James Hamblin
Special Counsel, Melbourne
I specialise in tax law and have particular expertise in stamp duty, land tax and corporate income tax matters. I provide structuring, due diligence and general tax and stamp duty advisory services to both domestic and offshore clients. My practice spans a range of sectors including commercial real estate, property development, infrastructure, student accommodation and aged care. 

I also assist clients in their dealings with revenue authorities when seeking rulings and exemptions, and in addressing investigations and disputes.

I enjoy working closely with clients to meet their commercial objectives. I explain complex tax and stamp duty issues in a manner that is easy to understand, and add value by assisting clients structure their investments effectively from a tax and commercial perspective.

Career highlights

  • Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust – advised on its $1.013 billion acquisition of GIC’s and Frasers Property Australia Pty Limited’s Australian logistics property portfolio
  • Salter Brothers Hotel Group – advised on a diverse range of matters including its $500 million hotel portfolio acquisition from Eureka Funds Management, including the InterContinental Melbourne, Crowne Plaza Melbourne, Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Crowne Plaza Canberra and Holiday Inn Potts Point
  • Viva Energy – advised on its acquisition of Liberty Oil's wholesale business and the creation of Liberty Oil's stand-alone retail business
  • Vitalharvest – advised on the $185 million IPO of the Vitalharvest Freehold Trust, the first ASX listed agricultural REIT
  • The University of Melbourne – advised on the development and construction of the 'Carlton Connect Initiative', a precinct comprising an innovation and industry collaboration hub for the University and a graduate student accommodation facility
  • Infratil and NZ Super Fund – advised the consortium of Infratil and NZ Super Fund in relation to the stamp duty implications of their A$640m acquisition of the RetireAustralia retirement village portfolio
  • Vicinity Centres – advised Federation Centres on its merger with Novion Property Group, which created Vicinity Centres, Australia's leading fully diversified retail REIT
  • Appointed as Chair of the Tax Institute’s Victorian State Taxes Committee. The Committee comprises of state taxation experts who provide strategic direction across new (and proposed) legislation, new cases and State Revenue Office views, duties, land tax and payroll tax matters