The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Australia > Project development

Ashurst is well known for its ability to deliver on the largest, iconic transport and other infrastructure projects and providing 'top quality technical skills with commercial practicality'. In addition to road and rail projects such as the Sydney Light Rail development, it also handles telecoms, resources/energy and university projects. Lee McDonald and Angus Foley head the team, Foley is in demand for his project management and finance skills; he is leading a team advising Sydney Motorway Corporation and Roads & Maritime Services on Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the A$15bn WestConnex Motorway Project. Grant Rowlands is advising the City of Melbourne on the construction and procurement arrangements for the city's historic Queen Victoria Market redevelopment and Alex Guy is a key advisor to Transport for NSW. Richard Guit, Harvey Weaver and the 'standout' Olivia Lau are other highly regarded partners. Providing 'highest level advice and intellectual input' junior partner Krista Payne is part of the teams on a number of large transport projects and Andrew Gay is noted for providing the real estate and native title assistance required on such projects.

With a long-established government client roster, the 'innovative' Clayton Utz  group handles many of the most significant road and rail infrastructure projects. Its work involves private infrastructure developers in PPPs and publicly funded projects. Sergio Capelli, Stuart MacGregor (energy and resources-related projects) and Bruce Cooper (finance) are the group leaders who count Transport for NSW, the Queensland Government, Australian Rail Track Corporation and VicRoads among their clients, in addition to major resources/energy clients. Capelli is highlighted for 'delivering seminal projects in NSW', other key advisors include John Shirbin, Alan Maguire and Steven Murray, the latter handles major transport projects for both state and private sector clients. Joanna Pugsley's breadth of experience is noted including in relation to social infrastructure projects.

Mark Upfold heads the team at King & Wood Mallesons that attracts corporate, finance and projects mandates relating to road and rail developments and projects in the resources/energy markets as well as social infrastructure. Upfold advises on transactions and financing; he is acting for Qube Holdings in negotiating the terms regarding the development and operation of the Moorebank Intermodal project in New South Wales. Chris Mitchell is a key advisor offering decades of experience in infrastructure projects, PPPs and residential developments. Craig Rogers specialises in the development of energy and resources projects and project financing;  Hamish Macpherson has joined from  White & Case LLP and Peter Doyle departed in mid 2019 for Gilbert + Tobin.

Led by Peter Wood and Virginia Briggs, Minter Ellison has 'depth across the nation' in providing a comprehensive range of specialisms in respect of projects with infrastructure, construction and property/planning sitting as an integrated team. Wood has a track record especially for dealing with construction/infrastructure disputes and arbitrations. The 'legendary' Stewart Nankervis is well known for his expertise on road and schools PPPs as are Pamela Jack and Ellizabeth McKechnie. The team has been involved in billion dollar projects such as acting for TfNSW on the new intercity fleet project.  Nicole Green and Jonathan Williams are also noted for their work on infrastructure and PPP matters. Owen Cooper is highlighted for 'managing a great team of upcoming and experienced senior associates and associates'.

At Allens, Emma Warren leads the projects and development practice and David Donnelly heads infrastructure and transport. An expansive team can deliver projects from the development and financing stages through to completion and any resulting disputes in the transport, energy and resources sectors. Warren is highly experienced in advising on major projects such as the Sydney (north-west) Metro project and Donnelly has advised on a substantial number of PPPs in the social and transport infrastructure sectors in addition to projects in energy. Nicholas Ng in Brisbane and Mark McAleer in Perth handle areas such as procurement and delivery of major infrastructure mandates in the transport and energy sectors.

Herbert Smith Freehills is home to 'respected industry leaders' who undertake infrastructure projects in the road, rail, mining and energy sectors and includes PPP and social infrastructure specialists within the practice. Toby Anderson who heads the Asia-Pacific projects practice, advises both Australian and off-shore clients, especially on large-scale power/renewables and gas projects. Geoff Hansen is a senior member of the construction and infrastructure disputes group and David Ryan is the sector lead on infrastructure and transport – he led the team advising the CIMIC Group-led  consortium on its bid to acquire a 51% interest in the WestConnex motorway. The practice's offering is rounded off with construction expertise and the top-flight project finance team headed by Erin Wakelin.

Allen & Overy LLP is in high demand for its notable project finance skills, especially in the energy sector, which is combined with a project development aspect and its cross-border reach. The practice is headed by Adam Stapledon  and Peter Wilkes who have broad funding expertise. David Christensen is also well rated for acting for sponsors and lenders on the financing of international and domestic infrastructure and energy. Simon Huxley, who joined from DLA Piper in mid-2018, adds valued project development expertise; he was part of the team advising Fluence Energy on its participation in a project for the supply and installation of a large grid connected battery system in Victoria.

Based in Melbourne, Luke Westmore and Zac Kerr head a compact practice at K&L Gates that assists clients with projects in the road, rail, port, social infrastructure and energy areas - especially renewables. Seasoned practitioner Simon Ashworth who joined the team from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, brings impressive expertise  in these sectors including PPP experience.