Heading the Australia practice at climate and nature law, policy, and governance experts Pollination Law, Sarah Barker supports corporates, institutional investors, and government agencies in managing ESG risk, navigating climate exposure, and meeting emerging reporting and disclosure obligations.
As a core area of her practice, Barker assists listed and leading Australian energy and natural resources companies, corporates, and financial institutions in identifying sustainability risks and developing robust best practices which are aligned with climate and biodiversity standards.
In the policy arena, Barker acts as Australia’s representative on the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative, which works to promote directors’ duties and climate change, and sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Climate and Nature Governance. Also serving as a thought leader in the finance and investment space, Barker serves on the Policy Committee of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment and the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute’s Taxonomy Technical Expert Group.
Co-chairing the energy industry group at Ashurst, Dan Brown brings deep insights into the development and commercialisation of landmark green transition projects. Brown draws upon longstanding experience regarding power generation and infrastructure assets to advise clients at the forefront of clean energy technologies.
A key client is Cubico Sustainable Investments, whom Brown assisted regarding the development, operation, and joint venture agreements for the 254 MW Wambo 2 wind farm. Within the mandate, Brown advised on the sale of a 50% interest in the project, establishment of a joint venture, negotiation of a capacity purchase agreement, and on all EPC, O&M, connection, and land agreements.
Brown regularly lends his insights to support industry discussion on the green transition. Key to his engagement, Brown co-hosts the firm’s Nearing Net Zero podcast series, which hosts discussions into regulatory, legislative, and market developments across the decarbonisation space. Brown also co-authored the firm’s Powering Change report, which explored how senior executives and managers invest in the energy transition.
Boasting a breadth of knowledge across the sustainability and climate change space, Louise Camenzuli at Corrs Chambers Westgarth brings experience on environmental and ESG regulation, the climate and energy transition, and nature and biodiversity issues.
A key client is Transgrid, whom Camenzuli is assisting on planning, land, and environmental and social matters regarding the development of its VNI West and Humelink electricity infrastructure projects. By increasing electricity transfer capacity, the assets are key to the delivery of clean power across Australia.
As part of her role heading the firm’s climate change and sustainability workgroup, Camenzuli is a regular contributor to thought leadership on topics including environmental and biodiversity protection, offsetting and nature positivity, critical materials, and sustainable energy and infrastructure development. Camenzuli also leads presentations to clients on Australia’s climate-related financial disclosure regime and the scope and application of reporting obligations.
An expert in the energy and natural resources space, Goran Galic at A&O Shearman offers deep knowhow regarding transformative and first-of-a-kind energy transition projects. Bringing experience throughout the whole lifecycle of energy assets, Galic assists across regulatory issues, project development and commercialisation, and M&A.
Recent areas of focus include the carbon capture and storage space, where Galic advises on regulatory and contractual matters, and the green hydrogen sector, with Galic serving as an expert on development and commercial agreements.
A keen thought leader across the energy transition, Galic regularly sits on panels and roundtables to discuss topics including critical minerals supply chain challenges and the investment landscape surrounding carbon capture and storage projects. Galic also contributes to the firm’s thought leadership on sustainability regulation, transition planning, and biodiversity.
A responsible business and ESG expert at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Kate Gill-Herdman is a key contact regarding sustainability risk and compliance issues. As a core focus of her practice, Gill-Herdman brings expertise regarding climate disclosure regimes and greenwashing risks and investigations.
As a key pillar of her leadership in client work, Gill-Herdman heads the firm’s internal Climate-related Financial Disclosure taskforce, pulling together cross-practice expertise to deliver holistic legal advice, publications, roundtables, and seminars which help major corporates meet regulatory requirements.
Gill-Herdman is a highly sought-after thought leader on sustainability topics, co-authoring the Australian chapter in Globe Law and Business’ Global ESG Handbook, where she discussed key local sustainability themes. Gill-Herdman also brings her expertise in ESG matters to a range of industry organisations, serving as a member of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia and leading the firm’s membership in the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute.
