21 January 2021
Global law firm K&L Gates has strengthened its energy, infrastructure and resources team with the addition of Kelly Davies in Sydney. Davies, who joins K&L Gates from Norton Rose Fulbright where she was head of the power sector practice in Australia, is a key addition to K&L Gates existing global energy team.
Davies advises energy and non-energy clients in Australia and across the Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East on the many aspects of their energy needs including project development, company and asset acquisition, financing, structuring and procurement and sustainability.
Across the energy market, including oil & gas, power, and renewables, Davies supports sector participants with their various business requirements and has deep knowledge and extensive experience on the arrangement of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and retail (both renewable and conventional) Electricity Supply Agreements (ESAs).
With recent experience on significant global renewables projects, her in-depth understanding of the critical issues specific to renewables includes implementing solutions that align debt and equity to balance risk and reward to ensure successful project development and transaction outcomes.
Her recent experience working with clients on energy transition and new fuels projects, with a particular focus on hydrogen and “green” hydrogen, aligns with K&L Gates leading hydrogen experience globally. In 2020, K&L Gates published its Hydrogen Handbook — a first-of-its-kind, extensive review of the legal, regulatory, commercial, and policy issues that will impact and shape the future of hydrogen — for companies who are recognising hydrogen’s potential and taking an active role in the industry's nascent global expansion.
"I can see excellent opportunities for my clients by servicing them through K&L Gates fully integrated global platform," said Davies" I am incredibly excited to join a global team that prides itself on client service and am looking forward to the local and global opportunities I will be able to bring to my clients".
Nick Nichola, K&L Gates' Managing Partner, Australia stated: "Kelly's appointment strengthens our energy team and ensures K&L Gates can continue to provide the highest quality strategic advice to our clients".
"Australia's energy sector is critical to our regional economic growth. In response, we have strategically built a core team of highly experienced lawyers in energy, infrastructure and resources to assist clients secure a stable energy platform on which their business can continue to prosper."
K&L Gates welcomed more than 30 partners and of counsel in 2020, including in the firm’s corporate; health care; tax; commercial litigation; environment, land and natural resources; asset management and investment funds; IP procurement and portfolio management; IP litigation; real estate; government contracts; and investigations, enforcement and white collar practices.
