Project Finance - Australia
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 PPPs, and 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, some noted examples being the NSW Government and Acciona Energy.
Strengths
"HSF have great industry knowledge, depth of commercial understanding and awareness of what is driving a transaction."
"They have a very skilled team that are very coordinated when presented with complex tasks."
Work highlights
HSF continued to act as OZ Minerals' strategic legal adviser across all aspects of the West Musgrave Project, including in connection with the processing plant and power package.
HSF advised Transport for NSW in relation to the procurement of work on the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program.
Notable practitioners
Erin Wakelin is based in Sydney and frequently advises on the finance aspects of projects concerning significant public transport and social infrastructure developments. "Erin is amazing. She is an incredible lawyer - practical, commercial and down-to-earth." "She is very efficient, and she has a great team around her."
Gerard Pike assists financiers, lenders and bidders on finance matters, often acting on those pertaining to renewable energy projects. He is based in Sydney. "Gerard Pike is very good at project finance." "He has solid corporate and project finance experience."
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 is excellent to work with. He communicates well at all levels and branches of a client organisation, and has a deep knowledge of the contract models within the construction sector."
Geoff Hansen acts across a range of back-end construction issues, mostly within the transport infrastructure space. He is based in Melbourne.
