PERTH: Association of Corporate Counsel (WA) and Piper Alderman | Navigating ESG Developments – the Legal Function

With over 25 years providing strategic commercial legal advice within the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors, Katie advises on project planning, development, operations, closure and rehabilitation and negotiates the associated commercial and stakeholder documents.  She assists clients to obtain and maintain project tenure and regulatory approvals, including working with State Agreements. Katie also assists with complex transactions to buy and sell resources, energy and infrastructure assets, negotiating and drafting transaction documents and undertaking target due diligence.

Throughout her career, Katie has worked with environmental and water laws and policy, across Australia and in Canada.  She advises on environmental impact assessment processes and licensing, native vegetation conservation, management of emissions, and water allocation, access and use.  Katie also assists clients to manage environmental compliance and has led internal investigations in relation to pollution events and assisted clients to manage contaminated sites, including where responsibility for contamination is contested.

Katie’s solution-based approach is derived from her diverse experience working with complex issues, across different jurisdictions, in multidisciplinary teams.  Prior to joining Piper Alderman, Katie was founding principal of a boutique firm focussed on strategic land and environmental legal matters in Western Australia.  Katie was previously a partner at a global law firm, working on projects across Australia.  For over 5 years, she worked in-house on local, national and global issues for BHP, supporting its nickel business.  She also assisted the Alberta Environmental Appeals Board and the City of Calgary as a legal consultant in Calgary, Canada.

Nick is an experienced projects lawyer, specialising in construction / infrastructure, resources, defence, transport, energy and emerging technology projects. He advises developers, principals, operators and contractors, including governments and multi-national corporations, on a full range of project documentation, as well as project development and delivery issues. He also provides strategic commercial advice.

With years of experience from different jurisdictions, Nick is a skilled negotiator and has led the negotiations on many recognisable national and international projects.

Nick also draws on his practical skills and comprehensive industry knowledge obtained through his in-house roles (including commercial and general counsel experiences) and various committee positions to add real value to his clients.

Tara is a senior corporate lawyer and company secretary with extensive in-house experience across the engineering, mining, and construction industries in the Asia Pacific region. She has advised on complex transactions, mergers, and corporate governance, and worked closely with Boards and C-suite executives. A skilled communicator, Tara is known for her leadership and focus on ethical business practices.