Stuart Johnson
Partner, Sydney
I am a trusted adviser to many of the industry’s leading fund and property managers, working on some of the largest deals and most innovative listed and unlisted fund offerings in the Australian market.

With over 30 years in practice, I regularly advise major Australian and global fund managers on establishing, structuring, promoting and marketing funds. I also advise board of directors and senior executives on directors duties, ASX listing rules and strategic capital transactions.

Clients value my specialist expertise in capital markets, fund raisings, managed funds work, and mergers and acquisitions.

Career highlights

  • AMP Capital Wholesale Office Fund in relation to the ongoing management of the vehicle and unitholder meetings and a subsequent change of manager.
  • Establishment of the Lendlease Real Estate Partners 4, a private equity real estate fund.
  • Establishment of the Lendlease Retirement Living Trust and subsequent investment by institutional investors.
  • A sovereign wealth fund's acquisition of interests in Barangaroo’s Tower One development in Sydney.
  • Conversion of the Magellan High Conviction Trust from an ASX listed investment trust into an ASX quoted active exchange traded fund.
  • Restructure of Magellan's three Global Equity funds into a single merged A$15 billion fund.
  • Initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange of the Perpetual Credit Income Trust.
  • Establishment of the Cromwell Property Group and secondary capital raisings and establishment of Cromwell's retail platform.
  • Establishment of Australia’s first Indigenous real estate investment trust by Indigenous Business Australia.
  • Establishment of the Third Link Investment Fund offering exposure to managed Australian equities with all investment management fees received (net of expenses incurred) going to support the non-profit sector.
  • Mirvac's acquisition of the Westpac Office Trust and the listed Mirvac Industrial Real Estate Trust, as well as the sale of the Mirvac Wholesale Hotel Trust, including 42 associated hotel management business and ownership interest.

External recognition

  • Listed by Chambers Asia-Pacific in Band 1 for Investment Funds for each year since 2012.
  • Best Lawyers – Lawyer of the Year (Sydney) 2024 - Investment Funds.
  • Best Lawyers – Lawyer of the Year (Sydney) 2022 - Funds Management.
  • Best Lawyers in Australia 2024 recognition for work in Equity Capital Markets Law, Financial Institutions, Funds Management and Investment Funds.