Energy transition and decarbonisation projects

• Appeals and originating applications in the Planning and Environment Court.
• Advising and having carriage of proceedings for ESCO Pacific in the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland to successfully overturn a project refusal and enable development of a solar farm on good quality agricultural land, which was the first proceeding of its type in Australia.
• Acted for Lightsource bp in relation to various solar farm acquisitions and project approval requirements.
• Acted for Origin Energy in relation to various solar farm acquisitions and project approval requirements.
• Advising project financiers in relation to a pilot carbon capture and storage project in Queensland, Australia.
• Advising and acting for RATCH-Australia Corporation Limited in relation to the development, operation and compliance issues associated with various existing and proposed wind farm projects in Queensland, Australia.
• Advising Orora Limited in relation to environmental and carbon risk issues associated with its AUD$2.2 billion acquisition of Saverglass SAS, including in relation to assets located in France, Belgium, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
• Providing strategic advice to Sev.en Global Investments in relation to Australian environmental, approval and rehabilitation issues associated with its 51% stake acquisition of Coronado Global Resources.
• Providing strategic advice and assisting the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation in relation to the Land Restoration Fund, which promotes and supports carbon farming initiatives across Queensland.
• Acting for 7-Eleven International in relation to planning, contamination and environmental compliance issues associated with its AUD$1.7 billion acquisition of 7-Eleven Australia.
• Variously acting for Neoen Australia, Athena Energy Australia, ACE Power Development, Oxley Solar Development, Osaka Gas Energy Oceania, CS Energy and CleanCo about various renewable energy projects involving solar, battery, wind and pumped hydro opportunities across Australia.

Major projects, planning and environment

• Advised and having carriage for planning and approval matters for Dexus in relation to the AUD 2.5 billion Waterfront Brisbane redevelopment of Eagle Street Pier, including successfully defeating a third-party legal challenge to project approvals and negotiating associated infrastructure agreements.
• Advising and having carriage of proceedings for Telstra in the Planning Environment Court of Queensland, in respect of contested planning appeals as well as the interpretation and application of statutory development powers and immunities.
• Leading the environmental legal review and advice team in Queensland Motorway Limited’s AUD 7.05 billion sale of tolled tunnel, bridge and motorway assets.
• Advising Gladstone Ports Corporation about environmental approval requirements, strategy and processes for existing and future projects and strategic port planning issues, reviewing and providing strategic direction in the preparation of new port land use plans, environmental compliance, contamination risks and priority port planning issues.
• Advising the State of Queensland about town planning and environmental issues and delivery requirements associated with various projects, including: integrated agricultural projects, expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport, the Cairns Shipping Port development, expansion of the port at Abbot Point, priority development areas across Queensland and liquefied natural gas field development projects.
• Advising Economic Development Queensland in the delivery of various priority development areas, including: negotiating and drafting agreements for the provision of infrastructure, managing third-party developer and State department requirements, and managing Supreme Court proceedings.
• Acting for Stockland in Planning and Environment Court proceedings in relation to various shopping centre developments.
• Advising Brisbane Airport Corporation in relation to the requirements for and securing environmental approvals for the development of the New Parallel Runway project at Brisbane Airport.
• Advising on contaminated law matters across various industry sectors and managing statutory and common law risks and exposure – including for the Department of Defence (Cth), the Queensland government, BHP, Rio Tinto and Canberra Airport.
• Advising BHP in relation to historical and future environmental liability and risk issues for existing and historical mining operations, as part of the acquisition of new assets and asset divestment.
• Advising Rio Tinto, Glencore, BHP and Pembroke Resources in relation to resource development opportunities, environmental constraints, approval and structuring options, assessment requirements and processes (on and off-lease).

Land acquisition

• Acting for Energex (now Energy Queensland) in its acquisition of various land interests for the development and delivery of electricity infrastructure.
• Advising Economic Development Queensland in relation to the delivery of various priority development areas, including in relation to the exercise of its land acquisition powers.
• Acting for the Department of State Development and having carriage of land acquisition matters arising from the delivery of priority infrastructure projects.
• Acting for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in relation to the acquisition of land for the development of the Cross River Rail Project.

ESG

• Advising private corporations on environmental licensing, compliance and enforcement.
• Advising private corporations on greenwashing issues and risks.