Thomsons

Corporate and Advisory

Partner

Nicholas acts for international and domestic companies and investment funds throughout their Australian investments. His clients span energy and resources companies, global multi-strategy funds and Japanese and other government agencies.

Nicholas advises on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, energy and resources transactions, foreign investment clearances, farm-ins and farm-outs, joint ventures, project development, shareholder activism, special situations and restructurings. He has particular depth in oil and gas restructurings and decommissioning matters, distressed energy mergers and acquisition and cross-border inbound investment into Australia. He has co-edited the leading text on decommissioning law and writes and speaks extensively on energy matters.

Nicholas spent over seven years at a leading US firm in London and has advised clients across Australia, South East Asia, MENA, North and South America, the United Kingdom, Europe and former CIS states. He holds a Master of Laws (Energy and Clean-tech) from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from the University of Melbourne. Nicholas also sits on the Clean Energy Transition Advisory Committee of the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee.

Nicholas led the acquisition by Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation (JOIN) of an interest in the Rozelle Village apartment development in Sydney, JOIN's first investment in the Australian market, involving a joint venture with Mitsubishi Estate, Toho Gas and Meitetsu City Design and FIRB clearance. His special situations experience includes over 12 major oil and gas matters  across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He has also been seconded as interim general counsel of FTSE 250 African downstream company Vivo Energy plc.

Australia-Japan Business Co-operation Committee — Clean Energy Transition Advisory Committee Member Association of International Energy Negotiators — Alternate Regional Director and Australian Committee Member Energy and Resources Law Association The City of London Solicitors' Company — Liveryman