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Clifford Chance
Bill Zhao

Bill Zhao

Counsel

Counsel
Bill Zhao

Bill is Counsel specialising in real estate and real estate investment transactions, with experience advising on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, syndications, development projects and complex capital arrangements. He advises across the full transaction lifecycle, including structuring, due diligence, negotiations, funding interfaces, completion mechanics and post-completion risk management. 

His practice focuses on large-scale and strategically significant assets, where legal precision and commercial outcomes must align. He regularly advise clients on JV arrangements, development funding, put and call options, leasing-driven value strategies and trust/unit structures.

  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on the two-tranche strategic selldown of its interest in Salesforce Tower (180 George Street, Sydney), Australia's tallest commercial tower, to Mitsubishi Estate Company and OUE REIT (Singapore). The underlying asset is valued at approximately A$2 billion.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on the acquisition of a 50% capital partnership interest in Mirvac's Harbourside mixed-use waterfront redevelopment at Darling Harbour, Sydney, with an end development value of approximately A$2.3 billion.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on the establishment of a joint venture with Perifa Group for the acquisition and mixed-use redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club site at Rozelle, NSW (end value in excess of A$800 million), including the establishment of a co-investment fund vehicle through which three Japanese institutional investors participated in the development.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on the two-tranche strategic selldown of its interest in Salesforce Tower (180 George Street, Sydney), Australia's tallest commercial tower, to Mitsubishi Estate Company and OUE REIT (Singapore). The underlying asset is valued at approximately A$2 billion.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on the acquisition of a 50% capital partnership interest in Mirvac's Harbourside mixed-use waterfront redevelopment at Darling Harbour, Sydney, with an end development value of approximately A$2.3 billion.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on the establishment of a joint venture with Perifa Group for the acquisition and mixed-use redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club site at Rozelle, NSW (end value in excess of A$800 million), including the establishment of a co-investment fund vehicle through which three Japanese institutional investors participated in the development.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on its equity investment and joint venture with McNab and Ray White Capital for the development of a luxury mixed-use residential waterfront precinct at Budds Beach, Gold Coast, valued at approximately A$175 million.*
  • GIC on the off-market sale of a 50% leasehold interest in Chifley Tower (2 Chifley Square, Sydney), a Premium Grade CBD office asset comprising 68,867 sqm of lettable area, to a joint venture between Charter Hall Prime Office Fund and Charter Hall Deep Value Property Fund. The 50% interest was valued at approximately A$900 million, implying a total asset value of approximately A$1.8 billion.*
  • Scentre Group on the A$1.52 billion disposal of three Sydney CBD office towers at Westfield Sydney (100 Market Street, and 77 and 85 Castlereagh Street) to funds managed by Blackstone, effected by the grant of a long-term leasehold interest over the office components. The transaction represented approximately A$800 million in additional value over Scentre's investment cost.*
  • Frasers Property Australia on the establishment of a A$1.8 billion public-private development partnership with NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) for the Telopea Urban Renewal Project under the NSW Government's Communities Plus program, one of the largest social and affordable housing-led urban renewal projects undertaken in New South Wales, to deliver approximately 4,700 dwellings across a 13.4-hectare site.*
  • Walker Corporation advised as developer on Stages 3, 4, 6 and 8 of the A$3.2 billion Parramatta Square precinct in Parramatta's CBD, one of Australia's largest urban renewal and commercial development projects, delivering over 290,000 sqm of office, community, retail and civic space across four towers.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on its joint venture with Lendlease for the acquisition and development of the One Circular Quay precinct in Sydney, comprising a 59-level luxury residential tower and the Waldorf Astoria Sydney (220-room five-star hotel), with a project end value of approximately A$3.1 billion.*
  • Mitsubishi Estate Asia on its 50/50 joint venture with Lendlease for the acquisition and luxury mixed-use residential development of 1 Darling Point Road, Edgecliff, Sydney, with an end development value of approximately A$500 million.*

*indicates the matter was completed by Bill prior to joining Clifford Chance

 

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Career & qualifications

  • Joined Clifford Chance as a counsel in 2026
  • King & Wood Mallesons, senior associate, 2018-2026
  • Kemp Strang, senior associate, 2011-2018
  • Admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 2011
  • University of Adelaide, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), 2010
  • University of Adelaide, Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.), Management, 2010