Dec 2020 | Article
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Living the High Life: A summary of recent changes to body corporate arrangements nationally
26 Nov 2020 | Article
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Court weighs in on COVID-19 leasing legislation: Landlords may need to prepare for the long haul
8 Sep 2020 | Article
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Australia restores no-review threshold for foreign acquirers of leasehold interests in certain commercial land
4 Sep 2020 | Article
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WA Tenancy Code of Conduct brings temporary rent relief for small business tenants
2 Jun 2020 | Article
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Mandatory code of conduct for commercial and retail leases on the way as part of COVID-19 response
6 Apr 2020 | Article
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Changes to foreign investment review in Australia under temporary COVID-19 measures
30 Mar 2020 | Article
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Sunset dates: When does the clock run out on off-the-plan contracts?
28 Nov 2019 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz brings community together to show the path towards an Indigenous voice to government
15 Nov 2019 | Media Release
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Buyers beware: Western Australia will levy a Foreign Purchaser stamp duty surcharge from 1 January 2019
8 Nov 2018 | Article
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Changes to FIRB New Dwelling Exemption Certificates (for apartment developments)
10 May 2017 | Article
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