A member of the global ESG board at Clifford Chance, Nadia Kalic contributes expertise in energy transition project development and M&A, acting for major clients on critical deals across a breadth of renewables assets.
In a key clean energy transaction, Kalic led the Australian team advising Brookfield on its contemplated €6.1bn acquisition of a majority stake in renewables developer Neoen. The deal supports the client, a leading renewable power and transition asset investor, in boosting the development of wind, solar, and storage projects across Australia.
Kalic is a notable thought leader on sustainability matters, leading the firm’s regular insight series exploring the future of the energy transition in the APAC region. Kalic has also authored focused briefings on topics including investment into carbon capture and storage technologies and the energy trilemma.
Utilising her experience in energy transactions to support the development, financing, and commercialisation of renewable power and storage assets, Kate Muller at Ashurst is a key contact in Australia’s energy transition.
Evidencing her leadership on energy transition matters, Muller is also a member of the Women in Sustainable Energy and Resources organisation.
Bringing longstanding experience on the decarbonisaiton of the built environment, Pollination Law’s Phoebe Roberts is a specialist in utilising commercial and corporate law solutions to support sustainability objectives.
For long-term client the City of Melbourne, Roberts assisted in drafting climate-aligned lease provisions for the city’s commercial buildings, supporting the client’s Retrofit Melbourne Framework and its long-term programme to support urban decarbonisation. The mandate helps empower commercial landlords and tenants to identify and implement provisions which improve the environmental performance of office spaces and mitigate a key contribution to urban emissions.
Further demonstrating her expertise on sustainability matters concerning the built environment, Roberts serves on the Property Council of Australia’s reference group on sustainability board exposure drafts. Roberts also acts as the co-convener of industry initiative Infrastructure Net Zero’s legal taskforce
Bringing projects expertise to her role as head of ESG at King & Wood Mallesons, Claire Rogers regularly acts for lenders and sponsors on the development and financing of large-scale and impactful energy transition assets.
For sustainable aviation company Jet Zero, Rogers is advising on all equity, land, construction, supply and offtake, and project financing aspects of the development of an AUD600m sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel project. The facility, which converts agricultural by-products into bioethanol-based green fuels, helps boost Queensland’s local industry while scaling-up the e-fuel market in Australia.
Rogers plays a key role in overseeing the firm’s sustainability insights, with topics including climate governance and reporting trends, nature positive reforms, and emerging ESG risks. Rogers also spearheads the firm’s ‘Navigating Net Zero APAC Climate Guide’ insight series, which takes deep dives into how clean energy, carbon markets, sustainable finance, and private sector activity are promoting the green transition across the region.
Elisa de Wit leads Norton Rose Fulbright’s climate change and sustainability practice and its global carbon markets practice, acting for leading corporates, large-scale emitters, and landholders on carbon projects, sustainability regulation, and climate litigation.
For key client BHP, de Wit advised on the negotiation of long-term commercial agreements to purchase Australian Carbon Credit Units. The mandate, which serves as the client’s first long-term carbon credit offtake agreement, allows BHP to support regeneration programmes in Western Australia. Further demonstrating her expertise in the carbon credit space, de Wit also assisted farmland manager Gunn Agri in the development of its $200m sustainable agriculture platform and the delivery of carbon credit units.
Helping create positive climate and community value, de Wit assisted the Kullilli Bulloo River Aboriginal Corporation in its carbon farming-backed acquisition of the Thargomindah Station. Through the mandate, de Wit helped the Kullilli return to and regenerate its traditional land.
As a sustainability thought leader, de Wit serves as a director of the Beyond Zero Emissions think tank.
Ying Fu at Linklaters combines a wealth of experience in project finance mandates with a close understanding of the region’s renewable energy and energy transition pathways. Acting for major internal sponsors, lenders, and investors, Fu is keenly sought-after for her experience on high-value onshore and offshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects.
For key client Ørsted, Fu advised on the equity divestment and stapled financing arrangements for the 589 MW Greater Changhua 4 offshore wind farm in Taiwan. The mandate serves as a landmark example of a direct equity investment by a Taiwanese life insurer in the offshore wind space and of an offshore wind financing being guaranteed by Taiwan’s National Credit Guarantee Association.
