Current practice

Stephanie focuses on major projects, and property- and infrastructure-related commercial transactions, particularly in the Sydney CBD.

Industry experience

She has acted for a number of years for the New South Wales Government on the redevelopment of the two major historic wharf redevelopments in Sydney, Walsh Bay and the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf as well as the redevelopment of Pier One. These projects involved complex tendering procedures and probity issues, in addition to planning and heritage issues.

Stephanie has extensive experience in complex strata and community title developments including acting for the first part strata development in NSW (the Tattersalls Building) and Liberty Grove, one of the largest community title projects in NSW. Both the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf and Walsh Bay Projects also involved a number of strata schemes.

As the project solicitor for a number of major projects, Stephanie was responsible for all aspects of the legal work from joint venture structuring, coordination of site acquisition, planning law, building and construction law, arranging finance, liaising with authorities—through to leasing or sale.

Major projects

• Walsh Bay (now acting for the Department of Public Works and Services) formerly acted for Maritime Services Board.
• Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf (acting for Department for Forests and Marine Administration).
• Development of Tattersalls Building and Sheraton on the Park Hotel (acted for Kajima Corporation (the developer) and for Sheraton Pacific Hotels on the sale of the Tattersalls Building).
• Governor Phillip and Governor Macquarie Towers (acting for Axiom Funds Management Limited).
• Liberty Grove (acting for Liberty Grove Pty Limited—the developer).
• ABC Site, William Street, acting for the developer Elarosa Pty Ltd defending a challenge to the development approval by a residents action group.

Professional background

Stephanie is a consultant in the funds management practice. This practice draws together legal experts from the component areas of the industry, including trust law, commercial law, life insurance and superannuation, securitisation, custodianship and property. She was instrumental in establishing the practice in 1993.

After graduating from Sydney University with an Arts Degree, Stephanie pursued a career in commerce before studying law. She joined Freehills in 1984, was appointed a partner in 1990 and became a consultant in 2007.