Marilyn Wai

Marilyn Wai is a Melbourne property lawyer and Senior Associate at Hunt & Hunt, advising developers, Australian investors and overseas buyers. Her practice combines property transactions, development structuring, finance and foreign investment advice, with a particular focus on townhouse and apartment developments and Asian investment in Australian property.

Marilyn is currently advising Atlas Melbourne, a major residential apartment development in Melbourne’s CBD, for SP Setia. The development comprises 72 storeys housing a total of 850 apartments. Her role includes providing legal advice and conveyancing services to the developer in relation to off-the-plan sales of apartment lots for the project.

She brings that practical development experience to clients who need sound legal advice, clear communication and an understanding of the commercial decisions behind a project.

Property development and multi-dwelling projects

A successful development starts well before construction. The acquisition terms, investment structure, funding arrangements and relationships between the parties all help shape the project.

Marilyn advises on site acquisitions, due diligence, contract negotiation, joint ventures, financing documentation and settlement. She considers each transaction within the wider development, helping clients identify risks, understand their obligations and put arrangements in place that support their commercial objectives.

Her combination of property and corporate experience is particularly valuable where a project involves multiple investors, shared ownership or complex funding arrangements.

Australian property investment for Asian investors

Marilyn helps Asian investors understand and manage the legal requirements of acquiring and developing Australian property.

Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay, as well as English, she gives clients the opportunity to discuss complex transactions directly in a familiar language. Her cultural understanding also helps bridge differences in communication, negotiation and business expectations.

She acts for overseas investors, private companies and high-net-worth individuals, advising on acquisitions, investment structures and cross-border transactions.

A Hong Kong-based high-net-worth investor engaged Marilyn to assist with the acquisition of a significant Melbourne residential development site. Marilyn advised on the purchase structure, negotiated key transaction documents and coordinated with Australian and overseas advisers to manage cross-border legal considerations. Her ability to communicate in Cantonese and Mandarin, combined with her understanding of Asian business culture, helped facilitate negotiations and ensure the client clearly understood the legal and commercial risks associated with the investment.

Foreign investment and FIRB advice

Marilyn advises on Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) applications, approval conditions and transaction structuring.

She considers foreign investment requirements alongside the proposed purchase, funding and development arrangements, helping clients understand the legal issues that need to be addressed as their investment progresses.

Marilyn regularly advises foreign investors on FIRB applications for acquisitions involving development land, commercial property and complex investment structures. By considering FIRB requirements at the outset of a transaction, alongside funding, ownership and development arrangements, she helps clients anticipate regulatory issues, manage approval conditions and progress investments efficiently through the Australian foreign investment framework.

A Chinese-based investment group engaged Marilyn to advise on the acquisition of a Victorian development site requiring FIRB approval. Marilyn coordinated the FIRB application process, advised on transaction structuring and worked closely with the client's Australian and overseas advisers to address regulatory requirements. Her ability to communicate across language and cultural barriers helped streamline decision-making and ensure the investment proceeded with a clear understanding of the applicable foreign investment obligations.

Marilyn also advises individuals, family groups and corporate investors on FIRB compliance issues and investigations into potential breaches of Australia's foreign investment laws. Drawing on her extensive experience with cross-border property transactions, she assists clients in assessing their regulatory obligations, responding to government enquiries and implementing strategies to address compliance concerns while protecting their commercial interests.

Property finance and joint venture structuring

Marilyn prepares and reviews loan documentation, security arrangements and related transaction documents for property acquisitions, investments and developments.

Her broader corporate and commercial experience includes shareholder arrangements, capital structuring and business transactions. This allows her to address the connections between property ownership, investor relationships and project funding.

Marilyn regularly advises developers, investors and private lenders on complex funding arrangements for property acquisitions and development projects. In one transaction, she assisted a consortium of investors with the structuring of debt and equity funding for a multi-stage development, preparing and negotiating loan, security and investor documentation. By considering the commercial objectives of each stakeholder alongside the financing requirements, Marilyn helped establish a structure that supported the project's funding requirements while providing clear governance and protections for investors.

A proactive, practical approach

Marilyn combines careful legal analysis with responsive service and clear advice. She explains the options, identifies issues early and keeps the client’s commercial objective in focus.

Whether acquiring a development site, bringing investors into a project or entering the Australian property market, clients can turn to Marilyn for advice that connects the legal detail with the decisions they need to make.

Frequently asked questions

Contact Marilyn to discuss your next property acquisition, residential development or investment in Australia.