Lawrence Graham wins Multiplex acquisition job
Lawrence Graham wins Multiplex acquisition job" />Lawrence Graham has scored Multiplex as a new client as the Australian construction company prepares to launch its own in-house legal team in the UK.
The firm is advising on a joint venture with developer Hammerson UK for the £3bn regeneration of Cricklewood in North London.
The deal has added to Multiplex’s rapidly growing UK development portfolio and follows its recent purchase of a stake in property company Chelsfield. On the back of this UK growth, Multiplex is in the middle of putting together a team of lawyers to staff its London office. At present all of Multiplex’s lawyers are based in Australia.
Lawrence Graham real estate partner Jon Lloyd was approached to do the work by Multiplex’s managing director Lester Hampson. Lloyd had previously been instructed on a regular basis by Hampson when he was managing director of development company Centros Miller, which remains one of Lloyd’s key clients.
Lawrence Graham joins Multiplex’s existing roster of UK advisers, which includes Allen & Overy, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Clifford Chance and Macfarlanes.
Multiplex bought its 50 per cent stake in the Cricklewood development from retail park owner Pillar Property for £18.6m. The scheme will include building 5,500 homes and 400,000m of office space on 240 hectares of derelict land. Lloyd is currently negotiating with Barnet Council on terms for the development.
Herbert Smith partner Dan Rowlands is advising Multiplex’s joint venture partner Hammerson UK.
