Freehills is often regarded as having the leading power practice in Australia. Freehills' depth of expertise in this area of law was recognised and rewarded with the Energy & Resources Firm of the Year award at the 2006 Australian Law Awards. In addition, Freehills won awards in another five categories, including the 2006 Australian Law Firm of the Year.
We have consistently received the highest possible ranking in relation to energy work by industry benchmarks including Chambers Global Guide and Asia Pacific Legal 500:
- Freehills 'remains acknowledged as a national force in energy, possessing a good, deep practice from East to West' (Chambers Global Guide 2002-03)
- Freehills' energy and resources practice has more partners recognised as 'leading individuals' than any other Australian law firm in the 2003-04 edition of Asia Pacific Legal 500.
Our track record includes acting on many of Australia's landmark energy transactions including the recent acquisition of the Loy Yang A power station, Island Power (Singapore's first independent foreign-owned power station), the Milmerran Power project and the Basslink transmission line between Victoria and Tasmania.
We have unparalleled experience in relation to advising on the legal and regulatory frameworks for electricity throughout Australia, and we have exported our expertise gained in Australia to reform markets in Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.
We have particular experience in the following areas:
- utility reform, including wholesale market design and development, disaggregation, corporatisation and privatisation
- advising on large scale acquisitions and disposals in the energy sector
- advising on general risk allocation in the power sector, in particular advising both government and independent power producers in relation to power projects, preparing power purchase agreements, fuel supply agreements, construction contracts, inter-creditor and financial documents
- advising on and acting for governments and private bidders in respect of BOOT, BOO, BOT and DBO power and infrastructure projects
- conducting and delivering successful outcomes from large scale, complex litigation and arbitrations.
We provide a comprehensive range of commercially-focused, timely legal solutions for the power sector, including:
- project management
- project finance for power and gas projects
- energy reform and restructuring
- privatisation advice
- risk exposure and risk management.