The Legal 500

Herbert Smith Freehills remains the ‘benchmark by which other firms are measured’ and is led by Patrick St John. Peter Butler advised the Queensland Government on the A$2bn Sunshine Coast University Hospital PPP, and Jason Ricketts acted for Western Australia’s State Solicitor’s Office on an outsourcing project. David Templeman assisted the ShoreASCO Consortium on the Darwin Marine Supply Base project. Josh Sgro is ‘committed’, and Melanie Cave has ‘excellent communication skills’.

King & Wood Mallesons’ ‘impressive’ team leader Peter Doyle has a ‘deep understanding of his clients’ businesses’. Other recommended lawyers include John Naughton, Mark Upfold, and Neil Carabine; the latter advised Telstra on network shutdown and migration processes linked with the National Broadband Network (NBN). Nicholas Creed and Jeff Clark are ‘commercially focused’, and Renae Lattey is a ‘very good manager of junior lawyers’.

Allens’ Sydney-based team is ‘extremely capable’, and very active in LNG projects. Clients include Plenary Group and ABN AMRO, and Leighton O’brien advises the Australian Government and private financiers on rail and road developments, as well as health-related PPPs such as the Royal North Shore Hospital project. Emma Warren is also recommended.

Ashurst LLP’s ‘high quality team’ advises financiers, large corporations and public bodies. David Mason adopts a ‘strategic and innovative approach in project structuring’, and Chris Mitchell is also recommended. The group advised on the development of Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal.

Clayton Utz advises public sector bodies on major PPPs; for example, Doug Jones and the ‘proactive’ John Shirbin recently advised Transport for NSW on the North West Rail Link. Joanna Pugsley acted for South Australia’s Crown Solicitor’s Office on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital project. Marcus Davenport ‘resolves complex issues effectively’, while other recommended attorneys include Marko Misko and team head Steve O’Reilly. Anne Davis left for Holding Redlich in 2012.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth focuses on the domestic market and gives ‘timely, accurate and commercially attuned’ advice to clients including BrisConnections and Macquarie Capital. Peter Schenk ‘seamlessly manages the delivery of services across multiple practice areas’. Andrew Chew joined in 2011 from Baker & McKenzie; he is praised for ‘quickly turning around quality drafting and advice’.

Minter Ellison provides ‘exceptional’ guidance to both public and private sector clients in New South Wales. Key team members include Peter Block, who advised the Victoria Department of Health on the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. The ‘extremely competent’ Stewart Nankervis provides ‘straight to the point advice’, and Paul Paxton has ‘extensive experience in PPPs’.

The ‘thorough’ and ‘commercial’ team at Norton Rose Australia advises sponsors and banks on inbound investments in mining and resources projects. Highlights included acting for Gladstone Ports Corporation on a A$3bn project, and it also acts for AGL Energy. Vincent Dwyer heads the group, which includes the ‘outcome focused’ Grant Ahearn, and Chris Redden, who recently joined from the Hong Kong office.

Baker & McKenzie displays a ‘keen desire to complete projects rapidly without compromising quality’. Andrew Chew left for Corrs Chambers Westgarth in 2012, but the arrival of Roy Weitzman and Sean Rush helped restore the balance. David Ryan provides ‘practical advice in a clear and commercial manner’, and Christopher Saxon heads the team.

DLA Piper Australia provides ‘well-structured’ guidance, and is ‘very responsive’. Its Western Australia practice remains busy; Robert Edel and Damian McNair advised on the Oakajee Port and Rail project. Jane Hider and John Gallagher advised Victoria’s Department of Transport on the Regional Rail Link project.

Gilbert + Tobin’s group is ‘very commercial’, and works with the banking and finance department to advise financiers and sponsors. Emanuel Confos and Nick Grambas are advising AREVA on a solar thermal gas hybrid power plant project. John Schembri has ‘depth of knowledge’.

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘well-established project finance team’ is ‘excellent’ for LNG projects in Papua New Guinea. Highlights included advising INPEX and Total on the Ichthys LNG project. Chris Rushton and Angus Jones are recommended.

Gadens Lawyers advised InterOil on the development of an LNG project in Papua New Guinea, and assisted Serco with the Fiona Stanley Hospital project. Paul Brown and Scott Laycock are the names to note.

Holding Redlich has recruited a number of lawyers, including property specialist Chris Wille, and Anne Davis from Clayton Utz.

Maddocks represents numerous government agencies, and recently advised Transport For NSW on the Wynyard Walk project. McConnell Dowell is also a client. Greg Campbell heads the practice.

McCullough Robertson’s ‘responsive’ team is headed by Darren White, and advises contractors and state governments on energy, mining and resources projects. Michael Rochester recently advised NCIG on a coal loading facility; he and Brad McCosker are recommended.

Chambers & Company advises various Chinese investors on iron ore projects in Australia, and was instructed by WISCO to advise on its South Australian Port project. It also handles transport and energy matters. Robin Chambers leads the team.

Middletons advises government bodies, sponsors and lenders on PPPs. Jennifer Mee is recommended for wind farm developments, and Nathan Abbott for project litigation.

TressCox’s ‘highly skilled’ team provides ‘sound advice’ to clients such as SunWater. The ‘pragmatic’ Brian Ambler ‘works productively and co-operatively with government clients’.