National real estate and advisory firm LAWD is celebrating five years of operation in what has marked the creation of a new leader in specialist property across Australia.
After seeing a gap in the market for premium service delivery, a small group of respected property professionals with expertise in agribusiness valuation and transactions, urban development sites, and advisory services launched LAWD in mid-2020, despite the pressure then placed on local and global companies by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since that time, the strategic expansion of locations to create a national footprint and development of additional, complementary lines of service, has led to the business now employing more than 110 people in nine offices throughout metropolitan and regional Australia. This includes 44 people involved in the client-facing stage of the transaction process and 23 qualified valuers.
LAWD Chief Executive Officer, Enda Foley, said ongoing expansion was a continued priority of the leadership team.
“Since launch, LAWD has rapidly established itself as one of Australia’s leaders in specialist property and a preferred advisor leading high-value rural land transactions, particularly in broadacre cropping, grazing, horticulture and water assets,” Mr Foley said.
“The business has a diversified internal ownership base, with no single shareholder owning more than 15% of the company. We have plans in place to extend further ownership opportunities with our employees, given our success has been the combined effort of the entire team.
“Over the past five years, we’ve been privileged to work with our valued clients and partners, including institutional investors, family offices and corporate agriculture operators, and we are proud of the contribution these collaborations are making to the sector and communities.”
Growing market share in land development
In addition to its high profile in agribusiness, LAWD’s strength in the real estate development market has led to the business facilitating some of Australia’s largest residential, industrial and infill development site transactions.
“The Development team has been involved in some high-profile and economy-building sales, including North Shore in Townsville for Stockland and the recent sale of land at 200 Tuckers Road in Melbourne’s southeast,” Mr Foley said.
“Our expansion into adjacent services, including an emerging industrial projects division and specialised project marketing business, means we can add more value for our clients.
“We have built an enviable reputation in Victoria and are growing our presence in the New South Wales market. Looking forward, we will be seeking to capitalise on this platform in South East Queensland.”
Embracing change to innovate
Mr Foley said one of the constant factors that had driven LAWD’s growth and success was embracing change to align with the shifting priorities of the organisation and the evolving needs of the clients and industries it serves.
“LAWD is a very different organisation to what it was when we began and this is not by accident,” he said.
“Change has been at the heart of our evolution, fuelled by a deep appreciation of our clients and partners and a commitment to understanding their unique requirements, along with an ability to innovate, expand and stay true to our purpose of delivering industry-best property and advisory services.
“Over the past five years, we have expanded our service offering in corporate advisory, valuations and projects, created a substantial team in the rural residential and lifestyle market, and leveraged our experience and connections by launching LAWD Auctions, an online platform for the sale of agricultural plant and machinery.
“This same principle of embracing change will continue to drive the evolution of the business with a focus on maintaining our specialisation difference, leveraging our in-house technology and data, expanding within agribusiness advisory, land/projects and specialist valuations, and future-proofing the organisation with a strong and scalable platform.
“LAWD is also committed to the wellbeing of our industry and continuing our support of important national and local causes such as the Zanda McDonald Award and Dolly’s Dream.
“We applaud everyone who has contributed over the past five years to our shared ambition of leaving a long-lasting legacy of leadership and forward thinking in Australian property and thank our clients for entrusting us with their assets and property requirements.”
Some of LAWD’s most significant milestones over the past five years include:
- June 2020: LAWD begins operations
- Early 2023: Launch of LAWD Development Projects
- September 2023: Acquisition of McCulloch Agencies, establishing a strong LAWD presence in the New England region of NSW
- March 2024: Launch of the Specialist Property Valuations business
- April 2024: Establishment of the LAWD Corporate Advisory business
- Early 2025: Launch of LAWD Auctions
- Early 2025: LAWD exceeds the 100-person team threshold.
- Early 2025: Founding partners of the International Ag Alliance.
