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Michael Dowling

Special Counsel

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Bachelor of Laws, Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Property Law Accredited Specialist (Law Institute of Victoria)

P: +61 3 9609 1536

M:

E: mdowling@rk.com.au

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  • Water
  • Government
  • Property
  • Roads Law
  • Government Law
  • Building Regulation
  • Crown Land
  • Subdivisions
  • Local Government

Michael practices in the areas of property, local government, property development and subdivisions.

He is a specialist accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria in property law and has over 30 years’ experience in complex property matters, including a full range of legal services for medium to large scale property projects with particular expertise in the government and local government sectors and with an emphasis on friendly, efficient and timely advice with practical outcomes. His experience includes civic centre redevelopments, shopping centre redevelopments, social housing projects, section 173 agreements, road closures, land exchanges and the full range of property work specific to local government.

Experience

  • Acting for more than 50 metropolitan and rural Councils in relation to the sale and redevelopment of land for residential and mixed use, land exchange agreements, joint ventures with property developers and the acquisition and redevelopment of Crown Land
  • Acting in a previous role for many years for the City of Yarra advising on almost a weekly basis on advices in relation to road and property issues, including road discontinuances< Section 173 / development agreements and sub-terranean and airspace property sales
  • Drafting agreements pursuant to Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987
  • Advising Councils and other public bodies on adverse possession claims and encroachments in respect of roads, public highways, reserves and other types of land
  • Advising Councils and private clients on the conversion of land from general law to Torrens title
  • Advising Councils on all aspects of compulsory and private treaty
  • Land acquisitions, including compensation claims under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 and the Planning and Environments Act 1987
  • Acting for Councils, public bodies and private clients in respect of strategies for the disposal of contaminated land
  • Acting for various State Government departments and bodies including Department of Education and Training, Department of Treasury and Finance, Department of Health and Human Services, Director of Housing and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, in relation to property sales and acquisition, complex crown land issues, licences, easements and roads, and social housing projects
  • Preparing all documentation in relation to various types of plans of subdivision under the Subdivision Act 1988 (Vic) and the creation, variation or removal of easements and restrictive covenants
  • Advising State Government and Councils and other public bodies on adverse possession claims and encroachments in respect of roads, public highways, reserves and other types of land
  • Advising State Government and Councils on all aspects of compulsory and private treaty land acquisitions, including compensation claims under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 and the Planning and Environments Act 1987
  • Acting for Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance in relation to the negotiation, finalisation and exchange of contracts of sale for the North Wharf Project (a project ultimately worth over $100 million)
  • Advising clients on all aspects of commercial property law including sales and acquisitions, subdivision of land and property development
  • Statutory interpretation of the numerous Acts, Regulations, Rules and legislative enactments which impact on Council’s activities, powers and functions
  • Advice on commercial, tendering and contractual matters including drafting of agreements
  • Preparing all documentation in relation to various types of plans of subdivision under the Subdivision Act 1988 (Vic) and the creation, variation or removal of easements and restrictive covenants
  • Advising property developers in relation to broad acre subdivision developments

Leadership

  • Member, Property Law Committee, Law Institute of Victoria
  • Member, Property and Environmental Law Section Executive
  • Member, Law Institute of Victoria/Land Victoria Liaison Group
  • Former Church Warden, St Thomas' Anglican Church Burwood
  • Senior Deputy Chair of Committees, Melbourne Anglican Synod
  • Former Member, Archbishop-In-Council, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
  • Former Chair, Church Missionary Society Victoria
  • Recognised by Best Lawyers for expertise in Real Property Law (since 2021)