Regularly entrusted by leading industry and legal sector bodies to contribute her renewable energy-focused perspective, Fu serves on the steering committee of the Cambridge Forums APAC Forum on Private Capital and as part of the APLMA Energy and Infrastructure Finance Committee.
Offering support across M&A, investments, and capital markets transactions, Gabrielle Honey at Eversheds Sutherland demonstrates expertise on cross-border deals impacting green and sustainable technologies.
Alongside her particular expertise in the venture capital and private equity space, supporting capital raises and strategic investments, Honey is also well-versed in multi-jurisdictional ESG developments and assisted in the rollout of the firm’s SustainREG regulatory tracker. Honey also provided pro bono assistance to the Global Strategic Litigation Council, preparing case summaries for its Climate Mobility Case Database.
As chair of the firm’s internal Asia sustainability and ESG committee, Honey helps drive green initiatives and knowledge-sharing across regional offices. Through this role, Honey is active in coordinating internal sustainability campaigns, which aided the firm in achieving a gold rating for the Swire Pacific Green Performance Pledge.
Head of ESG regional development at Linklaters, Gilly Hutchinson is key in the development and sharing of sustainability best practice within the firm. Helping build legal knowledge concerning ESG corporate, antitrust, and litigation matters, Hutchinson delivers trainings on topics including ESG reporting and disclosures, transition plans, and greenwashing risk.
A further core area of expertise is the energy and climate transition, with Hutchinson bringing a wealth of experience regarding renewable energy project financings and green and sustainability-linked loans. An active thought leader in this space, Hutchinson is a member of ASIFMA’s Sustainable Finance Committee and the Hong Kong Green Finance Association, whom she has supported in webinars and trainings on topics including transition finance and ESG reporting developments.
Hutchinson also plays a key role within the firm’s sustainability leadership, authoring its insights on topics including Hong Kong’s sustainability disclosure standards regime and hosting its ESG leadership roundtable events for clients’ legal and compliance teams.
A leading compliance risk expert, Mini Menon vandePol at Baker McKenzie is a key contact in navigating sustainability and ESG scope, obligations, and best practices within regulatory mandates, transactions, and investigations.
A key area of focus is ESG and sustainability strategy and governance, with vandePol highly sought-after for her advice on investigations and transactional risk management. Regularly entrusted by boards on critical and sensitive matters, vandePol also assists in navigating reputational issues surrounding sustainability and corporate governance.
Supporting dialogue in creating a more sustainable future, vandePol is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council. A regular thought leader across the green landscape, vandePol has written and spoken on energy transition and hydrogen economy developments in India; hosted roundtables and webinars on topics including ESG and sustainability developments, and; contributed to industry reports on topics including ESG due diligence and reporting.
A private wealth expert who regularly deploys her knowledge within the philanthropy and impact investing spaces, Tze-wei Ng at Stephenson Harwood is highly sought-after among family offices, high net worth individuals, and environmental NGOs for investments into climate and nature-based solutions.
As a core focus of her practice, Ng assists in establishing legal, governance, and tax structures in order to enable sustainable and impact investing. Owing to her wealth of expertise on these topics, Ng has contributed to seminars, reports, and articles on topics including blended finance, impact investing, and the blue economy.
Ng is a leading figure within sustainability-focused organisations. As a board member for the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers, Ng has helped pioneer the entrance of The Chancery Lane Project into Hong Kong, enabling local lawyers to access a wealth of sustainability-focused contractual clauses. Internally, Ng co-established the firm’s Asia ESG working group and CSR committee and also leads the firm’s pro bono advice to the Hong Kong Marine Protection Alliance.
Demonstrating a wealth of maritime expertise, Andrew Rigden Green at Watson Farley & Williams offers an acute focus on low- and zero-carbon strategies within the sector. Complementing a particular focus on energy transition policies and emissions regulation, Rigden Green also assists clients on projects at the intersection between digitalisation and decarbonisation.
