David Marriott joins commercial law firm Melbourne office as principal in the property services group. 

The new recruit has more than 13 years' experience in property law, mainly in advising clients on property related matters, including property development, retail, commercial & industrial leasing, sales & acquisitions, tenancy disputes, urban and regeneration projects.  

Marriott's experience also extends to site acquisition for major development projects and portfolio sales and disposals. He also considerable experience in international property law, having worked for one of London's premier property law practices for nearly three years.

Prior to joining M+K, Marriott was a partner in the property services group for Herbert Geer in Victoria.

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work for a firm who has property as part its core growth strategy."  Marriott said. 

"I'm joining a national property practice that is committed to providing high quality service and is at the same time, conscious of the commercial realities and constraints which its clients face. The size of the team allows me to draw on the skills of other lawyers throughout Australia," Marriott said.

"There is no doubt the current state of the property market is proving difficult for developers in obtaining funding for larger projects.  Banks are limiting their exposure to property development resulting in developers having to seek funds from alternative means, namely private investors.   As developers move toward joint venture arrangements, Lawyers are becoming more involved in assisting them with resolving the complex structuring issues that often arise in joint ventures," he said.

James Sturgess, managing director of the firm in Victoria, said the Victorian property services team, for residential lot work, owns 20 per cent of the market.

The appointment of Marriott takes the M+K property services group to 23 Lawyers including 7 principals nationally.