INDUSTRY-leading development sales specialist, Lukas Byrns, has joined LAWD’s national team as Director, Development Transactions & Advisory, as it continues its trajectory of rapid growth.

Mr Byrns will work closely with LAWD’s senior leadership group to further expand the firm’s capacity in the development sector, which has transacted several of the industry’s most significant development site transactions over the past two years.

Mr Byrns brings more than 23 years of experience in the property sector, including senior acquisition and development positions at some of Australia’s leading property organisations, including Mirvac and Stockland and most recently as Head of Metropolitan Markets at Cushman & Wakefield.

“I am thrilled to join an emerging and fast-growing agency specialising in development site transactions and professionally reuniting with LAWD Senior Director Peter Sagar,” Mr Byrns said.

“LAWD has built an outstanding reputation across the property sector in a very short period of time and are market leaders in the sale of masterplan communities and super lots in the growth corridors. I am looking forward to strengthening our service offering into the built form, built to rent and build to sell apartment markets.

“The market fundamentals for apartments are extremely strong as a result of a significant divergence in value between established houses and apartments, low vacancy rates, strong rental growth and an undersupply of new dwellings.”

Mr Byrns has been involved in the planning, development, delivery and disposal of some of Victoria’s foremost projects. He also has extensive experience in acquisitions and the divestment of properties that require complex negotiations, and specialist expertise in structuring suitable partnership arrangements.

LAWD Senior Director Peter Sagar said the expertise offered by experienced property specialists, such as Mr Byrns, was critical given changing market conditions.

“We’re delighted to have a person of Lukas’ calibre join our expanding team of specialist property professionals,” Mr Sagar said.

“Development sales require unique expertise, especially given the current dislocation of the market. The days of putting a board up and selling a property are over. We prioritise a customised and strategic approach, and Lukas will help us expand on that.

“LAWD’S development team has now compiled a very senior group with expertise that covers multiple asset classes across the development landscape including greenfield, englobo and infill development land, townhouses and apartment sites, including build to sell and build to rent, mixed use and retail development sites, industrial development sites and completed stock.’’

For more information, contact LAWD Senior Director, Peter Sagar, 0414 843 854.