Herbert Smith Freehills, Construction, Infrastructure & Project Finance

About

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills are recognised as a market leader in major construction and infrastructure projects, the financing of those projects and related disputes.

Our team provides end-to-end project support covering the full asset lifecycle for our clients. The team consists of our:

Projects, Energy, and Infrastructure Practice which combines experts from our leading Project Development, Project Finance, Corporate/M&A and Environment, Planning and Communities teams.
Project Finance team which is acknowledged as a dominant practice in the market across renewable energy, battery storage, social and economic infrastructure, and other growing sectors.
Construction and Infrastructure Disputes Practice which effectively handles complex, high value construction and infrastructure disputes.

Together, the team are trusted strategic advisors to clients on high value, high stakes projects in all sectors.

Our team are at the forefront of market trends including sustainable finance, new project delivery and procurement models, social and affordable housing, resilient infrastructure and data centres, and the need for alternative, flexible dispute resolution processes as a result of ongoing inflationary pressures.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Construction - Australia

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Herbert Smith Freehills has a highly regarded team that handles projects in the transportation, energy and social infrastructure arenas and offers significant experience in respect of all aspects of projects, including financing. It handles front-end and contentious construction matters, fielding expertise in the tendering process, procurement, design, construction and subcontracting matters. The firm advises borrowers, lenders and sponsors on the financing of a variety of infrastructure projects, including road, rail and energy projects. Its clients include large contractors, major banks, government bodies and other industry participants.

View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills advised Energy Corporation of New South Wales on four New South Wales Renewable Energy Zones.
Herbert Smith Freehills advised Canberra Metro and its equity investors in relation to Stage 2A of the ACT Capital Metro PPP project, specifically structuring of the augmentation with Stage 1 and all aspects of the concurrent refinancing of Stage 1 of the Project.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

HSF has a very good understanding of the market and the right balance in protecting its client's position whilst negotiating the appropriate commercial outcome within competitive bid processes.

Construction respondent
Asia-Pacific

The HSF team is strong in technical skill but also is commercially-minded and solution-focussed, but always with an understanding of our company's objectives and approach to transactions.

Construction respondent
Asia-Pacific

HSF has a very good understanding of the market and the right balance in protecting its client's position whilst negotiating the appropriate commercial outcome within competitive bid processes.

Construction respondent
Asia-Pacific

The HSF team is strong in technical skill but also is commercially-minded and solution-focussed, but always with an understanding of our company's objectives and approach to transactions.

Construction respondent
Asia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Erin Wakelin

Band 2

Erin Wakelin is based in Sydney and frequently advises on the finance aspects of projects concerning significant public transport and social infrastructure developments.

Erin's experience across the sector on other major transactions is often useful for us in understanding how the market is dealing with current issues or trends that affect us all.

View Profile

Gerard Pike

Band 3

Gerard Pike assists financiers, lenders and bidders on finance matters, often acting on those pertaining to renewable energy projects. He is based in Melbourne.

View Profile

Andrew Griffiths

Band 4

Andrew Griffiths manages a large share of the firm's project assignments from the Sydney office, regularly assisting both contractors and public authorities with regard to projects in the transport space.

Andrew's knowledge and experience in all major transactions in our sector make him a valued advisor to us.

View Profile