Clayton Utz has powered up its energy practice by bringing onboard Alexander Danne, Gilbert+Tobin’s former senior partner and energy and infrastructure head, as the new leader of its energy and infrastructure team.
Chief executive partner Emma Covacevich told Asia Business Law Journal that, with Australia moving towards a low-carbon economy, clients involved in the ongoing energy transition require strategic and technical legal advice.
Such advice encompasses regulation, financing, planning, permissions, commercial arrangements and government engagement. Covacevich said the legal expertise the transition required was a core part of the practice of Danne, who had advised on some of the country’s most significant energy projects, particularly in the renewables and clean energy space.
“The complexity of the energy sector means our clients need dynamic sector specialists like Alex. We’ve had incredible energy, infrastructure and financing bench strength for many years, and it’s exciting to add Alex’s skillset to that offering,” said Covacevich.
Danne joined Gilbert+Tobin in 2012 as a banking and infrastructure partner, and later rose to the position of head of energy and infrastructure and senior partner. Before his more than 13-year stint at Gilbert+Tobin, he had practised as a senior associate in the project finance team at Allens.
With more than 20 years of legal experience, Danne specialises in energy and infrastructure investment as well as project delivery, trades and finance. Over the years, he has advised many regional and international companies such as developers, contractors, financiers and equity investors across the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Clayton Utz currently has more than 300 lawyers in its projects team, many of whom possess specialised expertise in the energy sector. Within this, the firm’s core energy and resources team, consisting of more than 70 lawyers who focus exclusively or predominantly on the energy and resources sector, will operate under Danne’s leadership.