Rigden Green regularly partners with key industry bodies on decarbonisation objectives, including serving as an active member of the Comité Maritime International’s International Working Group and Mobile Offshore Renewable Units working group. Rigden Green also acted as legal advisor to Lloyd’s Register in developing its classification notation for zero-carbon-fuelled vessels.
Supporting the development of transformative reports in the sector, Rigden Green wrote on the contractual frameworks necessary for sustainable shipping operations within Springer Publishing’s book on maritime decarbonisation and elsewhere helped the Hong Kong Green Finance Association develop a roadmap for the city’s growth as a regional green bunkering hub.
Bringing deep experience as head of the investment funds practice at Stephenson Harwood, Penelope Shen is a key contact on impact and sustainable investments across the region. Alongside her focus on supporting traders and investment companies in establishing green and sustainability-focused funds, Shen also acts for NGOs regarding their impact investments into environmental and social projects.
Shen complements her legal expertise with a commitment to the firm’s internal sustainability management, representing the Hong Kong office in the cross-office energy transition sector core committee and having previously kickstarted the firm’s Asia ESG working group. As head of the office’s CSR and pro bono committee, Shen assists A Plastic Ocean Foundation in its objective to prevent plastic pollution and boost policy and education in the space.
Shen led the firm’s joining of the Hong Kong Green Finance Association and continues to support the association in advocating for policy changes to support green and impact investments.
Focusing her practice on the energy transition and the commercial and development aspects of first-of-kind low-carbon hydrogen projects, in particular, Zoë Bromage at King & Spalding LLP makes a leading contribution to the growth of green power solutions in Singapore.
In a high-value and impactful decarbonisation mandate, Bromage is advising Scatec and EGH regarding the offtake of green ammonia from its electrolyser and renewable generation project in Egypt. Bromage drafted and negotiated the ammonia processing and storage agreement and the sale and purchase agreement, through which the generated ammonia will be supplied to Fertiglobe and transported onwards as a renewable feedstock for European ports.
Owing to her vast expertise in the hydrogen space, Bromage serves as co-chair of the International Association of Energy Negotiators’ drafting committee for the development of a model low-carbon hydrogen transport agreement. In the carbon capture space, Bromage participated in the National University of Singapore’s Energy Studies Institute workshop on the legal and regulatory frameworks and risks surrounding CCUS.
An expert in ESG and public policy, particularly from an antitrust and competition perspective, Elsa Chen at Allen & Gledhill LLP is highly sought after for her advice on ESG regulatory scope, sustainability reporting, governance structures, and greenwashing claims.
As a core part of her practice, Chen advises major multinational and listed companies on integrating global sustainability standards – including the TCFD and ISSB – and Singapore’s climate reporting guidance into their reporting. Chen also advises on the competition law risks of sustainability and carbon collaboration and elsewhere supports in devising ESG supplier codes of conduct.
A prolific thought leader across the sustainability landscape, Chen has recently led presentations, articles, and webinars on topics including ESG policy development and implementation, best practices to mitigate greenwashing, and the role of carbon credits within the Singaporean market.
Joseph Chun leads Shook Lin & Bok LLP’s environmental law and ESG practices, leveraging longstanding expertise regarding regulatory requirements, environmental permitting, emissions standards, and environmental compliance. As part of his growing focus in the sustainability space, Chun is regularly entrusted to advise on ESG risk, reporting, and compliance; ESG-aligned and sustainable investments, and; the carbon markets.
Chun regularly contributes within leading sustainability organisations to help support industry dialogue, including volunteering with the Singapore Venture Capital and Private Equity Association’s ESG and Impact Committee and participating within the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers. Chun has also spoken on topics including climate change legislation and climate reporting, and authored an academic paper on the how green bonds can be aligned with the Singapore and ASEAN Taxonomies.
Helping bolster the firm’s management of environmental and social risks and the implementation of effective policies and best practices, Chun leads an internal ESG committee and regularly spearheads the firm’s client-facing thought leadership and workshops.
