Eloise Connelly

Eloise's practice focuses on property advice and transactions. Eloise advises clients on a wide range of matters including drafting and negotiating contracts of sale, development agreements, leases and licences along with advising on contractual issues. Eloise has provided advice on a wide range of topics including on the leasing and licensing of Crown land, ownership and management of roads and interpretation of legislation. Eloise has continued to provide transactional advice, including:

• to the State in relation to its acquisition of land in urban growth areas for future development and provision of community services such as schools
• preparing contracts of sale for commercial land and residential properties that are the subject of court orders
• negotiating leases and licences from the position of both tenant/licensee and landlord/licensor for a number of government departments and statutory authorities
• advising the State on compliance with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010
• negotiating work-in-kind agreements under the GAIC provisions of the Planning and Environment Act 1987
• preparing and negotiating agreements pursuant to s 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and s 49 of the Development Victoria Act 2003 to ensure ongoing protection of the State's interest in relation to use and development of relevant parcels of property
• advising the Level Crossing Removal Project in relation to voluntary land acquisitions and ancillary arrangements with both land owners and tenants

Prior to joining the VGSO in 2016, Eloise practiced at a large private commercial law firm with a diverse property practice.

Before entering the legal profession, Eloise worked as a social worker in the family violence sector and in the provision of support services to court users.