Multinational firm Pinsent Masons appointed partner Nick Li (pictured) to its corporate team in Melbourne this week.
Formerly from PwC, Li was a key member of the firm’s energy transition and projects team, where he advised on several key distributed energy and grid-scale projects, as well as M&A and capital raisings for leading renewable energy companies, said Pinsent Masons.
The firm’s newest partner also has experience “advising on transactions in the energy transition sector, covering both project development and mergers and acquisitions for developers, corporates, investors and retailers”, the firm said.
Matthew Croagh, partner and the firm’s head of Australia, said: “The energy sector is a major focus for us in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region, so Nick’s appointment builds on an existing strength.”
Li is the 10th lateral partner hire in Australia over the past two years; his appointment was a key strategic move that contributes to the firm’s growth in Australia, it said.
“Nick’s experience in renewable energy will be of particular interest to our clients, especially at a time when the Australian government has signalled its intention to strive for a net zero economy, led by a target of 82 per cent renewable energy in the national grid by 2030,” Croagh said.
“To achieve these goals will take significant investment in energy infrastructure, such as transmission and batteries, and Nick brings a wealth of experience working with the private sector to fund and build such infrastructure.”
The firm’s head of corporate in the Asia-Pacific region, Nicholas Hanna, said: “Nick’s appointment progresses the ongoing growth of our corporate team in the region, following the lateral partner appointments of James Stewart and David Clinch in 2024.
“Nick’s skills and expertise fit really well within our team and will meet the demands of many of our energy clients who are helping to drive the transition to renewable energy.”
This news follows the firm’s promotion of 12 across APAC in May and 24 in April, the establishment of its third mainland China office in February, and its acquisition of two special counsel in January.
