Overseas Property

Foreign property dealings

MBS has a unique practice specialising in all dealings with overseas property transactions, such as the following non-exhaustive list:

• Acquisitions (purchases).
• Disposals (sales, transfers in whole or part interests).
• Acquisitions and disposals relating to real property in deceased estates.
• Leases and licenses.
• Mortgages, securities (registration and discharge) and refinancing.
• Appointment of overseas lawyers, notaries, tax agents, accountants and other professionals.
• Establishments of companies and other corporate vehicles and trusts in foreign jurisdictions to acquire, obtain security (mortgages and charges etc.) and dispose of real property.
• Full services for conveyance and property management, including correspondence in foreign languages, notarial services for overseas powers of attorney, other documents and instruments and
• guidance throughout the entire negotiation phase and the transaction.
• All aspects of foreign and Australian property litigation and arbitration.

French property

Michael Bula is recognised as an expert in French property matters and receives referrals from French diplomatic and consular posts in Australia, law firms and accountants, amongst other sources.

Communication is in French with necessary translations carried out in-house by the firm Traductions Françaises (French Translations).

He has written a French property booklet and is often invited to make presentations to interested purchasers of French property. MBS organises or is invited to present at French property seminars.

MBS guides prospective purchasers as well as vendors through the entire property transaction process and offers its clients lists of English-speaking real estate agents, accountants, building surveyors, banks and finance brokers, amongst others to provide a full service.

Italian property

Fluent in Italian, Michael Bula is also registered as a Barrister and Solicitor and Notary Public with the Italian Consulate General and provides full services for dealings in Italian property including in-house translations by Corporate Language Communications.

Conveyancing process

Foreign property transactions are based on comparative law (between the foreign jurisdiction and Australia), foreign law and private and public international law. MBS's role, without being specific may include the following:

• Full client representation.
• Beneficial and objective advice relating to the transaction.
• Examination of the contract documentation with advice and negotiation services in foreign languages, prior to signing the contract.
• Full notarial services in the foreign language for powers of attorney and other deeds required in the foreign jurisdiction.
• Liaison and instruction to overseas legal agents to deal with all issues relating to documentation, law, advice, settlement and post-settlement issues, including tax, property management and wills and estates.

Legal Agents

MBS has an extensive network of agents to assist you in property transactions in most offshore jurisdictions, due to our knowledge of foreign (local) law, comparative legal systems and international law.