Australia’s Natural Capital sector is evolving rapidly and our agribusiness and forestry teams are equipped to support the sector comprehensively—from on-farm operations to portside logistics. Our team has advised on major plantation transactions across Australia and New Zealand, covering all asset classes in forestry and addressing areas such as foreign investment, tax, wood supply and operational contracts.
In addition to legal expertise, we are attuned to emerging sector challenges, including water security, market delivery costs, infrastructure investment and nurturing future farming talent.
We assist with acquisitions and disposals in farm properties, livestock, water resources, equipment and plantations, offering detailed due diligence and regulatory compliance guidance. We draft contracts, including grazing, share farming, crop sale and farm management agreements and advise on tenure types and environmental regulations.
Our forestry services cover wood supply, harvest and haulage and managing landowner disputes. We handle FIRB compliance, ATO reporting and address operational issues like vegetation clearance and Indigenous heritage protections, providing robust support for our clients in Australia’s dynamic Natural Capital landscape.
Work highlights
Global Forest Partners
Acted for GFP investment entities Southern Cross Forests Pty Ltd, trustees for Southern Cross Forests Trust (SCF), Hume Forests Limited (Hume) and Snowy Mountains Forests Pty Ltd and Snowy Mountains Forests Trust (SMF) for a number of years. We also have experience acting for Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP).
Australian Bluegum Plantation (ABP)
FIRB requirements, across its numerous exemption certificates and FIRB reporting obligations with Treasury and the ATO.
Hume
Drafting and advising on wood supply contracts with various customers. We have also advised on a broad range of operational advisory work, including advising on a number of HR related matters that arose. In 2022, after clearing the conflict through GFP and Foley Hoag, we acted for Forestry Corporation of NSW on its bid for the Hume forest estate.
US private equity manager
Acquisitions of agricultural land and water interest, including initial investment structure advice, tax advice on structures (with US Counsel), foreign investment advice for US to support agricultural and forestry investments in Australia including obtaining one of the first FIRB exemption certificates granted to a foreign government investor for combined business and land acquisitions in the agricultural sector.
AgriWebb
Australia’s leading livestock management software provider, AgriWebb, on its seed through to series C capital raisings.
Laguna bay
Sale of its almond orchard portfolio to PSP and the subsequent winding up of its fund.