Father of MAFS star Dion Giannarelli – and ex-partner of Real Housewives of Melbourne’s Gina Liano – is sued for $176k in allegedly ‘unpaid’ legal fees
Property mogul Dean Giannarelli, the father of MAFS star Dion Giannarelli and ex-partner of Gina Liano from The Real Housewives of Melbourne, is being sued for $176,000 in allegedly unpaid legal fees.
Mr Giannarelli, 69, is the defendant against Brisbane law firm AJ and Co Lawyers Pty Ltd, who claim they handled extensive work for him which was unpaid.
The businessman owns and operates Giannarelli Group, a multimillion-dollar property investment group that develops luxury properties on the Gold Coast.
Property mogul Dean Giannarelli (left), the father of MAFS star Dion Giannarelli and ex-partner of Gina Liano (right) from The Real Housewives of Melbourne, is being sued for $176,000 in allegedly ‘unpaid’ legal fees
AJ and Co allege Giannarelli signed an agreement with them in 2022 to perform litigation work for his property development company between August and November.
A claim filed earlier this month states: ‘Despite multiple demands, the defendant has failed and/or refused to pay any of the debt.’
The hefty $176,949 bill includes numerous invoices for $84,568 issued in August, $54,836 in November and $5,181 for negotiating a put-and-call option deed.
Mr Giannarelli, 69, is the defendant against Brisbane law firm AJ and Co Lawyers Pty Ltd who claim they handled significant work for him which was unpaid. (Pictured: Dion and Dean Giannarelli)
The law firm claims it performed significant work for Giannarelli’s company, including legal work for the planned purchase of 48 beachfront apartments.
It comes after Giannarelli and his reality star son Dion, 35, last year signed a deal with the Ritz-Carlton to develop a 150-room resort at Mariner’s Cove at the Spit.
The plans for the spectacular development include a 67-berth superyacht marina, a 512sqm ballroom, and an outdoor rooftop pool, reported The Gold Coast Bulletin.
AJ and Co is arguing Mr Giannarelli signed an agreement with them in 2022 to perform litigation work for his property development company between August and November
Plans for the ambitious resort were lodged with the Gold Coast Council in August, and Dion said he expected them to be approved by early 2023.
If the council gives the green-light, the resort should be finished by 2025.
Dion partnered with high-flying Melbourne property developer Ross Pelligra of the Pelligra Group to make the deal a reality.
Giannarelli and his son Dion, 35, last year signed a deal with the Ritz-Carlton to develop a 150-room resort at Mariner’s Cove at the Spit. (Pictured: an artist’s impression of the resort)
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