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Global law firm DLA Piper has powered up its renewable energy practice by hiring a former BigLaw partner from Watson Farley & Williams as a special counsel.
Katherine Best (pictured) has joined DLA Piper’s projects team as a special counsel in Sydney, strengthening the firm’s renewable energy, infrastructure and financing capabilities.
In a statement, the firm said Best’s appointment comes as investment in renewable energy, infrastructure and major capital projects continues to accelerate, creating increased demand for lawyers with specialised sector knowledge.
Before joining the global law firm, Best spent more than a decade with BigLaw firm Watson Farley & Williams in its London office, where she most recently served as a partner for nearly five years.
Bringing more than 15 years of international legal experience, Best has advised on some significant energy and infrastructure projects across Australia, the UK and Europe, supporting clients through complex transactions and developments.
Her experience spans a diverse range of energy transition and infrastructure matters, including solar projects, battery energy storage systems, onshore and offshore wind, biomass, transmission assets and public-private partnerships.
She has also advised mining companies and industrial clients on complex cross-border corporate and leveraged financings, alongside public-private partnerships and privatisations.
Reflecting on her move to DLA Piper, Best said she was attracted by the firm’s global platform and its ability to support clients navigating a rapidly evolving infrastructure landscape across the Asia-Pacific region.
“I was attracted by DLA Piper’s global reach, its strength across finance, energy projects and infrastructure and the opportunity to contribute to a region where infrastructure investment is evolving quickly,” she said.
“APAC is seeing significant demand for digital infrastructure, energy transition assets, data centres and broader capital-intensive projects, and that creates exciting opportunities for lawyers who can bring together financing expertise, sector knowledge and cross-border execution experience.”
This news follows the firm’s appointment of a projects partner from global law firm rival Ashurst in early May, as well as the elevation of five senior lawyers to its partnership in the same month.
