Our People

Rob Bradley - Copy

Consultant

+61 3 8600 6002
rbradley@aitken.com.au
Rob Bradley - Copy

Areas of Law: Property Law
Qualifications: Bachelor of Jurisprudence I Bachelor of Laws
Office Location: Melbourne

PROFILE

Rob Bradley is a Melbourne-based property lawyer with more than 30 years of experience advising on complex and technically demanding real property matters. He is known for handling work that sits outside standard templates, where careful legal reasoning and commercial judgment are required.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws and is Aitken Partners’ principal adviser on complex property matters. He works closely with planners, valuers and project teams to guide matters from acquisition through to development, leasing and sale.

PROPERTY LAW SERVICES IN MELBOURNE

Rob provides legal support across the full lifecycle of property ownership, development and dispute resolution in Victoria.

Residential & Commercial Property Transactions

• Buying and selling property in Melbourne and Victoria
• Contract review and negotiation
  
• Due diligence and risk assessment
• Property development and subdivision
  

Covenant & Easement Removal

• Removal or variation of restrictive covenants on Certificates of Title
• Supreme Court of Victoria applications
  
• Easement disputes and negotiations
• Development unlocking strategies
  

VCAT & Property Disputes

• Representation at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
• Owners corporation disputes and governance
  
• Co-owner partition disputes
• Planning objections and appeals
  

Compulsory Acquisition & Planning Law

• Advising landowners affected by government or authority acquisition
• Negotiations with developers and responsible authorities
  
• Planning permit strategy, applications and disputes
• Precinct Structure Plan negotiations
  

Land Tax & Stamp Duty Advice

• State taxation structuring for property transactions
• Land tax objections and planning
  
• Stamp duty advice for complex or high-value transactions

Commercial & Retail Leasing

• Lease drafting, review and negotiation
• Rent review mechanisms and dispute resolution
  
• Landlord and tenant representation across commercial, retail and industrial premises

INDUSTRIES & CLIENTS

Rob advises clients across a broad range of sectors and property interests, including:

• Property developers and project managers
• Landowners and private investors
  
• Commercial landlords and tenants
• Corporations across retail, manufacturing and services
  
• Owners corporations
• Businesses across retail, manufacturing and services

EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Covenant removal · Supreme Court of Victoria

Conducted numerous applications to the Supreme Court of Victoria to vary or remove restrictive covenants on Certificates of Title, enabling residential and commercial development across metropolitan Melbourne. Each application required careful analysis of the covenant’s origins, the interests of benefited landowners, and the planning context of the proposed development.

Leasehold conversion · 160-apartment holiday resort

Established the original legal framework for a 160-apartment holiday resort structured on registered 399-year leases, then led the subsequent conversion of those leasehold titles into conventional freehold Certificates of Title — a technically intricate transaction requiring detailed engagement with Land Use Victoria and the resort’s management structure.

Disputed sale · Court of Appeal · $10 million property

Acted in Court of Appeal proceedings arising from competing contracts of sale over the same $10 million property. After resolving the ownership dispute in favour of the true buyer, Rob then acted on the subsequent subdivision, partial development and staged sale of the resulting parcels — managing the matter end-to-end from litigation through to settlement.

Precinct Structure Plans · Greenfield landowners

Represented owners of large family farm holdings affected by proposed Precinct Structure Plans, advising on negotiations with developers and government authorities and acting on the resulting land sales. This work required an understanding of both the planning framework and the personal and financial circumstances of long-term landholding families.

Business park development · Acquisitions & sales

Advised on numerous acquisitions, consolidations, subdivisions and staged sales of commercial and industrial business parks across Victoria, including development structuring, financing arrangements and owners corporation establishment.

VCAT · Owners corporations & co-owner disputes

Regularly appeared before VCAT in owners corporation governance disputes and co-owner partition proceedings, securing favourable outcomes for lot owners and management committees across a range of strata and community title contexts.

Planning · Permit applicants & objectors

Represented both permit applicants and objectors in planning proceedings, including negotiations with responsible and referral authorities and appearances before VCAT and planning panels. Rob works closely with town planners to develop legal strategies that reflect both the planning merits and the client’s commercial objectives.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Best Lawyers in Australia™ — Real Property Law 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026

Recognised every year since 2019, including the 2026 edition. Best Lawyers rankings are determined entirely by peer review — lawyers are assessed by fellow practitioners, not by the publication itself — making this one of the most credible independent measures of professional standing in the Australian legal profession. Rob is one of a small group of Aitken Partners lawyers to hold this recognition. The firm also holds Best Law Firms® rankings in Real Property Law, reflecting the depth of the team’s capability in this practice area.

Law Institute of Victoria — Certificate of Service LIV recognition

Awarded by the Law Institute of Victoria in recognition of Rob’s sustained contribution to the legal profession beyond client work. The certificate reflects active engagement with the property law community through committee participation, policy involvement and professional development.

MEMBERSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

LIV Property & Environmental Law Committee Member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Property and Environmental Law section committee, contributing to policy, professional development and legislative review in Victorian property law.	LIV–LUV Liaison Sub-committee Participates in the liaison sub-committee between the Law Institute of Victoria and Land Use Victoria, supporting collaboration between the legal profession and the state’s land titles authority.
Royal Melbourne Golf Club (RMGC)	Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC)
Melbourne Football Club (MFC)	Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need a property lawyer when buying or selling property in Melbourne?

Yes, particularly if you want clarity around risk before you commit. While some transactions appear straightforward, issues can arise around title restrictions, planning controls, contract terms or tax implications. Rob is often engaged to review contracts, identify potential risks early and ensure the structure of the transaction aligns with the client’s broader objectives. Even in standard transactions, having legal advice upfront can prevent delays or complications later.

Do I need a lawyer for covenant removal in Victoria?

Yes. Removing or varying a restrictive covenant in Victoria typically requires a Supreme Court application or a planning scheme amendment. The process involves identifying the parties with the benefit of the covenant, assessing the planning merits, and managing objections. Rob has conducted numerous such applications and is well placed to advise on the most effective strategy for your specific title.

What is VCAT’s role in property disputes?

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) resolves a wide range of property-related disputes, including owners corporation governance matters, planning permit appeals, co-ownership disputes and retail tenancy issues. Rob has appeared regularly before VCAT across all of these categories and can advise on whether VCAT is the right forum for your matter and how best to prepare.

How can a property lawyer help with development in Victoria?

Rob advises developers at every stage — from site acquisition and due diligence through to planning approvals, subdivision, owners corporation establishment and the sale of lots. His experience spans both residential and commercial projects, including business parks, mixed-use developments and holiday resorts. He works closely with town planners and other advisers to navigate the regulatory approvals process and manage legal risk throughout.

What is compulsory acquisition and what are my rights?

Compulsory acquisition is the process by which government or an authorised authority acquires private land for a public purpose — such as road or rail infrastructure. Landowners are entitled to compensation, but the amount offered is not always adequate. Rob advises landowners on their legal rights, engages with the acquiring authority on their behalf, and where necessary pursues fair compensation through formal processes.

When should I involve a property lawyer in a development project?

Earlier than most people think. Rob is typically involved from the acquisition stage, where early decisions around structure, planning constraints and title issues can significantly affect the viability of a project. Getting legal input upfront helps avoid delays, redesigns or disputes later.