Areas of Expertise

Franchising, Leasing - commercial, industrial & retail, Property development, financing & management, Structuring advice, Estate Planning

Joe Lazzara is a highly experienced commercial lawyer having acted in a wide range of property and commercial matters.  He speaks Italian fluently, and is sensitive to cultural issues when advising his clients.  Clients, colleagues and referral partners appreciate Joe's genuineness, and collaborative and interactive approach.

His expertise covers all areas of franchise law, business acquisitions/sales & structuring (including preparing partnership-type arrangements), estate planning, business succession, estate administration, and all aspects of property law, including acquisition and sales, property development and preparation of co-ownership and joint venture arrangements.

Joe has extensive experience in the franchise industry spanning more than 16 years. He specialises in the preparation of franchise documentation, advice to existing and potential franchisors (including multiple well-known national brands), litigation and mediation support for franchising disputes and advice on Consumer Law and trade practices.

He assists businesses in their establishment and ongoing management issues, from legal compliance through to supply-chain issues and succession planning, with his team preparing Wills and other estate related documentation, from simple Wills to complex testamentary and protective trust arrangements, often working closely with his clients, financial planners, family lawyers and accountants.

What others say

"Leading Lawyer – Australia, Leasing Law"
Best Lawyers Peer Review 2021 – 2025
"Lawyer of the Year - Trusts and Estates Law - Perth"
Best Lawyers Peer Review 2024
"Leading Lawyer – Australia, Trusts and Estates"
Best Lawyers Peer Review 2022 - 2025

Experience

Auto Masters

On an on-going basis, acting on all business-related matters for the well-known, WA-based, franchise network, Auto Masters, including annual reporting and compliance. This included, acting on the acquisition and subsequent re-branding to “Auto Masters” of the existing South Australian automotive service and repair franchise chain formerly known as Profix Service Centre, from preparation of the initial business sale agreement, to preparation of new/replacement franchise agreements for existing franchisees.

AGEM Property

Acting for the developer, AGEM Property, in the establishment of investor and funding arrangements, sales and strata-related matters for multiple commercial and industrial property developments in WA. In relation to the "Hillarys Plaza" project, this included acting on fund-through arrangements, as well as various matters relating to investor, buyer and lessee engagement.

Primewest

Advising Primewest on the A$2.1 million development of a new 7-Eleven at Northlands Shopping Centre in Balcatta. This included providing advocacy before the JDAP to address questions of legal interpretation and how the JDAP should exercise discretion when comments were received from government agencies against the application. The written and verbal deputations resulted in the JDAP reading down the submissions against the proposal, and approving the application.

RMS Australia

Acting on referral from RMS Australia for many of their high net worth individuals' private and business succession arrangements, often spanning many complex company and trust structures. More often than not, having to navigate multi-generation business succession. The most recent examples include family groups having wealth within the $10 - $90 million range.

The Prime Group

On an ongoing basis, acting on all aspects of property related work for The Prime Group Australia, through its various business divisions. This spans assistance in project finance, securitisation arrangements, project structuring via joint venture and other partnering arrangements, through to preparation of land sales and leasing instruments, and sales and marketing strategies and documentation.

Fragrance Group

Acting for the Fragrance Group on the review and update of the strata sales packages for compliance with new WA strata laws for its 390 unit mixed commercial and residential apartments complex, NV Apartments, at 380 Murray Street, Perth WA.