Property Lawyers in Sydney

Buying or selling in Sydney often moves quickly, and the contract can be exchanged within days of an offer. A property lawyer reviews the contract for sale, checks title and planning certificates, then handles exchange and settlement. Many also act on leases, strata matters, subdivisions and development projects, which are common in a city with so many apartments and townhouses.

NSW has its own rules on contracts, deposits and cooling off, so it helps to use a lawyer who works in NSW property every day. A firm with commercial, tax and planning lawyers in house can be useful for developers, investors and business owners who buy property through companies or trusts. For a straightforward home purchase, ask about fixed fees and who will manage the file.

Bartier Perry
Level 25, 161 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 8281 7800

Bartier Perry’s property team acts on sales, purchases, leasing, subdivision and development for developers, businesses, local councils and government authorities, as well as landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers. Work includes commercial, industrial and residential transactions, off the plan sales from development approval through to completion, and retail and industrial leases. The team also handles strata and stratum subdivisions, easements and covenants, voluntary planning agreements and caveats, and gives advice on GST, stamp duty and land tax. Planning, construction and tax lawyers work alongside it.

Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Level 6, 179 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9394 1010

At Brown Wright Stein, the property and development group advises investors, private portfolios, multinational organisations and smaller developers on commercial, retail and industrial property. It acts on purchases and sales, leasing and licensing, development finance, joint ventures, syndicates and off the plan sales. The team also handles strata and community title subdivisions, dual occupancies, easements and options plus property due diligence, including purchases by self managed super funds. Its lawyers work with the firm’s tax and commercial teams on structuring and GST.
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Coleman Greig Lawyers
Level 15, 32 Smith Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: (02) 9895 9200

Coleman Greig Lawyers runs a commercial property practice alongside its business law team, with offices in Parramatta, Penrith, Norwest and the Sydney CBD. Its property work covers commercial, industrial and retail leasing, commercial property transactions, property development and strata title, along with liquor licensing and property disputes. The firm’s site also lists a conveyancing service for personal clients. Clients include family owned businesses, medium sized companies, government bodies and individuals.
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Swaab
Level 4, 20 Hunter Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9233 5544

Swaab’s property lawyers act for owners, investors, landlords, tenants and developers, as well as government agencies. Transactions cover residential, commercial, industrial, rural and hotel property, licensed premises and vacant development land. The team also structures joint ventures and projects, handles subdivisions, easements and off the plan conveyancing. It also prepares strata and community title schemes. Leasing work spans commercial, retail, industrial and franchise leases, including rent review disputes. The firm encourages early involvement to avoid delays later in a deal.
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Hicksons Lawyers
Level 24, 100 Barangaroo Avenue
Barangaroo NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9293 5311

Based at Barangaroo, the Hicksons property team (which now includes Hunt & Hunt and Holman Webb) acts on sales and purchases of commercial, industrial and residential property, from off the plan apartments to shopping centres. It also handles leasing, property development, due diligence, town planning and heritage or contamination issues. Clients include developers and investors, financial institutions, landlords and tenants, owners corporations, retirement village operators and government agencies. Mandarin and Cantonese speaking solicitors are available.
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Etheringtons Solicitors
Ground Floor, 153 Walker Street
North Sydney NSW 2060
Tel: (02) 9963 9800

On Walker Street in North Sydney, Etheringtons Solicitors handles residential conveyancing for buyers and sellers along with commercial and retail leasing. For buyers, the team checks title, easements and planning approvals before exchange. For sellers, it prepares the contract and the disclosure documents that must be attached. Its property work also covers subdivision and development, plus disputes over ownership, access, encroachments and strata matters. Leases are drafted or reviewed for landlords and tenants so the agreed terms are written down clearly.
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Marsdens Law Group
Suite 1, First Floor, 154 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9233 1133

Marsdens Law Group acts on buying, selling and leasing homes, property development and notary work. It also advises on property issues that arise in family law matters. Its clients range from home buyers and farmers to property developers, banks, companies and government bodies. The firm settles transactions electronically through PEXA and aims to spot problems early in a matter. Besides the Elizabeth Street office in the city, it has offices in Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden and Oran Park.
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Contracts and cooling off in NSW

The NSW Government guide to contracts and deposits says the standard cooling off period for a residential purchase is five business days after exchange, with a longer period for off the plan purchases. There is no cooling off period if you buy at auction, or if you exchange on the same day after a property is passed in. A buyer who withdraws during the cooling off period pays the vendor 0.25% of the price.

The same guide recommends asking for the contract as soon as possible so your solicitor or conveyancer can review it. Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer is the person who can negotiate changes for you, since the agent cannot change the contract.

Choosing a property lawyer

For a home purchase, ask for a fixed fee quote and find out what it includes, such as searches and settlement. Leases, development sites and purchases through a trust may suit a firm with commercial and tax lawyers, who can look at the whole picture, including duty and GST.

Give your lawyer the full contract before you exchange, along with any building or strata reports. Early review leaves time to raise questions with the vendor’s solicitor, which in many cases is far simpler than trying to fix a problem after exchange.

Other practice areas in Sydney

Looking outside Sydney? Browse property lawyers in other cities.