Team Members

Laura Gahan

Partner
Laura is a real estate lawyer who assists clients across varying property classes with acquisitions, disposals, leasing, development, disputes and asset management.

Laura is a real estate lawyer who assists clients across varying property classes with acquisitions, disposals, leasing, development, disputes and asset management.

Her multi-disciplinary approach means that she anticipates potential obstacles early and is able to consolidate Cooper Grace Ward’s broad expertise to ensure transactions proceed smoothly.

Laura works with large corporations, family businesses and private investors, as well as national and regional owners and tenants.

Having worked as in-house counsel for one of the world’s largest family restaurant owners, Laura understands the need to deliver solutions-based legal advice.

Laura is passionate about property law and Australian real estate. She has previously held committee roles with the Property Council of Australia and also undertaken academic work in the Faculty of Law at the Queensland University of Technology.

  • Solicitor – Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Laws (Honours) – Queensland University of Technology
  • Bachelor of Justice, Public Policy (Honours) – Queensland University of Technology
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice – Queensland University of Technology
  • Committee Member – Property Council of Australia, Retail Committee 2017-2019
  • Committee Member – Property Council of Australia, Future Directions Committee 2008-2014
  • Listed in Agriculture and Rural Affairs – Best Lawyers Australia 2020-2022, 2024-2025
  • Listed in Leasing Law and Real Property Law – Best Lawyers Australia 2020-2022

Experience

Laura advises clients on a range of property matters including:

  • Commercial and industrial property purchases and disposals including office towers, shopping centres, manufacturing and distribution facilities.
  • Agribusiness transactions including farm land, farming business, livestock and crop purchases, disposals and management advice.
  • Commercial, industrial and retail leasing.
  • Commercial, industrial and retail asset management and redevelopment.
  • Due diligence investigations and reporting.
  • State leasehold and land tenure issues.

Real Estate

Advising investors on complex asset acquisitions and disposals including CBD buildings, shopping centres, major industrial and commercial sites, development sites and hotels.

  • Advising on the integration / divestment of property assets as part of mergers, acquisitions and restructures
  • Advising investors on complex asset acquisitions and disposals including CBD buildings, shopping centres, major industrial and commercial sites, development sites and hotels
  • Advising on all aspects of retail, commercial and industrial asset management and integration into property portfolios, including advice on leasing, refurbishment and redevelopment
  • Advising private land holders with respect to state leasehold requirements.
  • Advising land owners with respect to mining access rights
  • Advising not-for-profit associations with respect to state government funding, construction and leasing contracts
  • Advising land holders on state government funding applications for economic development initiatives
  • Advising private land owners on structuring and land titling matters

Areas of Expertise

Publications

Doyles Guide lists Cooper Grace Ward among Leading Agribusiness Firms for 2025

Cooper Grace Ward and partner Laura Gahan have been Recommended in the latest Doyles Guide rankings for Leading Agribusiness Lawyers and Law Firms.

New Queensland Property Law Act commences 1 August 2025 – are you ready?

The Property Law Act 2023 (Qld) comes into effect from 1 August 2025, replacing the Property Law Act 1974 (Qld).

Cooper Grace Ward celebrates 25 lawyers listed in Best Lawyers 2026

Cooper Grace Ward is proud to announce that 25 of our lawyers have been recognised across 23 expertise areas in Best Lawyers list of leading lawyers for 2026.