The Legal 500

Allens Arthur Robinson continues to have one of Australia’s top energy and resources practices, housing 'lead mining experts Tony Wassaff and Scot Langford’, as well as 'oil and gas expert’ John Greig. The group works for industry giants like Rio Tinto on high-profile matters such as the takeover approach by BHP Billiton. The group was responsible for advising Queensland Government on the restructuring and subsequent sale of its electricity and gas businesses, and acted for Anglo Coal Australia on the Victorian Power & Liquids project. Ken MacDonald resigned from the partnership this year, but continues to act as a consultant to the firm.

Clayton Utz’s 'top-tier’ team continues to go from strength to strength, adding new clients like EDF Trading to a client base that includes names such as Anglo American and Shell, as well as recruiting Graeme Dennis from Johnson Winter & Slattery. The group is currently advising Origin Energy on the A$13bn proposal from BG Group, and acting for Oxiana on the A$12bn proposed merger with Ziniflex. In addition to acting on bet-the-company matters, the group handles day-to-day matters, advising clients like Pacific National on coal haulage agreements. Barry Irwin and Geoff Simpson, who 'no-one can compete with in Perth’, are recommended.

Freehills has a big presence across the various energy and resources sectors, acting for oil and gas companies like BG, power companies like Babcock & Brown Power, renewable energy clients like Pacific Hydro, and minerals companies like Centennial Coal. Recent highlights include advising Santos on the Gladstone LNG project, which involved the development of coal-seam methane fields and the sale of upstream assets, as well as downstream aspects such as construction and marketing, and acting for Cheves Hydro on all aspects of the 168MW Cheves hydro power project in Peru. The group, which is 'strong nationally’, continues to be top tier despite the recent departures of Mick Dulaney and Peter Smith to Johnson Winter & Slattery and Mike Ferraro to BHP Billiton. Stuart Barrymore is considered a 'top-notch oil and gas lawyer’, while Rick Malone is recommended for work in the minerals sector.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques acted for BG on its acquisition of interests in coal-seam gas tenements from Queensland Gas, advised Gindalbie Metals on the power supply agreements for the Karara iron ore project, and assisted Mitsubishi Development and Mitsubishi Corporation on the establishment of an incorporated mining joint venture, as well as separate unincorporated rail and port infrastructure joint ventures with Murchison Metals. Melbourne partner James Fahey boasts 'impressive oil and gas expertise’, while Alan Murray, head of the Perth office, comes highly 'recommended for large transactional work’, and makes the leading individuals list this year after strong recommendations to that effect.

Blake Dawson’s work for BHP Billiton keeps the group heavily involved in some of the country’s leading matters; recent highlights include advising on the Olympic Dam expansion project, the world’s largest mine expansion project, and on the proposed A$150bn takeover of Rio Tinto. The group acts for a host of top-notch clients such as Posco, Alinta LGA and Woodside, which Peter Jarosek is advising on all aspects of the A$12bn LNG Pluto project. The 'quality is, on the whole, excellent’, and clients find they 'get better value for money from Blake Dawson’. Jon Carson is singled out as 'extremely knowledgeable, very client focused and responsive’, while Martin Kudnig is 'first class’.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has a rising profile in the energy and resources sector, and has won instructions on some of the top matters in Australia, including advising Queensland Gas on its alliance with BG regarding the A$8bn development of the Gladstone LNG project. In the resources sector, the group advised Moly Mines on the financing, construction and operation of its A$2bn molybdenum mine development project. John Kelly rates as 'one of Brisbane’s best resources lawyers’.

Gilbert + Tobin’s stellar reputation for M&A and regulatory work stands the firm in good stead in the energy sector, where it is considered 'just fantastic’ and doing 'a brilliant job’. The group recently advised the NSW Government on the potential long-term lease of its generation assets, as well as the A$15bn sale of its retail assets, and acted for Colonial First State on a consortium bid with Australian Pipeline Trust for the acquisition of the A$1.175bn Basslink transmission line. Liza Carver is a 'formidable player who has the ability to really deliver’.

