Law, Regulation, Commercial

Our experience includes:

• Advising global, European and Australian energy companies, including on their investments in renewable energy generation and battery storage in the National Electricity Market, as well as their compliance arrangements with regulators, including the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
• Advising the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) on energy market reforms in the National Electricity Market. 
• Performing Board-commissioned governance review for a $500m private energy company, to support its 5 year growth plan to its Initial Public Offering, as well as compliance interactions with three Commonwealth and State regulators, which have already led to successful client outcomes in respect of the Clean Energy Regulator.
• Supporting the Board of Zero Emissions Water (ZEW), a member organisation which is a company limited by guarantee that operates in the energy markets, on governance, strategic and operational issues that include ACCC compliance of a collaborative joint purchasing scheme of which ZEW is a part. 
• Leading the work of the relevant Victorian Government Department to prepare ZEW’s successful application to the ACCC for authorisation to participate in its collaborative purchasing scheme.  
• Conducting a major legal review for a global company to mitigate the competition law risks in respect of a proposed arrangement which potentially could restrict dealings or affect competition (including through cartel conduct), or could amount to exclusive dealing in the supply of goods/services.
• Supporting bp’s initiatives to decarbonise its energy market supply chains, with a focus on renewable energy, hydrogen production and renewable fuels, as well as ACCC regulatory compliance of its midstream business. 
• Reviewing Shell’s international sustainability partnerships with NGOs to reduce impacts of exploration and production activities, with a focus on Asia. 
• Undertaking a major independent review for a Commonwealth Government DFAT-funded agency of an international stewardship program involving multi-national corporations, which includes an environmental certification scheme. 
• Undertaking a major independent review for the administrator of an Australian Government-accredited product stewardship scheme, for the purposes of ACCC authorisation compliance, as well as organisational improvement, innovation and strategic opportunity.
• Independently assessing planning proposals and major projects by considering submissions, conducting hearings and preparing reports for Planning Panels Victoria.  
• Supporting a national review for a national regulator of the design and structure of a major new regulated market in Australia. 
• Advising Australian organisations on their net zero strategies across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
• Developing and implementing the Victorian government carbon emission reduction policy for water corporations, including offset schemes.
• Reviewing the water industry’s performance against its carbon emission reduction obligations, including offset schemes, then publishing the results in our annual report, What Goes Up. 
• Working with the peak industry membership organisation, the Victorian Water Industry Association, as well as its members, to review its Policy Platform, including circular economy. 
• Advising Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Public Works on urban water utility governance and regulation, to inform the Ministry’s urban water reform program. 
• Reviewing proposals by international fintech companies to enter Australian financial markets, then advising on regulatory compliance aspects of market strategies. 
• Developing innovative social finance structures and models for Health Futures Australia.
• Leading an independent review of gambling regulation within the Victorian Government, leading to significant reforms to gambling regulation, as well as the regulator. 
• Reviewing the national policies of South Asian countries after natural disasters, to optimise donor funding support through the United Nations. 
• Reviewing claims to the United Nations by countries and organisations to compensate for wartime damage to resources, environment and health.    
• Advising the Business Renewables Centre Australia and Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative.  
• Serving on the Boards of significant member organisations, including the Australian Conservation Foundation, Climate and Health Alliance and Victorian Healthcare Association.