location_on Melbourne
Michael Lanyon
Partner
A partner in Colin Biggers & Paisley's property and development group, Michael has decades of experience running a broad practice with a principal focus on property development, working closely with some of Australia's leading developers.
Overview
He believes in fostering long term relationships with clients, providing them commercially focussed advice. He works collaboratively with major corporate property developers and builders regarding commercial, residential and industrial properties, hotels and serviced apartments, and shopping centres. Through his work with the Uniting Church, Michael held the position of chair of UnitingCare lifeAssist, an organisation which assisted people with disabilities.
Michael advises on property development, building and construction contracts, major infrastructure projects including key freight projects such as the inland ports in Victoria, the Building Act, land management agreements, commercial leases, and stamp duty. His expertise includes property joint ventures, economic entitlement issues, windfall gains tax, and he acts for developers in finance transactions. He also assists clients with dispute resolution and litigation. Clients appreciate his calm demeanour, as well as his ability to think laterally and to distil complex legal terminology into plain English.
Michael has travelled widely in China over the last 15 years, developing a substantial client base there acting for clients in property developments and business matters. He is currently acting on behalf of the Shaolin Temple in relaton to the construction of a new temple in Australia.
Michael runs client seminars on topical property development issues in Australia and China. He runs these seminars for Leo Cussen Centre for Law, and for estate agents as well as clients. Seminars in China generally focus on investing in Australia and on the topic of choosing the right structure for investing in Australia. He is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Michael is admitted to practice in Victoria and graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws (Hons). He holds a Victorian Government award for community service and currently serves as the president of ADVOC's Asian chapter. He is also a director of the Chinese Museum in Australia and has been appointed to the Zhengzhou Arbitration Commission.
