International law firm Ashurst has advised Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts (Crystalbrook), the leisure and accommodation arm of GA Group Australia, on the acquisition of the Little Albion boutique hotel in Sydney's Surry Hills suburb.

The Little Albion boutique hotel is one of Australia’s newest boutique hotels, developed and designed by Paul Fischmann, founder and owner of 8Hotels. The 35-room hotel is in a heritage building constructed in 1903 as a school convent which has been transformed into a modern guest house, merging old and new.

Founded by Dubai-based billionaire Ghassan Aboud, Crystalbrook has invested more than A$400 million in three hotels in Cairns (the Riley, the Bailey and the Flynn, with the Bailey and Flynn due to open mid and late 2019). The Cyrstalbrook collection also includes a lodge in Queensland’s outback, as well as the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas.

The Ashurst team was led by co-head of real estate in Australia, Pauline Tan and supported by senior associate Emmy Ko and lawyer Joy Yi.