About Emile
Drawing on over a decade of experience practicing both finance and property law, Emile offers a uniquely holistic approach to assist his broad range of clients to achieve the most timely and commercial outcomes.
In the finance space, Emile acts for both lenders and borrowers in property finance arrangements, including high rise and flat land developments; retail, commercial and industrial leasing portfolios; retirement village, aged care and land lease communities; and social and affordable housing including specialist disability accommodation (SDA).
He acts for a number of banks, non-institutional and private lenders, on all aspects of their financing arrangements, from deal structuring to documentation and due diligence, for transactions ranging from $5 million to over $250 million. Emile also assisted in the roll out of the $1 billion COVID-19 Job Support Loan Scheme, which saw McCullough Robertson document over 3,000 secured and unsecured loans in just 3 months.
Emile is experienced in acting for secured creditors and receivers on standstill arrangements and enforcements, including those involving complex titling arrangements, and advises property and corporate clients on the Personal Property Securities Act.
In the property space, Emile has specialisations in acting for community housing providers, as well as SDA and supported independent living providers, on all aspects of property and funding arrangements, and has also acted for retirement village scheme operators in all aspects of retirement villages (including acquisition and leasing). Emile has advised on some of the most significant Queensland community housing projects, most recently Cedar Pacific’s build-to-rent pilot project at 50 Quay Street, Brisbane City.
More broadly, Emile’s property experience includes significant retail and commercial leasing, acquisitions and disposals, fund through arrangements and property structuring and management. His expertise and experience acting for all parties to transactions gives Emile a unique insight into the drivers for each party and the commercial risks. Using this knowledge, Emile focuses on balancing competing interests to create solutions.
Emile also has a keen interest in community partnerships and pro bono work. He is an active member of pro bono networks and community legal centres in Queensland, as well as the Community Partnerships Program at McCullough Robertson. He is also actively involved in McCullough Robertson’s diversity initiative McColour, and regularly speaks at diversity and inclusion events and seminars.
Specialisations
Experience
Development funding
Representing NAB, BOQ and other financiers in numerous off the plan developments, ranging from $20 million to over $150 million, from initial due diligence and documentation through to releases.
Capital funding arrangements
Advising community housing providers and peak bodies on capital funding agreements with the State, including tripartite agreements with financiers.
Specialist disability accommodation
Advising property owners, specialist disability accommodation and supported independent living providers and financiers on leases, property management agreements and participant services agreements under the NDIS.
Build to rent (B2R)
Representing fund manager Cedar Pacific on their successful pilot build to rent project with the State of Queensland, unlocking 50 Quay Street, Brisbane City for 470 rental apartments including 250 under a subsidised arrangement.
Northern Australian Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)
Acting for NAIF on a number of facilities across Northern Australia, including the Mater Pimplico car park, Central Queensland University expansion and North Queensland Cowboys stadium.
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Retirement village funding
Advising a retirement village scheme operator on CBA development funding and intracompany loan arrangements valued at over $80 million.