Real Estate

Clifford Chance has hired the head of Mallesons' real estate group and his team of five to lead its growing real estate practice in Australia, on the heels of hiring lawyers from Pinsent Masons and HSF Kramer to kickstart its construction and environment teams.

Coles Group's proposed acquisition of a leasehold interest in a Kalgoorlie supermarket and liquor store site would substantially lessen competition in the retail supply of groceries in the region, the competition cop says.

Domain has sued News Corp-owned rival REA Group over alleged misleading claims that it attracts the buyer for nine in 10 sold homes listed on the platform.

BKC Australia and Mitsubishi Estate outfit MEC Global Partners Asia have joined forces to acquire the Cumberland Industrial Estate in Smithfield, Sydney, for $127.5 million from Goodman.

A tribunal has found the public interest favours disclosure of information about how premiums are calculated under the state's home building insurance scheme, partly overturning a decision refusing access to documents sought by Maurice Blackburn.

Japan's Mitsubishi Estate Asia will sell its 49.9 per cent stake in the $500 million Stockland Residential Rental Partnership portfolio to Mercer Investments.

Tax reforms aimed at capital gains and negative gearing sailed through Parliament on Thursday night, with the Treasurer calling the changes a win for "workers, first home buyers and future generations".

The owner of Northcote Shopping Centre in Melbourne has lost its bid for leave to appeal in a fight with budget supermarket Aldi over whether clauses imposing a cap on rental increases is contrary to the Retail Leases Act.

Lendlease will sell its stake in the Keyton Retirement Living Trust to Aware Super for $525 million as the property giant looks to trim its debt. 

NSW is cracking down on underquoting by real estate agents, passing a new law under which they will face penalties of up to $110,000 for engaging in the misleading practice.