Andrew Gunter

Andrew is an experienced property, planning and compulsory acquisition lawyer with more than 18 years’ experience advising on complex land, infrastructure and statutory matters. His practice spans the full lifecycle of property and planning issues, from strategic advisory work through to contested disputes and litigation.

He advises a broad range of clients, including landowners, developers, infrastructure providers and statutory bodies, and is particularly valued for his ability to navigate matters involving competing interests, regulatory complexity and compensation risk.

Andrew brings a dual-perspective to his work, having acted for both acquiring authorities and affected landowners. This enables him to anticipate opposing positions, assess valuation and compensation risk with precision, and develop strategies that are both commercially and legally robust.

Areas of Focus

• Compulsory acquisition and land compensation
• Planning and environment law
• Property and infrastructure projects
• Statutory interpretation and compliance
• Land use disputes and litigation
• Governance and procurement advisory

Experience & Authority

Compulsory Acquisition & Compensation
Andrew advises on compulsory acquisition processes and compensation claims, acting for both acquiring bodies and claimants. His work includes strategic advice on acquisition pathways, valuation methodology, disturbance claims and dispute resolution.

Planning & Environment Matters
He advises on statutory and strategic planning issues, including contested permit applications, planning appeals and regulatory disputes. Andrew is experienced in resolving planning matters efficiently while protecting long-term land use outcomes.

Infrastructure & Public Land Projects
Andrew acts on infrastructure and land projects involving roads, utilities and public land, advising on tenure, access, valuation, rating and regulatory compliance. His work frequently involves complex interactions between land law and statutory powers.

Land Use Disputes & Litigation
He represents clients in disputes arising from land use, acquisition and planning decisions, including compensation disputes and related litigation. His approach is strategic and evidence-driven, with a focus on early resolution where possible.

Statutory Advisory & Compliance
Andrew advises on statutory interpretation, governance and procurement issues arising in land and infrastructure projects, ensuring decision-making processes are defensible and aligned with legislative requirements.

Thought Leadership & Sector Engagement

Andrew is an active contributor to the profession and has authored articles on planning, compulsory acquisition and land law issues published in the Local Government Reporter. He is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association and the Victorian Local Governance Association.