Cohen Handler Expands into Yacht Advisory, Bringing Independent Buyer Representation to the Australian Marine Market

Cohen Handler has built its reputation on one principle: represent the buyer, and represent them properly. That philosophy has guided the business across prestige property, commercial acquisitions, and luxury assets for years. It now extends into a new category entirely.

We are proud to announce the launch of Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory, a dedicated yacht buyers agency bringing independent representation, strategic acquisition support, and off-market access to buyers navigating the Australian marine market.

Why Yacht Advisory, and Why Now

The Australian boating market has matured considerably over the past decade. Buyers are more informed, more selective, and increasingly aware that the advice available to them through brokers working on commission is not the same as independent representation working solely in their corner.

That gap between what the market offers and what buyers actually need is exactly the space Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory has been built to fill.

The buyer’s agent model has been a fixture in Australian property for years, and the outcomes it produces for clients are well documented. The marine sector has been slower to adopt that model, but the demand is there. Larger vessels are entering local waters, off-market transactions are becoming increasingly common, and buyers are making high-value decisions in a market that is genuinely complex to navigate without specialist guidance.

Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory brings the same advisory mindset that has defined our property business into the marine industry, paired with deep specialist knowledge that could only come from someone who has spent their career in it.

The Partnership Behind It

At the centre of Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory is Michael Donnan, founder of Luxe Yacht Advisors and one of the most experienced yacht buyer representatives in the country.

Before launching Luxe Yacht Advisors, Michael was recognised as one of the highest-performing Riviera brokers in Australia during his time at R Marine Crawley. He is also a qualified diesel fitter, which means his knowledge of a vessel doesn’t stop at the commercial layer. When Michael walks through a yacht on behalf of a client, he understands what he’s looking at from a technical standpoint as well as a market one. That combination is rare, and it matters when you’re spending serious money on a serious asset.

Joining Michael are Simon Cohen and Jordan Navybox. Simon has built Cohen Handler into one of Australia’s most recognised buyer advocacy businesses, with a reputation grounded in negotiation, strategy, and premium client representation. Jordan brings extensive experience in luxury asset acquisition and business development, helping shape the long-term direction of the advisory.

Together, the team covers what a yacht buyer actually needs: marine industry expertise, independent representation, strategic negotiation, off-market access, and the kind of high-level industry relationships that change what’s possible for a client.

What Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory Does for Buyers

The service is built around the same buyer-first framework that has always defined Cohen Handler’s approach to property. The vessel category changes, but the principle doesn’t.

For a yacht buyer, that means starting with a clear brief and working through every stage of the acquisition with independent support. Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory handles the full process, from clarifying what the client actually needs and sourcing suitable vessels, through to reviewing market value, managing inspections and surveys, negotiating the purchase, and supporting the buyer through handover and into ownership.

The access to off-market opportunities is a significant part of the offering. A meaningful proportion of quality vessels in the Australian market change hands without ever appearing on public listings, and for buyers without established relationships in the industry, those opportunities simply don’t exist. Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory’s network changes that.

The advisory covers a wide range of vessel categories, including Riviera, Maritimo, Princess, Sunseeker, Leopard Catamaran, Fleming, Nordhavn, and larger superyachts. Whatever the brief, the approach is consistent: buyer-focused, independent, and built around delivering the right vessel at the right price.

What This Means for the Cohen Handler Client Base

For existing Cohen Handler clients who have purchased property through us, the launch of Yacht Advisory means the same standard of independent representation is now available to them when they turn their attention to the water.

For new clients coming to us specifically through the marine space, it means access to a business with the negotiation infrastructure, client service framework, and advisory rigour that has taken Cohen Handler years to build, combined with specialist marine knowledge that we’ve brought in from the best in the industry.

The vision for Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory is straightforward: to become Australia’s leading yacht buyers agency, and ultimately a globally recognised name in yacht advisory and acquisition. That ambition is grounded in the same thing that has always driven Cohen Handler’s growth, which is a genuine commitment to delivering better outcomes for buyers through independent advice, trusted relationships, and access that extends well beyond the public market.

If you’re considering a yacht purchase and want independent representation throughout the process, the Cohen Handler Yacht Advisory team is worth speaking to.

Get in touch.

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