Acquire
Site acquisition and due diligence
Review the site contract, option or heads of agreement alongside title, searches, planning material, access, services and the proposed use.
Property development legal services
Property development lawyers in Sydney
Aquarius Lawyers advises Sydney developers, landowners and investors on site acquisitions, development agreements, ownership arrangements, planning and title issues, subdivision and project sales. Start with the site, project stage and next decision.
Send the current site, title, agreement, planning and project documents. Aquarius Lawyers will confirm conflicts, availability and the proposed legal work in writing.
- Your role
- Developer, landowner, investor or project party
- Project stage
- Acquisition, agreement, approval, subdivision or sale
- Next date
- Signing, consent, registration, funding or launch
A written development scope can set out
- The legal work and project stage included
- Documents, parties and deadlines to be reviewed
- Professional fees, GST and likely external charges
This page covers property development law in Sydney and NSW. Aquarius Lawyers provides conveyancing across Australia. For property in another state or territory, explore our national conveyancing services or send a national property enquiry and select your property's jurisdiction. Aquarius Lawyers will confirm the available work and costs in writing.
Legal help at each project stage
Legal help from site purchase to project sales
A property development project needs different legal work at each stage. Start with your next decision, the documents that affect it and any work being handled by planners, surveyors or other specialists.
The site, title, agreements, approvals and delivery documents need to point to the same project stage and decision.
Agree
Development and project agreements
Define land access, delivery obligations, milestones, approvals, costs, decision rights, defaults and exit terms in the requested agreement.
Structure
Joint ventures and co-ownership
Connect the ownership structure, project contributions, finance, control, profit arrangements, deadlock and exit provisions.
Approve
Planning approvals and legal issues
Review the legal effect of planning documents, consent conditions, agreements, objections or appeal options within the accepted scope.
Register
Title, easements and subdivision
Identify title constraints, easements, covenants, access, infrastructure documents, subdivision steps and registration dependencies.
Deliver
Project delivery and property sales
Map construction and consultant contracts, finance conditions, proposed-lot contracts, disclosure material and settlement dependencies.
Before and after site acquisition
What stage is your project at?
You may need different legal advice before and after a site purchase. Tell Aquarius Lawyers what stage you have reached and which decision comes next.
Site acquisition and project set-up
Check the site and deal before you commit.
Start with the acquisition document, title, searches, planning material, proposed ownership arrangement and the assumptions behind the project.
- Identify the purchaser, landowner, investor and other project parties.
- Send the contract, option, title, searches and early planning material.
- State the condition, signing date, finance date or decision deadline.
Approvals, title and project delivery
Link approvals and title work to delivery.
Start with the current consent, conditions, project agreements, title plan, survey work and the next funding, registration or sales milestone.
- Identify approvals obtained, pending or disputed.
- Send current plans, conditions, agreements and consultant material.
- State the subdivision, funding, launch, completion or settlement date.
How the matter begins
Four steps to a written legal scope
Tell Aquarius Lawyers what stage the project has reached and which decision comes next. This helps separate the legal work from planning, surveying, design, tax, finance and engineering work.
Request a development matter scope- 1
Identify the site and parties
Provide the property address, title details, ownership position and every party connected to the proposed legal work.
- 2
Locate the project stage
Explain whether the immediate work concerns acquisition, agreements, approvals, finance, title, subdivision, delivery or sales.
- 3
Send the key documents
Include current contracts, titles, searches, plans, consents, agreements, finance papers and dated correspondence.
- 4
Review the written scope
Check the legal work, deliverables, professional fees, GST, likely external charges, exclusions and responsibility for each next step.
Property development law questions
Answers before the next project commitment
These answers are general. The site, project stage, parties, documents and accepted scope determine the advice for your matter.
What does a property development lawyer do in NSW?
A property development lawyer may advise on site acquisition, due diligence, development and project agreements, ownership arrangements, planning and title issues, easements, subdivision and project sales. The work depends on the site, project stage, parties and documents. Aquarius Lawyers confirms the available work and exclusions in writing.
When should I speak to a lawyer about a development site?
Legal review is useful before signing a site contract, option, heads of agreement, joint-venture document or finance arrangement. It may also be needed when a consent, title, infrastructure agreement, subdivision step or project sale creates a new decision. Send the current documents and the next deadline so Aquarius Lawyers can assess the requested scope.
Can Aquarius Lawyers review a development or joint-venture agreement?
Aquarius Lawyers can assess an enquiry about a development agreement, joint venture, co-ownership arrangement or related project document. Identify the parties, ownership structure, land, project stage, proposed contributions, decision rights and exit question. Conflicts, availability and the proposed legal work must be confirmed before advice begins.
Do property development lawyers obtain planning approval?
A lawyer may advise on the legal effect of planning documents, conditions, agreements, objections or appeal pathways where that work is accepted. Preparing technical plans, lodging a development application and managing the planning process may require a town planner, surveyor, architect or other consultant. No lawyer can promise that consent will be granted.
Can a lawyer help with subdivision and off-the-plan sales?
A development matter may include title constraints, easements, infrastructure documents, subdivision steps and contracts for proposed lots. Survey, registration, planning and sales work should be mapped against the current consent and project timetable. Aquarius Lawyers will confirm which legal documents and stages are included in its scope.
How much does a property development lawyer cost in Sydney?
The fee depends on the site, project stage, transaction value, parties, documents, timetable and work requested. Site due diligence, agreement drafting, negotiation, planning advice, subdivision and project sales can require different work. Ask for a written scope showing professional fees, GST, likely third-party charges and exclusions.
Content reviewer
Reviewed by Katherine Hawes
LLB, LLM · Principal Solicitor, Aquarius Lawyers
Katherine reviewed this page's site-acquisition, agreement, planning, title, subdivision and project-scope information for Sydney clients.
Last reviewed 13 September 2026. General information only; obtain advice about your development site, project documents, parties and deadlines.