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Global law firm Clifford Chance has deepened its reach into the Asia‑Pacific region’s booming projects market, announcing the launch of a standalone transactional construction team in Australia.
Clifford Chance has launched a dedicated transactional construction team in Australia, marking a significant expansion of its international construction group.
The new team will be led by newly appointed counsel Katie Joukadjian, who rejoined the global firm last month after spending over five years as special counsel at multinational law firm Pinsent Masons.
In a statement, the firm highlighted Joukadjian’s extensive experience advising developers, sponsors, lenders, investors, and contractors on high-profile projects worldwide, spanning sectors such as conventional and renewable energy, digital infrastructure, water and waste management, mining, and oil and gas.
Based in the firm’s Sydney office, Joukadjian will work closely with Clifford Chance’s existing Australian lawyers and international construction specialists across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.
However, the firm has confirmed it is “building out a dedicated, sustainable team” to support Joukadjian in this new practice.
Nadia Kalic, partner and global co-head of energy and resources, described the launch of the new construction team as a significant and exciting addition to the firm’s Australian offering.
“This milestone marks an exciting expansion of our offering in Australia. We’re committed to supporting our clients across all stages of their investment into major projects, and Katie’s extensive front-end construction experience will complement our existing transactional and disputes practices,” Kalic said.
Matt Buchanan, partner and head of construction for the Asia-Pacific region, emphasised the strategic importance of this new offering in light of the current surge in regional activity.
“Given the scale of investment activity we are seeing in the energy and infrastructure sectors across Asia-Pacific and indeed the associated need for truly specialist transactional construction expertise, Katie rejoining the Clifford Chance team will clearly enhance our critical offering to clients in this space,” Buchanan said.
The global law firm also noted that the launch of the new construction team will further bolster its expanding real estate practice, led by partner Philip Podzebenko, which continues to go “from strength to strength in Australia”.
This announcement follows the firm’s recent promotions of 12 lawyers and business operations professionals across the Asia-Pacific region in early May, the elevation of three new partners in April, and the appointment of two special counsels at the end of January.
