Department profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Environment & Planning

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Australia

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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

The firm’s EP&C team remains a highly regarded and influential practice. The team works with public and private sector clients to deliver the most significant energy and resources, mining infrastructure and urban development projects in Australia. We have a proven record of providing innovative and commercially astute solutions across a range of industries for major issues arising in the environment and planning field. Committed to innovation, we continue to develop new product offerings, pricing models, and methods of delivering legal advice.

The team is led by four of the best, technically excellent practitioners in Australia and maintains an incredibly busy practice that supports more than 25 lawyers. In addition, the team draw on the resources of the broader firm, including disputes, to provide additional support on investigations, litigation and transactions.

We help our clients respond to, and influence, the fast-evolving regulatory landscape on environment, climate, energy transition and ESG issues, including acting in litigation and advising clients on market disclosures and steps to operationalise decisions. We provide strategic environment and planning advice for Australia’s largest corporate real estate and M&A transactions.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Environment & Planning - Australia

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer team is noted for its national reach and integration of strategic advice from all relevant practice areas to address environmental and planning issues arising throughout the life-cycles of the largest and most complex projects. The law firm is well known for its comprehensive land access and approvals service, supporting both public and private sector projects. The team possesses specialised expertise with regard to environmental impact assessments of mining projects and the specific regulatory considerations affecting developments in the renewables sector. The firm leverages a market-leading dispute resolution practice to assist clients with contentious planning and environmental mandates.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer advised ENGIE on planning approvals and related litigation for a proposed 372MW Hills of Gold Wind Farm in NSW.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer are distinguished by their strong knowledge and experience in environmental regulation, especially in federal law.

    Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific

  • The team at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer are able to distil complex concepts into actionable recommendations and provide excellent customer service.

    Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Peter Briggs
    Peter Briggs

    Peter Briggs

    Peter Briggs is based in Sydney and regularly assists clients with environmental and planning issues relating to energy projects and other major developments, handling both advisory and contentious mandates.

    • Peter is an excellent partner to work with. He is an expert in his field and very solution-driven.

      Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Kathryn Pacey
    Kathryn Pacey

    Kathryn Pacey

    Kathryn Pacey is well regarded in Brisbane for her work acting for major infrastructure players on all environment and planning aspects of major projects, as well as for assisting clients with environmental issues arising from M&A transactions.

    • Kathryn Pacey provides a great level of service.

      Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Kathryn is always reliable and a go-to lawyer for complex environmental regulatory matters.

      Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Heidi Asten
    Heidi Asten

    Heidi Asten

    Heidi Asten is based in Melbourne and regularly advises clients on environment and planning issues relating to major property developments and transport projects.

    • Heidi's strengths include her fantastic depth of industry and legal knowledge, supplemented with excellent commercial acumen.

      Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Melanie Debenham
    Melanie Debenham

    Melanie Debenham

    Melanie Debenham leads the environment, planning and communities team at the Perth office of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. She is well regarded for her expertise in the areas of mining, carbon farming and energy.

    • Melanie Debenham is incredibly knowledgeable and a fantastic communicator.

      Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Melanie is fantastic. She is efficient, very responsive and a pleasure to work with.

      Environment & Planning respondentAsia-Pacific
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Ranked Individuals at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP (4)

Australia

Members

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

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