Robert Speirs

Robert is the senior partner of the firm and is fundamentally involved in quality control and process management.

He has more than 35 years’ experience in property law.

He has acted for listed and unlisted property trusts and other industry participants on acquisitions, joint ventures, development and disposals across all asset classes. He is regarded as one of Australia’s leading authorities on retail lease law.

Recognised by his peers for Real Property Law in Best Lawyers™ (2017-2024), Robert is a trusted adviser to a number of industry leaders.

He is valued by clients for his ability to find solutions to complex problems, and for his drafting acumen.

James Ryan

James leads a diverse practice, specialising in commercial transactions, leasing and property related finance.

James also acts for corporates and sophisticated investors in the acquisition and disposal of commercial, retail and industrial property, and advises national landlord and tenants.

Recognised by his peers for Real Property Law in Best Lawyers™ (2019-2024), James is renowned for his pragmatic and commercial approach to transactions and disputes, rendering his clients effective and timely outcomes.

James is passionate about the property sector and has previously sat on industry working groups for the Property Council of Australia and the Law Society of NSW (Property Law Committee). He is also a director of a number of property-related enterprises.

Andrew Raad

Andrew is a partner of Speirs Ryan, and an experienced and commercially focussed transactional lawyer.

He acts on substantial market transactions across retail, commercial, childcare, industrial and farming assets. Key experience and transactions include the $380m dollar sale of a mixed-use community centre in Sydney’s inner west, over a quarter of a billion dollars in retail shopping centre transactions across Australia’s east coast, and approximately $150m in acquisitions of childcare centres.

Andrew also manages a specialised leasing practice, involving:

1. the leasing of over 100 retail shopping centres, commercial office towers and mixed-use community centres assets for institutional and HNW private landlords; and
2. tenant-side advisory and leasing, particularly for established hospitality groups, as well as commercial, industrial, and retail operators.

Marcus Cutchey

Marcus delivers high value advice and commercial solutions, leveraging his expertise to tailor desirable results for even the most complex property related legal matters. Known for his commercial and pragmatic approach, his clients include national and international funds management groups, developers and investors.

Marcus has extensive experience in office leasing, property acquisitions and disposals, retail and industrial leasing, and property development for institutional clients.

Michael Morrissey

Michael is Speirs Ryan’s partner leading the construction and infrastructure, projects and disputes practices for Speirs Ryan.

He partners with developers, asset owners, financiers, contractors and builders on projects ranging from nation-building and critical infrastructure (roads, rail, energy) through social infrastructure, and extending to housing and commercial, industrial and retail real estate.

Michael’s work includes contract and project documentation design, preparation and negotiation, through project delivery, and includes contentious work. He works closely with his clients to simplify the complex and to help them understand and navigate commercial issues. His contentious work experience extends across court work, alternative dispute resolution (arbitration, expert determination and mediation) through to significant experience around the security of payment legislation.

Michael is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Master of Construction Law, and is completing his MBA. Prior to joining Speirs Ryan Michael was the General Counsel of a national healthcare and technology company, and previously founded and led an award-wining construction law firm.

Monica Hii

Monica approaches her work with making the most of business opportunities, consistently contending with problems and minimising risk. She has built many long term relationships with clients over her career, and has a reputation for guaranteed consistent quality of service, astute legal advice and flexible commercial sense.

As a property lawyer, with her focus on commercial leasing, Monica advises across a broad range of industry sectors on leasing and general property matters, as well as assists landlords and tenants with negotiating and finalising leases. She has additional expertise in off the plan sales and business sales and has advised major banks and government bodies. With a clear and succinct approach to all matters in her practice, she drives every project towards completion with tenacity, and charisma.

In addition to her practical and professional proficiency, Monica speaks Mandarin and Cantonese and is also admitted to the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia.

Justine Zhou

Justine is a Special Counsel at Speirs Ryan.

She has extensive experience in a wide range of property law matters, particularly in acquisitions and disposals, leasing, off-the-plan developments and foreign investment laws.

She is also experienced in corporate and commercial law, particularly in M&A, business purchases and sales, corporate and commercial agreements and transactions and foreign investment compliance and audits.

Acting for institutional clients, state-owned corporations, real estate developers, financial institutions and high net-worth individuals, she is known for her strategic negotiation skills and getting deals across the line. Being keenly aware of differing interests and priorities, she is skilled at resolving challenges in a timely, straightforward and commercial way to achieve her clients’ goals.

She has been recognised for her work in numerous legal awards in the categories of real estate law, commercial law and cyber law in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards, Partner of the Year Awards and Australasian Lawyer Awards.

Sam Majzoub

Sam advises on a comprehensive range of property leasing matters, providing tailored support in drafting, and negotiating key leasing documents.

Sam works closely with his clients to ensure all matters progress efficiently and effectively, delivering a pragmatic approach throughout the leasing process.

With a background as an Operations Manager and Tenancy Delivery Co-Ordinator with AMP Capital and lease administration with Scentre Group, Sam brings valuable insights into the operational complexities of shopping centres, including capital works delivery and tenancy delivery & coordination.

Sam’s diverse experience allows him to offer a unique perspective to his leasing practice, ensuring a thorough understanding of both the legal and operational aspects of property and project management.

Janelle Oh

Janelle is a Senior Associate based in our Melbourne office.

Janelle has acted for commercial/private sector clients, non-bank lenders and local/state government clients (in Victoria) in a comprehensive range of real estate, leasing and general property law matters.

Janelle’s experience includes:

1. advising in the sale and purchase of land (including commercial, residential, industrial and mixed-use developments), as well as due diligence for complex land transactions (including as part of wider business acquisitions);
2. acting for landlords and tenants in retail, commercial and charitable/community purpose leases;
3. acting for creditors in mortgagee-in-possession sales; and
4. government land/infrastructure projects, including acquisitions/disposals and easement projects.

