Mark Nicholson

Mark specialises in all aspects of property law, including development, acquisitions, disposals, syndications, leasing and infrastructure.

With extensive experience across large development projects, Mark acts for a wide range of clients, including development companies, institutional investors, charitable trusts, infrastructure companies and major corporates, on a broad range of property transactions. He also has experience acting for overseas investors in New Zealand.

Mark is recognised as a Leading Lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific 2026 and Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026.

Recent highlights

• Acting for Blackstone on its acquisition of a portfolio of seven Auckland office buildings from Goodman and GIC for $635m, and its industrial property portfolio in partnership with Jasper Property.
• Advising the QT Lakeview Partnership (consisting of Ninety-Four  Feet and Augusta) in connection with the negotiation of a development agreement with Queenstown Lakes District Council for a $2b development of the Lakeview Precinct.
• Acting for Ninety-Four Feet on the development and sale of Hotel Indigo for $160m and sell down of 30 sky residences.
• Acting for Centuria on all of its major property acquisitions and developments, including the purchase of the Visy Glass facility for $178m,  the Heritage Property portfolio for $291m, and the acquisition of properties for its Industrial Fund, valued in excess of $650m.
• Advising Auckland Thoroughbred Racing on the negotiation of an agreement with Fletcher Residential for the $600m redevelopment of the Hill site at Ellerslie Racecourse.
• Acting for Hengyi on all property aspects of its 57-storey Pacifica development in Auckland including the sell-down of 280 apartments.
• Working with Eke Panuku and the Auckland Urban Development Office on all development aspects of the $2b Wynyard Quarter precinct, including negotiating development agreements and ground leases with Orams, Precinct Properties, Willis Bond, Fu Wah, Stride, Sealink and the Auckland Theatre Company, and on the $1.5b redevelopment of the Downtown Car Park, including negotiating a development agreement with Precinct Properties.