John Prevost
|Chairman Perth Office

30 years in practice, John Prevost is one of Western Australia's leading commercial property lawyers. He is a strategic advisor to public and corporate clients on wide-ranging property matters, focused on major projects and development.

His diverse property dealings include the sale, acquisition, leasing and financing of commercial property, and acting on the negotiation and delivery of large-scale property developments, urban renewal, tourism and transit-oriented projects and town centres.

He has a market-leading reputation in major urban regeneration, driving many of the State’s landmark projects such as Perth’s gateway New Northbridge, Riverside Project and Claisebrook Village, together with Subiaco's, the Subi Centro and Midland's Railway Workshops Project and Claisebrook Village.

John’s versatile practice includes advising statutory authorities on property sale and acquisitions, planning, heritage and environmental issues, compensation claims and statutory interpretation.

He also provides general commercial law advice to public and private property development companies, as well as acting for retirement villages on compliance and documentation preparation.

John’s longstanding clients include Australand Holdings Ltd, Curtin University, East Perth Redevelopment Authority, Midland Redevelopment Authority, Peet Limited and Subiaco Redevelopment Authority.

Expertise

Professional Background

Publications & Media

Areas of expertise include:

Health and Ageing - Retirement Villages and Aged Care

John has developed a comprehensive insight into the complex drivers impacting upon the retirement and aged care sector. He understands emerging industry trends, the drivers of government policy, increasing regulation, and the day-to-day issues facing developers, owners and operators of facilities. John provides regular advice to two national retirement village operators spanning due diligence on site acquisition, preparing resident contracts, retirement village sale and purchase transactions, and compliance and regulatory issues.
Infrastructure

John is a leading government advisor on major property developments and infrastructure projects. His recent headline projects include acting for redevelopment authorities on Subi Centro, Midland Railway Workshops, Claisebrook Village, New Northbridge, Perth City Link and the Riverside Project. John also advised East Perth Redevelopment Authority on the development of the land above the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel.
Major Projects and Development

Greenfield master planned communities
John acts for a number of developers of large-scale residential estates. His advice spans the initial acquisition of broadacre sites, often by call options, through to rezoning, staged development, and final release of lots to the market.
Urban infill development
John is at the forefront of urban renewal projects and developments in Western Australia. He has a deep understanding of public and private sector requirements and strong project management ability. John has advised or is currently acting for the key redevelopment authorities in WA on major urban regeneration projects, including Subi Centro, Midland Railway Workshops, Claisebrook Village, New Northbridge, Perth City Link, and the Riverside Project.
Strata residential
John deals widely in strata titled residential developments including survey strata developments and strata titled apartments. He has in-depth knowledge of the preparation of strata management statements, contracts, and special conditions of sale for strata titled projects.
Commercial development
John regularly acts for institutional investors on the acquisition of commercial property for development and ultimate sale. His skills include undertaking due diligence, negotiating contract terms, and managing the sale process.
Tourism/hotel/leisure
John's strong property practice also finds him acting for overseas hotel operators in both the acquisition of hotel sites and advising on hotel developments. Most recently, John advised the owners of Observation Rise, Scarborough Beach.
Transit-oriented development
John has developed an impressive track record in transit-oriented projects. He advised the Subiaco Redevelopment Authority on the Subi Centro project involving the development of land above the Subiaco Railway Station. John also advised East Perth Redevelopment Authority on the development of the land above the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel. This included negotiation with Main Roads and the creation of titles with complex covenants and easements in place to protect public infrastructure.
Waterfront/port/marina
John has provided wide-ranging advice to the developer of Port Coogee for a number of years, including environmental, planning and subdivision matters, sales contracts, the development of the commercial centre, and release of boat pens.
Government projects
John is a leading government advisor on major property developments and infrastructure projects. His recent headline projects include acting for redevelopment authorities on Subi Centro, Midland Railway Workshops, Claisebrook Village, New Northbridge, Perth City Link and the Riverside Project. John also advised East Perth Redevelopment Authority on the development of the land above the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel.
Universities / student accommodation
For more than 20 years John has advised Curtin University on its property portfolio at Bently and its regional campuses. He also advises Edith Cowan University and the University of Western Australia on the disposal of university land and surplus assets.
Property Transactions

Commercial
John works closely with a range of clients on the acquisition, development, leasing, and sale of land in the commercial sectors. His recent experience includes advising and preparing documentation for the East Perth Redevelopment Authority's redevelopment of the Perth Cultural Centre precinct.
Retail
John regularly advises the developers of retail shopping centres. He has worked with Qantas for many years on the leasing of its retail premises and concessions at Perth Airport.
Industrial
John’s extensive property transactions experience includes acting on the acquisition, sale and leasing of industrial property including the development of warehousing and major transport depots.
Retirement villages / aged care
John has developed a comprehensive insight into the complex drivers impacting upon the retirement and aged care sector. He understands emerging industry trends, the drivers of government policy, increasing regulation, and the day-to-day issues facing developers, owners and operators of facilities. John provides regular advice to two national retirement village operators spanning due diligence on site acquisition, preparing resident contracts, retirement village sale and purchase transactions, and compliance and regulatory issues.
Greenfield land
John acts for a number of developers of large-scale residential estates. His advice spans the initial acquisition of broadacre sites, often by call options, through to rezoning, staged development, and final release of lots to the market.
Infrastructure
John’s industry-leading expertise in major developments and urban renewal encompasses large infrastructure projects. This includes advice to the Subiaco Redevelopment Authority on the sinking of the Subiaco Railway Station and negotiating of agreements with the Public Transport Authority.
Residential
John has a two-decade track record in all aspects of residential development. His expertise includes preparation of contracts and dealing with disputes under residential contracts. Notably, John sits on the Law Society Property Law Committee and Joint Form of General Conditions for Sale of Land Committees.
Agricultural
John’s transactional expertise includes the sale and purchase of pastoral leases and farming properties. He has experience dealing with Crown land and negotiations with State Land Services.
Hotels/tourism
John's strong property practice also finds him acting for overseas hotel operators in both the acquisition of hotel sites and advising on hotel developments. Most recently, John advised the owners of Observation Rise, Scarborough Beach.
Government
John is a leading government advisor on major property developments and infrastructure projects. His recent headline projects include acting for redevelopment authorities on Subi Centro, Midland Railway Workshops, Claisebrook Village, New Northbridge, Perth City Link and the Riverside Project. John also advised East Perth Redevelopment Authority on the development of the land above the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel.
Distressed sale
John is part of the national Minter Ellison team acting for the receivers, managers and liquidators of a range of real property, including forestry assets. This has involved drafting contracts and advice on asset disposal.