Pat Ireland

Pat is a commercially minded construction lawyer with a deep understanding of the industry, its key risks, and what it takes to achieve your desired commercial outcomes.

He has broad experience across the entire project lifecycle.

At the front end, Pat is acutely aware of how to ensure you achieve your commercial objectives with contracting processes that meaningfully address real world situations. With experience in negotiating a wide range of standard form contracts, and the ability to craft concise and effective bespoke documents, Pat’s focus is on ensuring the right contract is put in place to clearly reflect the bargain you’ve struck during the tender stage.

Throughout the project delivery phase, Pat partners with clients to ensure they understand their contractual rights and obligations, and how to effectively prepare and respond to claims.

At the back end, Pat has had great success, and thrives, in all forms of dispute resolution – particularly in the Security of Payment space. Alongside his construction and infrastructure work, Pat also plays a key role in Speirs Ryan’s commercial litigation and contentious matters.

Prior to joining Speirs Ryan, Pat worked for highly regarded boutique construction law firms in both Sydney and Newcastle, and as Contracts Manager for a national Tier 2 civil infrastructure contractor.

Jacinta Lagana

Jacinta is a Senior Associate at Speirs Ryan.

Jacinta has extensive experience in large scale residential and ‘mixed use’ development transactions, acquisitions and disposals of real estate, collective sales, industrial, retail, commercial and telecommunications leasing and undertaking property due diligence investigations and advising on major business transactions.

Jacinta has acted for a range of large institutional clients, large private client groups and high net worth individuals, large scale real estate developers, charitable entities, local councils and state government agencies.

Jessie Armstrong

Jessie acts for both landlords and tenants across a range of retail and commercial leasing matters in all Australian jurisdictions. Jessie has experience in a range of property matters, including property due diligence and commercial transactions of up to approximately $70m. She is commercially focused and provides practical and effective advice to clients.

Joshua Groenewaldt

Josh is a lawyer at Speirs Ryan assisting on a broad range of property matters, with a focus on retail and commercial leasing.

Josh has experience in many property related matters, including retail leasing, complex stamp duty assessments and guarantees.

Sydney Smith

Sydney possesses a diverse legal background but has recently focused her expertise to property law, and the retail property sector in particular.

Sydney assists the firm on a range of commercial and retail property matters across multiple Australian jurisdictions, with a specific focus on leasing matters.

Peter Kostoglou

Peter assists the firm on a broad range of property matters, including commercial leasing, property due diligence, acquisitions and disposals.

Kathryn Siganos

Kathryn joined Speirs Ryan in 2021 as a law clerk. She was admitted as a solicitor into the Supreme Court in 2024.

Kathryn acts mainly for landlords on a range of retail and commercial leasing matters across all Australian jurisdictions.

She also has extensive experience on real estate transactions, particularly involving the sale or purchase of shopping centres. Her experience extends to due diligence and contract/transaction management.

In addition, Kathryn has been closely involved in a range of ad hoc property matters including possessory and primary applications, the termination of strata schemes, portfolio agreements, construction and property tax.

Charmayne White

Charmayne has experience with various property transactions from residential, commercial and rural conveyancing to leasing and financing matters.

She has a long background in development work acting for developers on acquisition and due diligence through to off-the-plan sales and acting for purchasers nationally on a range of property transactions with often complex titling structures.

Charmayne also works on a range of strata matters, including collective sales, providing advice to owners corporations and lot owners, strata subdivisions and drafting of by-laws.

Julien Huet

Julien assists on a range of property matters, including commercial leasing, transactional matters and strata disputes.

Jasmine Sheng

Jasmine assists with a variety of construction and infrastructure matters as well as Speirs Ryan’s commercial litigation and disputes practices.

She works across all stages of the project lifecycle, from extensive contract reviews for major construction projects through to Security of Payment legislation compliance and dispute resolution.

Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales.

Adriana Pefkos

Adriana is in her penultimate year of university at the University of Technology Sydney, studying a Bachelor of Laws.

With a keen interest in property law, she provides invaluable paralegal support to the team.

Tayeb Mirzad

Tayeb assists on a range of property matters, in particular commercial and retail leasing.

Maddy Grigoletti-Labi

Maddalena is in her final year at the University of Technology Sydney, studying a Bachelor of Business (Finance) and a Bachelor of Law.

With prior experience and a keen interest in property, contracts and corporate law, Maddalena provides support on a range of matters.

Rebekka Krause

Rebekka assists on a range of property matters, in particular commercial and retail leasing.

Josh Newham

Josh is in his third year at Macquarie University, studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Management) & Bachelor of Laws.  He has a keen interest in property and commercial law, and also has prior experience working in family law.

Brooke Hollingsworth

Brooke has over 25 years’ experience working in the legal sector in varied roles, including executive level support in both international and national firms.

As Chief Operating Officer, Brooke is responsible for implementing the firm’s strategic direction as well as the end to end management and operation of the firm, facilities and project management, statutory trust accounts and compliance.

Angelina Baer

Angelina has a background in property and finance, overseeing C-suite offices and emphasising expertise in project management, corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, and investor relations while supporting Executives.

As Practice Manager, Angelina is responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational aspects of the firm.

Belle Sawasvong

Belle has experience in real estate, handling front desk operations and acting as the first point of contact for visitors.

As the firm’s receptionist, Belle is responsible for providing exceptional customer service and overflow administration support, as well as ensuring every client and colleague feels valued and well-assisted.

Karla Hansford

Karla is the firm’s financial controller.

She is responsible for managing the firm’s accounting matters, including payroll and account reconciliations.

Delta Orig

Delta is the firm’s Human Resources Director.

She is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and management of all aspects related to human resources.