The Legal 500

Allens Arthur Robinson fields one of the leading energy and resources practices in the country. Wendy Rae and Robert Pick recently advised TSX-listed Endeavour Mining on its merger implementation agreement with ASX-listed Adamus Resources. It also advised ACCIONA on the A$147m development of the Gunning wind farm. Oil and gas specialist Anthony Patten joined the firm from Ashurst LLP in London, and former Clifford Chance lawyer Debra Counsell was appointed special counsel.

Blake Dawson’s broad-based and multidisciplinary practice has handled matters across the iron ore, LNG, coal and energy sectors, among others. It advised BHP Billiton on its proposed $100bn-plus joint venture with Rio Tinto, and is assisting on LNG projects such as Browse, GLNG, Pluto and Sunrise. Practice head Geoff Gishubl is recommended. Leigh Warnick moved to Lavan Legal.

Freehills demonstrates ‘excellent service, business acumen, industry knowledge and gives appropriate advice’. Recent highlights saw the group advise Woodside on the $30bn Browse LNG project, and act for Santos on the A$1.3bn sale of interests in the $16bn GLNG project to Total and KOGAS. Justin Little, David Gray and Andrew Clark are recommended.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is highly rated for its ‘timely response and depth of team’. The team advised BG Group on its deal to sell LNG from its Queensland Curtis project to China National Offshore Oil Corporation. Other clients include Chevron, Alinta Energy and BHP Billiton. James Fahey is singled out for his ‘comprehensive understanding of the energy business’, and ‘client-oriented, pragmatic’ approach.

With offices in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Darwin, Clayton Utz’s energy and resources practice has a truly national presence and is adept at both operational and transactional work. The team acted as project counsel on the A$35bn Australia Pacific LNG project and is advising Barrick Gold on its A$7.1bn bid to acquire Equinox Minerals. Adani Group is a new client for the team, which is headed by Darren Fooks, Peter Wiese and Graeme Dennis.

Strong in inbound investment work, Corrs Chambers Westgarth advised Indian coal importer Adani Group on its $2.7bn acquisition of an 100% interest in Linc Energy’s coal tenements in Queensland. It also acted for core client Woodside Energy on the A$3bn expansion of its Pluto LNG project. Adam Handley has ‘a wealth of industry knowledge’, and Michael Harrison is ‘eminently trustworthy and has expansive knowledge’.

Having expanded from its traditional strength in the electricity sector, Minter Ellison’s broad-based energy and resources practice provides ‘fantastic service and very responsible lawyers who combine expert technical ability with solid commercial sense’. The group, headed by Mark Carkeet, acted for Rio Tinto on the A$3.9bn takeover of Riversdale Mining and advised Itochu Minerals & Energy and Mitsui Iron on a A$5.4bn joint venture with BHP Billiton and Japanese steel maker JFE Steel.

Baker & McKenzie has a particularly strong reputation in the electricity sector. The group, headed by Christopher Saxon, acted as lead adviser to the government of NSW on its A$5.3bn electricity privatisation project. On the investment side, the team has been advising Tokyo Gas on its investment in BG Group’s Curtis Island LNG project, and Vale on its investment in the Belvedere coal project.

There is no doubt that Blakiston & Crabb’s integration with Gilbert + Tobin has strengthened the firm’s capabilities in the energy and resource space, particularly in mining. Recent highlights include advising Riversdale Mining on Rio Tinto’s $3.9bn bid for the company and acting for ASX-listed Sundance Resources with regards to its Mbalam project in the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. Michael Blakiston is highly regarded.

Johnson Winter & Slattery provides ‘outstanding service, knowledge and good value for money’. The group advised Osaka Gas on the Greater Sunrise Project, and is advising Australia Pacific LNG on upstream infrastructure procurement and co-development agreements. James Marshall ‘looks for solutions not problems’, and is recommended along with Rick Malone, Peter Smith, and senior associate Natalie Tan.

McCullough Robertson provides ‘excellent service, high-quality advice and proactive, highly skilled people at a reasonable cost’, and ‘matches the top-tier firms in its local jurisdiction’. The team is advising Peabody Energy on infrastructure arrangements at its Millennium mine. Michael McCafferty is advising Brisbane City Council on its proposed long-term renewable energy supply project. Dominic McGann and Darren White are recommended for their ‘breadth of knowledge of the industry’.

Norton Rose Australia’s expertise spans the energy, oil and gas, and mining and minerals spaces. It advised Nippon Oil on LNG off-take contracts from the Gorgon LNG project in Western Australia, and acted for AGL Energy on the 420MW A$1bn Macarthur wind farm. Robert Milbourne, Alex Cull and Ernest van Buuren are recommended.

Allen & Overy LLP has secured a number of M&A and financing mandates in this space from Equinox Minerals, and from Lanco Infratech, which it is advising on the acquisition of coal mines from Griffin Coal. Geoff Simpson and the ‘very responsive and knowledgeable’ Barry Irwin are recommended. Oil and gas specialist Angus Jones joined from Allens Arthur Robinson.

The integration of Chang, Pistilli & Simmons and Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe provided Clifford Chance Australia with an immediate presence in Sydney and Perth. Recent significant transactions for Mark Pistilli and Jason Mendens included the A$130m Mosaic/AGL takeover and APA Group’s A$46m acquisition of a further interest in the South East Australian Gas Pipeline (SEAGas). Michael Lishman is also recommended.

DLA Piper Australia’s mining sector expertise earned it an instruction to advise Crosslands Resources on approvals for the A$3bn Jack Hills iron ore mine expansion. The team is also advising the Australia Premium Iron joint venture on management of the $5bn West Pilbara iron ore project. Damian McNair is ‘strategic in his advice’, and Robert Edel has a ‘very solid understanding of the Western Australian market’; also, David Nancarrow’s ‘previous experience as a civil engineer brings significant benefit’; special counsel Bruce Linke ‘brings with him significant engineering construction expertise’; and Stephen Webb is also recommended.

Kelly & Co has a strong local client base in Adelaide that includes Adelaide Resources, and also acts for clients nationally. It acted for Santos on a range of procurement projects for its operations in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria with an aggregate value of A$1bn. Andrew Corletto is ‘accessible, well reasoned and highly knowledgeable’.

With a particular focus in the energy and resource space, Chambers & Company advises Chinese state-owned enterprises on their Australian projects. Recent highlights include advising on the documentation for the five-year extension of the Channar joint venture between Sinostell and Rio Tinto. The team also acted for Wuhan Iron and Steel Group on its A$250m iron ore joint venture with Centrex Metals in South Australia. Robin Chambers heads the group.

Piper Alderman represented Eastern Star Gas in successfully obtaining access rights to government-controlled lands from the Forestry Commission of NSW, and acted as key legal adviser to Wave Rider Energy on its wave energy generation project. Gordon Grieve heads the team.