The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Australia > Natural resources (transactions and regulatory)

Allens is highlighted for being able to provide a 'well-led and knowledgeable team' in both mining and energy mandates. Richard Malcolmson in Sydney and the 'intellectually strong' Igor Bogdanich in Melbourne head the practice - the latter is spotlighted for his handling of high-value work. The practice has a most enviable client list that includes Rio Tinto, Glencore, BHP Billiton, and Woodside and is also noted for its ability to deliver on all aspects of transactions across Asia and elsewhere including Africa. Gerard Woods , Tracey Greenaway and Mark McAleer are some of the leading lawyers within a substantial team.

Ashurst, which 'does a great job in this area', attracts some of the largest, most critical transactions and disputes. It can provide end-to-end assistance to its mining clients, including explorers, producers and investors. The 'technically astute' team is led by Lorenzo Pacitti in Perth with Richard Guit, Michael Harrison and Murray Wheater being some of the senior advisors. A strong cohort of more junior lawyers includes the recommended senior associate Christopher Barry. Advising on both domestic and global transactions, the team covers initial capital raisings, debt finance, corporate/M&A through to rehabilitation work and dispute resolution.

The team at Herbert Smith Freehills is highlighted for the depth and scope of its expertise and counts the likes of Rio Tinto, Iluka Resources and Marubeni Coal among its client roster. It assists its clients on complex corporate and M&A transactions, financing and investments as well as disputes. Practice head Jay Leary is called upon for the most strategically important transactions and he is the global relationship partner for clients such as South32. Ian Williams in Brisbane counts Japanese corporates among his clients and 'the calm and considered' Adam Strauss advises on a range of investments, acquisitions and restructures and counts Yancoal among his clients. The team is also notable for providing a full service, for example on ECM matters (Philippa Stone) and native title and environment (William Oxby).

Craig Rogers in Brisbane heads the projects, infrastructure, energy and resources sector work and in Perth Robert Edel is head of mining at King & Wood Mallesons. The team, which includes Scott Langford in Melbourne and Alan Murray in Perth, handles large-scale corporate transactions both regionally and further afield. It delivers deals for the likes of Glencore and Goldcorp Inc from projects structuring and financing to off-takes and shipping-related agreements. Its work ranges from advising on the acquisition of quarrying assets in the Pilbara to advising on a gold mining project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Geoff Simpson is the well-regarded global head of mining and is the managing partner of Allen & Overy's Perth office. The practice is best known for its handling of global transactions in conjunction with its world-wide network of offices in addition to its Australia-based work. The team provides a full range of corporate and commercial skills together with the financing side of acquisitions and other fund raisings. Meredith Campion is highly experienced on sector-specific corporate and capital raisings and Peter Wilkes specialises in financing, including debt and offshore capital raisings. A number of the corporate practitioners specialise in the resources or energy sectors including Adam Stapledon and Goran Galic.

From its offices across Australia, Clayton Utz has the weight to deliver many of the most substantial resources projects, especially in the coal sector, but also in the areas of minerals and rare earths. It serves a range of key players on corporate and regulatory matters in addition to disputes. As an independent firm, it also attracts a range of offshore operators and investors from countries such as Japan and China. Stuart MacGregor in Brisbane heads the practice and Brett Cohen in Perth and Mark Geritz in Brisbane are two of the senior, key lawyers. The well-rated, newly made-up partner Samy Mansour advises on investments, sales, joint ventures and other corporate matters in both the natural resources and energy industries. Liz Humphry is also noted for her work with international mining companies.

Christopher Flynn in Sydney and Michael Blakiston in Perth head the Gilbert + Tobin resources and energy practice group. Blakiston has huge experience in the mining/resources area and fellow partners Justin Little, Phil Edmands and Claire Boyd in Perth offer a wealth of expertise in areas including acquisitions, investments, regulatory regimes and financings. They advise domestic and international clients regarding exploration, developments, mining and mine closures and remediation matters. The team is also active in the growing area of battery minerals and the demand for lithium.

MinterEllison is recognised for its adept handling of joint ventures and other corporate arrangements across minerals and commodities including lithium. It is also noted for its long-standing experience in the coal industries in Queensland and New South Wales, serving clients that include Federal and State entities in addition to major corporates. The 'outstanding' Simon Scott acts for an impressive roster of international resource companies on a range of acquisitions, divestments and other agreements and is also consulted on policy issues. Other key team members include Andrew Corletto, Adam Handley and Tim Hanmore, the latter joined the team from McCullough Robertson. Jordan Phillips is one of a number of more junior partners who is also highly recommended.