New Clayton Utz partner and head of energy Alexander Danne spent more than 13 years at G+T, where he founded and led the firm’s energy and infrastructure team in 2021 before most recently holding a role as a senior partner.

He brings more than 20 years of experience to the firm and has expertise across energy and infrastructure investment, and project delivery, trades and finance, having advised major regional and international stakeholders, developers, contractors, financiers and equity investors across the energy and infrastructure sectors.

This news follows the promotion of two partners in Darwin and Sydney last month, the addition of a banking and finance partner from Baker McKenzie last month, the firm’s appointment of the former banking and capital markets lead at EY as a new partner in February, as well as the addition of a real estate partner from Ashurst in January and the promotion of eight of its lawyers to its partnership at the beginning of December last year.

Danne will begin with Clayton Utz at the start of July and will be based in Melbourne. Chief executive partner Emma Covacevich said his appointment comes amid a once-in-a-generation transformation of Australia’s energy sector.

“Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy presents a challenge and an opportunity for many of our clients. Our clients involved in the ongoing energy transition require strategic and technical legal advice encompassing regulation, financing, planning, permitting, commercial arrangements and government engagement,” she said.

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“The legal expertise the transition requires is a core part of Alex’s practice, and he has 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.”