Chris Redden, David Mason, Gaelan Cooney, and Chris Skordas lead Ashurst’s project finance team. The group advises large renewable energy sector clients and demonstrates a wider prominence in the project development and project financing of emerging sectors in Australia, with the group working on innovative and unique project financings across the region, particularly in the battery space. Skordas, emblematic of the group more widely, advised on some of the largest and most complex project financings in the Australian market in 2022, in both the energy and infrastructure sectors. Associate Kate Latta assists clients including borrowers, sponsors, financial institutions and equity and infrastructure funds. Douglas Fung is key for energy-related project financing matters.

Allens handles the full spectrum of matters concerning infrastructure projects and project financings, with the team being praised by clients for its ‘strong’ experience in handling refinancing and restructuring mandates for large transport companies. Practice head Michael Ryan has vast experience in advising on the financing of significant infrastructure and power projects in Australia. Scott McCoy is ‘well regarded’ for his expansive expertise in acting for lenders, borrowers and sponsors. 'Acknowledged leader‘ Rob Watt and Nick Adkins are key names of note within the team, having deep knowledge of project finance transactions.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth‘s growing project finance practice, which spans Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, ‘has deep capability across levels and continues to provide access to partners and senior associates as required.’ One key name is Clare Corke in Brisbane, who is described by one client as ‘a very astute lawyer who delivers a good legal service.’ Adam Stapledon, who joined the group from A&O Shearman in July 2022, heads up the team, along with James Abbott, who has experience on a wide range of project financings across the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors, including high-value debt financing. Other key elements of the practice are bankable structures mandates and diversified funding sources. Paul Brickley is a key name for government infrastructure projects. Special counsel Julie Myers, also in Brisbane, has a strong grasp of matters relating to bilateral and syndicated facilities.

John Schembri in Sydney and Alexander Danne in Melbourne lead Gilbert + Tobin‘s project finance team. The group acts for a diverse client base and handles work across a variety of sectors, including  healthcare, energy, and transport. Simon Lynch brings a wealth of expertise in banking and finance to the team, in addition to his deep knowledge of matters relating to corporate facilities. Peter Doyle is an expert in infrastructure finance, having assisted with the growth of the firm’s infrastructure practice, which ties in closely with its project finance work.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP houses an experienced team which exhibits broad expertise spanning project finance, corporate energy, and infrastructure-related issues. The group acts for a varied client roster of governments, sponsors, operators, banks and investors. Toby Anderson, Erin Wakelin, Geoff Hansen jointly lead the team, with Hansen being a disputes expert, acting in a number of sensitive disputes concerning infrastructure projects. Anderson is known for his broad experience in construction and equipment supply contracts, while Wakelin focuses on public-private partnerships and infrastructure financing issues.

At King & Wood Mallesons, managing partner Claire Rogers heads the practice, which often handles large financing transactions and is strong in both the public and private sector. The group is able to assist clients with large scale PPP projects, demonstrated through its involvement in the Sydney Metro WSA PPP project, one of the major infrastructure projects in the country. Other highlights include ESG-driven financing, a growing area of focus for the practice. Jo Crew, who joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in June 2022, is a standout member of the team, with know-how in advising both sponsors and financiers. Elsewhere in the practice, Jeff Clark has over three decades of financing experience, Tim Ma is a key name for infrastructure financing, and Rebecca Finkelstein and Amy Maguire are also experienced in a range of financing matters for both sponsors and lenders.

The team at White & Case advises on numerous large projects in Asia and Australia, including construction and infrastructure projects, as well as major energy projects. The group exhibits deep expertise in land access and secondary market sales in relation to both greenfield and brownfield projects. Brendan Quinn, Joel Rennie, and Ged Cochrane jointly lead the team with Quinn having vast experience in advising on the financing of offshore wind farms, Rennie acting for a number of renewable energy companies in refinancing matters, and Chochrane having deep knowledge of acquisition finance and revenue contract related issues.

Alexander Schlosser, who is head of the firm’s banking and financial services group, leads Clayton Utz‘s project finance team and is well supported by fellow banking and finance expert Kate Casellas, who ‘has an ability to understand complex issues and propose a better outcome for the client‘. The group is regularly engaged in high-value renewables transactions as well as some first-of-their kind financings. More generally, the team has a depth of knowledge of international project financing, and special counsel Tim Stanton, who joined from King & Wood Mallesons in March 2023, only adds to this.

Nadia Kalic, Chad Bochan and Richard Gordon are the trio at the helm of Clifford Chance and work out of the firm’s Sydney office. The group leverages its energy and infrastructure transactional expertise in the Asia Pacific group, and regularly lead transactions in Asia Pacific out of Australia, utilising resources and offices in both Australia and the wider region. Senior associate Dale Straughen, also located in Sydney, is well placed to assist clients with renewable energy matters given his experience in this area. Although the practice is multi-disciplinary, particular sector strengths include banking and finance, energy and resources, and M&A.

Among the strong client base at Norton Rose Fulbright are domestic and international banks as well as global energy companies. The group has an ever-increasing presence in the market, and Kate Muller joined from DLA Piper in August 2022, bolstering the group’s ability to help both financiers and sponsors with energy and infrastructure projects. Syndey-based Lisa Koch runs the team and is well supported by senior associate Justin Goushas. Standout recent mandates for the team are high-value infrastructure and PPP projects, and Rob White is often called upon by clients for these matters.

Baker McKenzie stands out for its construction projects expertise and has a history of advising clients on many significant Australian projects. Leigh Duthie is a key name to note for this and leads the team alongside Sean Duffy, who is an infrastructure expert, and Charlie Detmold, who takes the lead on pure project finance mandates. Amongst the practices varied client roster are sponsors, contractors, commercial banks, funds, ECAs and DFIs. When it comes to front-end construction expertise within the team, Matt Coleman is the standout figure. The group also continues to work on cross-border M&A infrastructure transactions.

Minter Ellison provides clients such as borrowers, financiers, and government departments with an end-to-end, integrated construction, infrastructure and project finance offering. Practice co-heads James Mok and Jordan Phillips are instrumental in this capability. Peter Block is the go-to lawyer for complex infrastructure projects, while Ros O’Mally departed from the firm in October 2022. Elsewhere, Paul Paxton is well known for his PPP project work.