Project Finance
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9230 4000About
Provided by Allens
Allens has a construction and infrastructure group with unparalleled expertise, experience and resources. Industry leaders seek our expertise to guide them through the latest forms of project delivery and to represent them in the most complex disputes.
As well as legal and technical excellence, the Allens team understands the construction and engineering industry and the people in it. Our track record in working on some of the region’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects means that we appreciate and can anticipate parties’ objectives and requirements and deliver value-for-money outcomes.
We make it our business to know the political and environmental framework affecting our clients – to deliver accurate, innovative, commercial and cost-effective legal services. Importantly, we adopt a team approach, working collaboratively with other advisers and our clients’ in-house legal teams to ensure that each project is a success.
Governments, private owners, financiers, sponsors, contractors, suppliers, consultants and insurers have all sought our expertise in relation to some of the region’s largest construction and infrastructure projects and most complex disputes.
Allens lawyers appreciate the unique aspects of each transaction. We carefully balance legal requirements with a pragmatic approach and devise creative solutions that add real value to transactions.
Chambers Review
Allens is highly regarded for its adroit handling of major road, rail and air transportation projects together with an established track record in the resources arena. It has an outstanding reputation in respect of all aspects of project financing and PPPs and counts major public entities and corporate and banking groups among its clients. Allens handles downstream construction mandates, acting for government corporations as well as contractors, and is active on both contentious and transactional matters.
Work Highlights
- Allens advised both Stockland as part of a Consortium with community housing providers on their bid to the NSW Government to redevelop Waterloo Estate, a 19-hectare public housing precinct located in inner-Sydney.
- Allens advised both the PPP lenders and hotel lender for the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre PPP project.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Allens is a leader in its field and has the best Project Finance banking lawyers in Australia. They are highly knowledgeable, dependable, reliable and very importantly, patient and understanding."
"Allens has exceptional legal knowledge, project management skills, commercial advice and excellent interpersonal skills. It also truly understands the client."
"Allens is a leader in its field and has the best Project Finance banking lawyers in Australia. They are highly knowledgeable, dependable, reliable and very importantly, patient and understanding."
"Allens has exceptional legal knowledge, project management skills, commercial advice and excellent interpersonal skills. It also truly understands the client."
Notable Practitioners
Phillip Cornwell remains a figure of great authority in the market, maintaining an active profile as a consultant in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He is based in Sydney and offers expertise based on his rich experience of advising on the financing of major infrastructure developments, not only in Australia, but also across the Asia-Pacific region.
Leighton O'Brien is based in Sydney and is known for his assured handling of landmark road construction and other infrastructure projects, advising not only on their procurement and delivery aspects, but also on the disputes which may arise from them.
"Leighton is an exceptional lawyer and leader. He is a trusted advisor who is always on hand to assist our business."
"The fact that Leighton's practice covers both front- and back-end work, coupled with his considerable experience and strong industry and government connections, make him a valuable partner."
Michael Ryan is based in Melbourne, where he heads Allens' project finance practice. He stands out for his expertise in PPP financing and refinancing matters.
"Michael is an outstanding lawyer. He has huge knowledge of the market."
David Donnelly is a highly versatile, Melbourne-based practitioner who advises on procurement, operational and delivery issues across such key sectors as public transport, healthcare and energy.
"David is an integral part of our business. He understands our commercial drivers, consistently protects our risk position and provides invaluable strategic advice."
Nicholas Adkins is a Sydney-based practitioner offering experience, acquired on a national basis, of a comprehensive range of financing transactions across a comparably broad spectrum of social, economic, digital and energy, and resources infrastructure projects.
Rob Watt is based in Sydney and maintains a diverse financing practice in the energy sector, advising on such matters as LNG and waste-to-energy projects. His wide-ranging experience covers transactions in Europe, the Middle East and the US, as well as in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Scott McCoy devotes much of his practice to advising lenders, borrowers and sponsors on the debt financing aspects of PPPs and other infrastructure projects, offering particularly focused expertise where renewable and new energy projects are concerned.
"Scott's valuable insights, complex problem-solving skills, pragmatic approach, and his friendly and patient style make him the go-to lawyer on all PF infrastructure transactions."
"Scott is fantastic to work with. His ability to be clear, concise and creative when it is called for, makes him a truly valued part of any process."
Kip Fitzsimon is head of the Infrastructure and Transport Sector team at the firm. Specialising in major projects and construction, she advises developers, sponsors and government entities in sectors like infrastructure, property and resources on various aspects of developments.
"Kip is an extremely capable and versatile operator. She has a calm and engaging manner, with fantastic technical capability and market knowledge."
Nick Rudge focuses on design and construction matters in the infrastructure sphere, often handling complex dispute resolution mandates in the field.
"Nick provides strong black-letter advice and commercially framed, pragmatic guidance. He takes exceptional ownership of his matters and is highly responsive and attuned to the needs of his clients."