Minter Ellison is described as a 'trusted adviser’, 'prepared to give practical, commercial advice quickly, without having to be overly legalistic or caveated’. Recent highlights for the team include advising Babcock & Brown International and Singapore Power on the A$13.1bn acquisition of Alinta, and acting for Tokyo Gas on taking a stake in the Woodside Pluto LNG project. Clients rate both Mitzi Gilligan and Allison Warburton, while Denis Gately’s 'industry knowledge and international experience in the mineral and resources area’ earn him high praise.

Baker & McKenzie succeeded in beating a number of top-tier firms to win an appointment as the sole legal adviser on the core aspects of the NSW Government’s electricity reform project. The group acts for top energy clients such as AGL Energy and TRUenergy, and has a growing resources practice, acting for clients such as Vale on its A$1bn acquisition of AMCI Australia. David Ryan is 'an outstanding corporate, M&A and resources partner’ whose 'responsiveness and industry knowledge are first rate’.

DLA Phillips Fox added further strength to one of Australia’s top access-to-infrastructure practices with the recruitment of Middletons’ Geoff Taperell, who represented East Australian Pipeline in a dispute with the ACCC over the access arrangements for the Moomba to Sydney natural gas pipeline. The team’s growing carbon practice recently acted for the National Generators Forum and the ETNOF, and also boasts an expanding resources practice following the 2006 recruitment of Robert Edel from Gadens Lawyers. Simon Uthmeyer is 'doing great things in access work’.

Deacons is on the rise thanks to increased inward investment from China and growth in the gas market. Ian McCubbin and Liz Allnutt recently advised Anshan Iron & Steel, one of China’s largest steel producers, on a A$2bn development agreement with Gindalbie Metal, while Mark Waddell and Michael Joyce acted for Delta Electricity on its 670MW gas-fired power station.

The recruitment of Mick Dulaney and Peter Smith from Freehills and the subsequent opening of a Perth office was a major coup for Peter Rose’s team at Johnson Winter & Slattery. The group has since won work from Dominon Mining and Woodside, as well as continuing to act for Origin Energy in relation to gas-fired power station developments. The group has a 'strong carbon practice’.

Atanaskovic Hartnell is often brought in as a strategic adviser on large transactions, most recently advising on a potential merger that, if it goes through, will create one of the world’s largest mining conglomerates. The group has also been involved in some of the pivotal access-to-infrastructure disputes.

Niche energy and resources practice Chambers & Company, headed by Robin Chambers, targets major projects between China and Australia. It recently advised Sinosteel on the extension of the Channar joint venture, and acted on the sales contract between RockCheck Steel and Aurox Resources for the delivery of magnetite over a 25-year period.

Chang, Pistilli & Simmons focuses on M&A and corporate advisery work for clients such as Babcock & Brown and Pallinghurst Resources, and is 'picked for strategic issues’. Mark Pistilli successfully defended APA against a hostile takeover bid from Alinta.

Middletons’ impressive client list includes two of the three state-owned NSW electricity and gas distributors and retailers, as well as two of the three NSW state-owned electricity generators and renewable energy player. Jennifer Mee recently advised Silverton Wind Farm Developments on Australia’s largest proposed wind farm.

Jackson McDonald is 'a very strong, all-round good Perth firm’ that would 'top the second tier of energy and resources firms in the Perth market’. The firm acts for clients such as APT Pipelines. Matthew Bowen is recommended.

In previous years, TressCox has largely focused on the coal sector, but in 2008 the firm won its first instructions from ERM Power, marking its debut in the gas sector. On the resources side the firm has been advising LPD Holdings on its acquisition of a stake in a major iron ore project.

Though Blakiston & Crabb covers the full range of energy and resources work, it is especially well known for the number of IPOs it handles, and comes highly recommended for its native title work. Clients include Croesus Mining and Mercator Gold.

At Kelly & Co, Andrew Corletto’s team acted for Primary Resources on its acquisition of Strzelecki Mining, and advised on permitting and approvals for new projects such as Hillgrove Resources’ Kanmantoo cooper and gold project.

McCullough Robertson’s impressive resources team advised the Aluminium Company of China (Chalco) on its bid for the Aurukun Bauxite project, one of Queensland’s largest mining projects. Damien Clarke leads the team.

Piper Alderman’s 12-partner team continues to act for Beach Petroleum, one of Australia’s largest oil producers, on the refinancing of its purchase of the Delhi Petroleum interests in the Cooper basin. Other clients include Eastern Star Gas and Australia Worldwide Exploration.