Brisbane, Queensland · Hotel & Property Lawyer

Hotel & Property Lawyer for Hotel Owners, Developers and Operators

Senior executive legal expertise for hotel owners, operators and property developers across Australia, delivered with commercial judgment, not just legal process.

Work with us +61 438 005 147

Recognition

2025

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Lawyer of the YearWinner, Lawyers Weekly In-House Awards

2026

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Lawyer of the YearWinner, Lawyers Weekly In-House Awards

2026

Excellence AwardHighest Scoring Finalist of the Night, Lawyers Weekly In-House Awards

About

A hotel lawyer built from the inside

AC Advisory is led by Angie Coleman, a senior executive lawyer with more than 23 years of experience across the hotel, property, construction and infrastructure sectors.

Angie has held Executive Director and General Counsel roles within major hotel and property groups, giving her a rare perspective: she has sat on both sides of the table. That operational understanding shapes every engagement. Her advice is commercially grounded, not just legally correct.

We provide high calibre legal and commercial advice to hotel owners, operators, developers and investors who need senior level legal judgment without the overhead of a permanent in-house team.

23+Years' experience

6Jurisdictions

Enquire now

What we do

Hotel and property legal services

Full capability →

Hotel Legal Advisory

Extensive experience across all aspects of hotel legal work, from complex HMA negotiations to franchise structuring and compliance frameworks.

Hotel Management Agreement review, drafting & negotiation
Franchise documentation & disclosure
Operator selection & relationship management
Hotel opening project management
Compliance frameworks & regulatory advice
Dispute strategy & resolution

Hotel management agreements →NEW

Transactions & Development

End to end transaction support for hotel and property acquisitions, divestments and development projects across Australia.

Acquisitions, divestments & development support
Deal structuring, due diligence & execution
Management rights acquisitions
New builds, conversions & repositioning
Stakeholder negotiation & project governance

Governance & Compliance

Board governance frameworks, risk management structures and regulatory compliance for hotel operators and property groups.

Governance framework design & review
Risk management frameworks
Whistleblower & privacy programs
Company secretarial support
Board advisory

Commercial & IP

Commercial contracting, brand protection and intellectual property advice.

Operator & franchise agreements
Brand protection
Supply & technology contracts
Short term letting structures
Strata & body corporate advice

Fractional General Counsel

Senior in-house legal leadership on demand (full or part time) without the cost or commitment of a permanent hire.

Temporary senior legal advice & oversight (leave or vacancies)
Crisis management (data breaches, investigations)
Legal team transformation & capability uplift
AI implementation in legal operations
Staff & director education sessions
Large matter management
First legal counsel whilst establishing a team
Management of external counsel in large disputes or investigations

Past experience

Selected hotel and property matters

A selection of notable matters drawn from over two decades advising on some of Australia's most complex hotel and property transactions.

2025

Anantara Perth Hotel: Minor Hotels' first 6 star HMA in Australia

Negotiated the first Anantara Hotel Management Agreement, Technical Services Agreement and Licence & Royalty Agreement in Australia, with landowner, financier and lessor deeds, within a master planned development. Drafted and negotiated branded residence agreements.

2025

Oaks Auckland: Minor Hotels' first NZ Hotel Management Agreement

Led legal work and negotiations for the opening of Oaks Auckland Hotel (414 rooms) under tight timeframes.

2025

Queens Wharf & Geelong management rights acquisitions

Led acquisitions of management rights for Queens Wharf Residences QLD (200 rooms), Geelong R Suites VIC (128 rooms) and Geelong Vue Suites VIC (60 rooms).

2025

Avani Wollongong: new build HMA in a mixed use development

Negotiated the HMA, Technical Services Agreement, Licence and Royalty Agreement and financier deeds for a new build 107 room hotel.

2025

Brand protection injunction

Obtained an interlocutory injunction within one month to restrain use of a deceptively similar hotel brand (with external counsel).

2025

Federal Court franchise dispute: mediated settlement

Managed and settled a Federal Court franchise dispute at mediation, resolving complex claims.

2025

Oaks Crackenback Resort: ski resort acquisition

Oversaw acquisition and opening, including management rights, leases and business purchase agreements in a unique alpine asset class.

2023

NH Hotel Mascot: 40 year leased hotel acquisition

Negotiated a 40 year lease for Minor Hotels' first NH Hotel in Australia (150 rooms), including a complex ground lease structure and FIRB approvals.

2022

Oaks Perth Hotel: 190 room leased acquisition

Negotiated the acquisition and opening, including 185 individual 40 year leases and an asset sale from the prior operator.

2022

Oaks Toowoomba: first franchised hotel documentation

Documented and opened Minor Hotels' first franchised hotel (102 rooms), with two further franchise hotels and rewritten franchise manuals.

From the desk of AC Advisory

Hotel law insights

All insights →

Management Rights

Selling management rights in new strata schemes to short term letting operators

What short term operators are really looking for, and how developers can maximise value.

6 October 2026 · 6 min read

Employment Law

The right to disconnect: the first decision, and what it means for hotel owners and operators

After hours contact alone is not enough to make out a claim.

8 September 2026 · 3 min read

Governance & Compliance

Is your hotel's AI use now a work health and safety risk?

What NSW's new law means for owners and operators.

18 August 2026 · 4 min read

Our approach

The lawyer who says how, not no

We combine the depth of a senior in-house general counsel with the commercial instincts of an executive who has run businesses and sat at the board table. Our services are built for clients who need legal strategy, not just legal process.

Commercially oriented

Every brief is considered through the lens of your business objectives. We look for the path to yes, balancing risk, compliance and commerciality in equal measure.

Lived industry experience

Having held general counsel and executive director roles inside hotel and property businesses, we understand the operating environment from the inside, including what it means to build functions and business lines from scratch.

III

Practical, direct advice

No unnecessary complexity. Clients receive clear, actionable guidance delivered on time and on budget, with senior attention on every matter.

Get in touch

Let's discuss how we can help you

Location

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Phone

+61 438 005 147

angie@acadvisorygroup.com.au

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Thank you

We'll be in touch within one business day.