John Ellis

Commercial, Corporate & Property, Residential Developments, Infrastructure Projects

A former senior property partner with Minter Ellison, John is one of Queensland’s most experienced property and transaction lawyers, having managed major property, infrastructure and commercial developments throughout the state for both private and public corporations. He has provided advice on a broad range of projects from small residential developments to major tourism initiatives and large-scale government infrastructure projects such as the Surat Basin LNG Pipeline, the Tugun Bypass and the Townsville Ocean Terminal. In 2008 he left Minter Ellison to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer for the multi-billion dollar funds manager City Pacific Ltd. A former executive member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia, John joined Nyst Legal in 2013 to head up the Commercial Property Division of the firm.

Qualifications & Memberships

  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Solicitor of the High Court of Australia
  • Articles of Clerkship
  • Member of the Queensland Law Society

Involved in substantial public and private infrastructure projects such as: Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal Proposal; Tugun Desalination Plant; Gold Coast Airport extension; Tugun Bypass; Townsville Ocean Terminal Proposal.

Appointed to the Queensland State UDIA Advisory Group co-ordinating industry response to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s (then) proposed Policy Statement 140 on managed investments and serviced strata schemes.

Appointed to the Queensland State UDIA Advisory Group co-ordinating industry response to the Queensland Government’s (then) proposed Property Agents & Motor Dealers Act (2001). Also provided advice to the Minister and the Department on the proposed legislation.

Appointed to the UDIA Advisory Committee to the Gold Coast City Council to co-ordinate development industry response to the Gold Coast City Council “Living City” Planning Scheme introduced in 2003.

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Our Latest Blogs

So, it’s that time of year, yet again, when department stores everywhere are all adorned with glistening synthetic trees, draped in twinkling tinsel and plastic holly, surrounded by cotton-wool snow and lovingly-wrapped empty packages. Competitively-priced sound system speakers spread jolly messages of good will to all, while the latest jumbo-sized LED Full HD Smart TV […]

Our Nicola Ellis and Jordan Roles have been named as finalists in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2025. Nicola has been named a finalist in the Real Estate category for the second year in a row, while Jordan has been named a finalist in the Criminal category.   The Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards […]

For a variety of technological, societal and other reasons, many couples have embraced the use of assisted reproductive treatment (‘ART’) as an integral element in the child-birth process.  During the past five years alone, ART procedures conducted in Australia have increased by 10% on average.

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