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A vital thread in Gold Coast’s rich growth tapestry: Hickey Lawyers
AN OVERVIEW of the most significant and innovative developments that have sewn the Gold Coast’s rich tapestry over the past quarter century sees one legal consulting group’s name come through consistently: Hickey Lawyers.
Over the past 25 years, Hickey Lawyers has established a reputation as the region’s pre-eminent commercial law firm, renowned for being able to deliver proactive solutions for clients across the Gold Coast and, now, well beyond.
Led by the partners, many of whom have been with the firm for a majority of that quarter century, the Hickey team is well known for its extensive experience across the full range of property development projects ranging through master planned communities, mixed use developments, high rises, land subdivisions, hotels and shopping centres.
“That includes negotiating and documenting complex joint venture arrangements, construction and funding agreements and off-the-plan contracts,” Hickey Lawyers managing partner, Mark Lacy said. 
While much of that work is concentrated in Queensland and New South Wales, Hickey Lawyers’ property experience spans Australia.
“We deliver high quality legal services and specialised advice to a stable of clients that include major ASX listed companies, international and national businesses,” Mr Lacy said. “Our team has a strong track record of service in the areas of business advice, hotels and tourism, planning and environment, property and development, banking and finance, mediation, dispute resolution and litigation.
“We advise across many facets of business for medium to large enterprises, from property and business advisory to business structuring and dispute resolution.”
In recent years, Hickey Lawyers has also helped clients understand and adapt to legal and technological change in their businesses – and across industry sectors.
“Looking to the future of the dynamic business world in which we practise, Hickey Lawyers embraces advances in knowledge across e-commerce and automation to provide clients with up to date, practical advice to advance the growth of their business,” Mr Lacy said.
“Nationally accredited mediators and accredited commercial litigation specialists are available to offer practical advice for mediation, dispute resolution and litigation.”
In fact, one of Hickey Lawyers’ greatest strengths is the firm’s long-standing and committed staff base.
“As a team we have been able to grow and maintain our relationships with key clients to ensure ongoing future stability,” Mr Lacy said. “In addition, we have established a strong reputation for experience and excellence in advice and service.”
RECORD OF GROWTH
Last year, Hickey Lawyers reached a milestone anniversary, celebrating 25 years of being at the centre of the growth of the Gold Coast region. 
When now-retired founder, Tony Hickey, started the firm a quarter of a century ago, little did he know that that the name Hickey Lawyers would become synonymous with urban regeneration and development along the Gold Coast strip.
“When I started Hickey Lawyers my goal was simply to run a business that provided the best service to our clients and the best way to demonstrate that objective was to work with the clients doing the most cutting edge stuff,” Mr Hickey said.
Hickey Lawyers managing partner, Mark Lacy, who joined 19 years ago, said he was extremely proud of the role the firm has played in the growth of the Gold Coast over the past 25 years.
“The team has provided legal advice on a number of large mixed use developments over the years, some of which were at the forefront of architectural design and some of which really kick started a regeneration for that part of the city,” Mr Lacy said.
The firm’s relationship with urban regeneration is not only limited to the Gold Coast. Just over the border, Hickey Lawyers advised the Ray Group in the launch and development of Salt, a huge residential land development, which changed the face of the Tweed Coast.
Hickey teams worked with Aquis on the development of the Cairns Casino and led the planning and legal team in the development of Naisoso Island in Fiji.
“One of my personal favourites to be involved in was the development of James Street Markets in Brisbane, which was a major contributor to the regeneration of the area and in turn, the Brickworks in Southport,” Mr Lacy said.
More recently, Hickey Lawyers has worked on Sunland’s Marina Concourse near Royal Pines and the Lakes, and the Lanes in Mermaid Waters, both major contributors to the regeneration and continued growth of their respective locations.
LANDMARK CASEWORK
It’s not just mixed use and urban regeneration in which Hickey Lawyers specialises. The team has advised on a number of landmark projects over the years including the Hilton in Surfers Paradise; Aria, the Wave and the Beach Hotel (now Avani) in Broadbeach; Victoria Towers in Southport – the first vertical aged care facility on the Gold Coast – and Hickeys were the lawyers for Ridong Group, the original developers of Jewel.
“We are extremely humbled and proud that we have had the opportunity to work with some amazing developers and continue to contribute to the growth of our city,” Mr Lacy said. 
In addition to property planning and development, Hickey Lawyers has also been at the centre of some landmark litigation cases, including Weightman v Gold Coast City Council & Anor, which determined the test to be applied in deciding whether there were sufficient grounds to justify approving a development despite conflict with the planning scheme; and Liquorland (Aust) Pty Ltd v Gold Coast City Council & Anor, which considered the application of the Pioneer Principle from the decision of the High Court in Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Ltd v Brisbane City Council, and the requirements for a properly made development application.
“The firm also acted for the successful parties in a number of significant cases regarding the interpretation of the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act, one of the main pieces of legislation over the past 15 years regarding how property transactions are conducted,” Mr Lacy said.
“The cases in which we acted significantly impacted upon the interpretation of that legislation.
“The partners are extremely proud of what the firm has achieved. But mostly we’re proud of the fact that we have been able to create a fantastic work environment that still exists today,” Mr Lacy said.
“We have not only had the opportunity to work with some amazing clients, we’ve also initiated and grown the careers of the Gold Coast’s best lawyers and administration staff.”
The firm continues to work with the biggest and most innovative developments on the Gold Coast. 
About Hickey Lawyers
Founded by now-retired lawyer Tony Hickey OAM in 1993, Hickey Lawyers today is headed by seven highly experienced partners: Joe Welch, Simon Chan, Dan Marino, Scott Eustace, Damian Hodgson, Liam McLindin and managing partner Mark Lacy.
Hickey Lawyers began with a mandate to assist the most innovative and progressive property developments in the Gold Coast region and across South East Queensland – and today that fundamental continues with the firm renowned for its work in urban regeneration and dynamic new projects. Hickey Lawyers is regarded as the Gold Coast’s pre-eminent law firm in the fields of property, development, business and tourism and today acts for clients nationally and internationally.
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