Francis Farmakidis

Francis Farmakidis is the founding partner of Vobis Lawyers, a Sydney-based commercial law firm. His practice has been named recipient of the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 — Property Law Firm of the Year in Australia, recognising the firm's strength in transactional and property work for its business clients.

The firm

Vobis Lawyers is a full-service commercial practice based in the centre of Sydney. The firm advises across six main areas: dispute resolution and litigation; corporate and commercial advice and documentation; transactional, property and business matters; e-commerce; cyber security, privacy and data protection; and personal attorney services. Property and transactional work sits at the core of this offering, and the firm's broader capabilities in corporate, commercial and dispute resolution allow it to support property clients on the wider issues that so often accompany real estate — from the structuring of acquisitions and developments to the resolution of disputes when they arise.

The firm is known for an approach that favours commercial pragmatism over unnecessary legal formality. As one client observed, the firm avoids getting so buried in early detail that transactions lose momentum — a reflection of its focus on helping clients achieve their commercial objectives efficiently.

The founding partner

Francis Farmakidis founded Vobis Lawyers and brings some 25 years of professional legal experience to the firm. He advises clients across a diverse range of industry sectors, drawing on that experience to deliver practical, business-focused solutions. His leadership has shaped the firm's identity as a commercially minded practice that pairs technical capability with responsiveness.

Property law in Australia

Property law in Australia operates within a state and territory framework, with each jurisdiction maintaining its own legislation and land-titling system. In New South Wales, where Vobis Lawyers is based, conveyancing and property transactions are governed by state law and administered through the Torrens system of title by registration, which provides a reliable, government-guaranteed record of ownership. Commercial property work encompasses the sale and purchase of land and buildings, leasing, development and subdivision, financing and security, and the resolution of disputes between owners, developers, tenants and financiers.

For business clients, property transactions are rarely simple transfers. They frequently involve the interplay of corporate structuring, financing arrangements, tax considerations such as stamp duty and goods and services tax, planning and development approvals, and detailed contractual negotiation. Cross-border investors add a further layer, including foreign-investment review requirements. In this environment, clients benefit from advisers who understand not only the mechanics of property law but also the commercial context in which deals are done. A firm that combines property expertise with corporate, commercial and dispute resolution capabilities — and that emphasises maintaining transactional momentum — is well suited to guiding businesses through their real estate dealings.

A commercial approach

What distinguishes a property practice such as this is its ability to keep sight of the client's ultimate commercial goal while managing the legal detail that every transaction requires. By offering property advice within a broader full-service platform, and by drawing on a founding partner's quarter-century of experience across many sectors, Vobis Lawyers is positioned to serve clients whose property matters connect with wider corporate, commercial and technology-related concerns.

Sydney is one of the most significant property markets in the Asia-Pacific region, encompassing commercial offices, retail and industrial premises, large-scale developments and a highly active investment sector. Transactions here frequently bring together local and overseas parties, sophisticated financing structures and demanding timeframes. The firm's modern capabilities in e-commerce, cyber security, privacy and data protection are increasingly relevant to property clients too, as real estate businesses digitise their operations and handle growing volumes of sensitive information. This alignment of traditional property expertise with contemporary commercial concerns is a distinguishing feature of the practice.

Recognition

In naming Francis Farmakidis and Vobis Lawyers Property Law Firm of the Year in Australia for 2026, the Corporate INTL Global Awards recognise a Sydney practice that brings commercial pragmatism, broad legal capability and experienced leadership to property and transactional work for Australian and international business clients.