Stephen Maule

Stephen Maule LLB, B.Com
Partner
Phone: +61 8600 6049
Email:

Teams

Stephen is a partner with Aitken Partners and heads our property law team and has built a three decade career on all aspects of real property and conveyancing, leases and licences, site re-development (small and large projects) and compulsory acquisition.

Stephen also assists clients with issues relating to crown land, planning, social housing, pollution control.

Stephen’s current client base includes various not-for-profit organisations, medium to large private companies, family businesses and private individuals.

He has provided advice on integration of corporate structures and family assets, on the vesting and splitting of trusts and change of trustees and the preparation of wills and general advice on estate matters.

Stephen is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Property and Environment Law Section.

General Commercial Law

Stephen’s practice also encompasses all areas of contract law, including drafting, negotiating and advising on:

  • joint venture agreements
  • sale and acquisition agreements
  • partnership agreements
  • Stephen advises on:
  • strategic planning and improvements to business structures
  • asset protection and risk management strategies.
  • Corporations law and directors’ duties under the Corporations Act
  • taxation issues

  • insurance issues.

Property

Stephen has over 30 years experience in all property areas for which we are bidding to the State.

Stephen’s practice has a particular focus on leasing. He has advised on leases for industrial, commercial, and retail premises. He navigates clients, both landlords and tenants through drafting and reviewing lease terms, renegotiation, and advising on property management issues.

Stephen is very experienced in preparing and negotiating commercial leases and is well versed in the Retail Leases Act.

During his career Stephan has acted in thousands of purchases and sales of commercial, industrial and residential property, including:

  • commercial property developments
  • off the plan sales
  • multi-storey and broad-acre subdivisions
  • sales and purchases of leasehold properties.

Stephen provides detailed property and leasing advice and guidance to many clients. He frequently acts in large and complex property transactions, recently these have included:

  • lead role in advice to Jayral Golf Pty Ltd on the development of Silverwoods, $500-million golf course estate at Lake Mulwala, involving a 1000 lot subdivision, golf course, hotel and convention centre. This project has involved:
    • satisfying complex planning issues and approvals
    • resolving licensing issues (between the local shire council and the local water authority)
    • water rights issues and legal processes surrounding applications for surface water permits
    • negotiation and documentation with water statutory bodies (including NSW Fisheries) regarding water management strategies

The success of this large development has hinged on Stephen’s skilful collaboration all with varied stakeholders, covering all levels of government and the various water authorities (Murray Darling Basin Commission and Goulburn Murray Water).

Stephen’s other recent property advice and legal work includes:

  • leasing of 10 floors of a CBD building to the Commonwealth Government
  • guiding client when negotiating a large lease to the Victorian Police Department
  • development of many petrol stations and fuel depot sites for Scotts Agencies of Mt Gambier, including advice and negotiation on contamination and pollution issues
  • advising land holders in relation to the compulsory acquisition of their property by government authorities including a farm affected by a bypass for the Calder Highway and a suburban property affected by widening of Warrigal Road.
  • dealing with Victorian Heritage Commission to successfully negotiate and resolve the issue of a heritage overlay at Mornington Peninsula with a satisfactory outcome for our client and the Heritage Commission.

Stephen frequently acts in site re-development projects, for example in the acquisition and consolidation of various blocks of land for the construction of residential units.

Stephen also advises his property clients on the Duties Act, Land Tax Act and Owners Corporation Act.

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