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Energy, infrastructure and data centres

A boutique energy and infrastructure law firm.

Jurisa Legal advises government, developers, network businesses and data centre operators in Australia on the contracts, regulatory frameworks and approvals involved in delivering major projects, across the project lifecycle from early development through construction, connection, operation and disputes.

The firm

Energy, infrastructure and data centres

Jurisa Legal is a boutique law firm specialising in energy, infrastructure and data centre projects. The practice covers the full project lifecycle, from corporate structuring and land tenure through construction, network connection and offtake, into operation, governance and disputes.

The firm acts on both sides of the market, for network service providers and for project developers, for government and private capital, and for data centre operators and other large energy users. Work is carried out across the National Electricity Market jurisdictions.

Scope and fee arrangements are confirmed in writing before work begins.

Clients

Who the firm acts for

  • Government and government owned corporations
  • Network service providers
  • Project developers and independent power producers
  • Infrastructure owners, developers and operators
  • Infrastructure funds and equity investors
  • Data centre operators and large energy users
  • Retailers, large customers and offtakers
  • Contractors and equipment suppliers

Practice areas

Transmission and Distribution

Contracts for the delivery of transmission and distribution infrastructure.

  • Early works and enabling agreements
  • Design and construct contracts
  • Supply and installation packages
  • Interface and coordination deeds
  • Contestable and non contestable works structures
  • Commissioning, energisation and handover
  • Designated network assets and identified user shared assets
  • Variations, claims and contract administration

Energy and Infrastructure Construction

Contracting structures for generation, storage, hybrid and infrastructure projects.

  • Wrapped EPC and split scope delivery structures
  • Balance of plant, civil and electrical works packages
  • Major equipment supply and installation agreements
  • Interface, programme and liquidated damages regimes
  • Testing, commissioning and completion regimes
  • Delivery materials, including obligation registers and notice checklists
  • Operations and maintenance and long term service agreements

Network Connection

Connection of generation, storage and large loads to the electricity network.

  • Chapter 5 connection applications, offers and negotiation
  • Connection agreements and generator performance standards
  • Renewable energy zone and jurisdictional access schemes
  • Large load and data centre connections
  • Changes to connected plant and to performance standards
  • Augmentation, sharing and shared asset arrangements

Regulation and Access Frameworks

National and state energy regulation, licensing, policy and access.

  • National Electricity Law and Rules advice and compliance
  • Licensing, authorisation and market registration
  • State based energy transition legislation
  • Wholesale market reform, including the proposed ESEM
  • Rule change proposals and regulatory submissions
  • Access, cost allocation and shared asset frameworks

Corporate Structuring

Project vehicles, joint ventures and transaction structures.

  • Special purpose vehicles for financing and sell down
  • Incorporated and unincorporated joint ventures
  • Consortium and shareholder arrangements
  • Shareholders agreements, loans and security
  • Project and asset acquisitions and disposals
  • Restructures, consolidations and platform structures

Property, Planning and Environment

Land tenure, easements and development approvals.

  • Option, lease, licence and easement arrangements
  • Linear infrastructure corridors and access rights
  • Native title and cultural heritage considerations
  • Planning and development approvals and conditions
  • Environmental approvals and offset obligations
  • Compliance with conditions of consent through construction
  • Flow down of approval obligations into delivery contracts

Offtake

Power purchase agreements, electricity derivatives and certificates.

  • Power purchase agreements and offtake structures
  • Corporate and data centre power purchase agreements
  • ISDA schedules, confirmations and electricity derivatives
  • Renewable energy certificate and Guarantee of Origin arrangements
  • Network support and system services agreements
  • Route to market and hedging arrangements

Funding and Project Finance

Debt and equity arrangements for energy and infrastructure projects.

  • Debt and equity funding structures
  • Project finance and facility documentation
  • Security, guarantee and intercreditor arrangements
  • Government scheme and underwriting arrangements
  • Lender and investor due diligence support
  • Financial close readiness across the project suite

Data Centres and Large Loads

Connection, land, power supply and contracting for data centres and other large loads.

  • Transmission and distribution connection for large loads
  • Site acquisition, tenure and development approvals
  • Retail supply and corporate power purchase agreements
  • Behind the meter generation and storage arrangements
  • Demand response and curtailable load arrangements
  • Construction and fit out contracting
  • Colocation, hosting and related services agreements

General Commercial Advisory

Commercial contracts supporting business operations.

  • Confidentiality and non disclosure agreements
  • Heads of agreement, term sheets and memoranda of understanding
  • Technology, software and data agreements
  • Procurement and supply contracts for plant and equipment
  • Consultancy and professional services agreements

Disputes

Dispute frameworks, contractual claims and resolution.

  • Dispute avoidance and early warning frameworks
  • Multi party dispute resolution structures
  • Contractual claims, notices and variations
  • Security of payment claims and adjudications
  • Expert determination, mediation and arbitration

Governance and Board Advisory

Governance frameworks, board advisory and compliance.

  • Governance frameworks, policies and delegations
  • Board charters, constitutions and committee structures
  • Whistleblower, fraud and conflict of interest matters
  • Freedom of information and public sector obligations
  • Corporate reporting and disclosure compliance

Insights

Commentary on developments across energy, infrastructure and data centres in Australia, and what they mean for project contracts.

Regulation

The ESEM and what it would change for project contracts

The Nelson Review proposed an Electricity Services Entry Mechanism to replace the current patchwork of underwriting schemes. The design is still moving, but the contracting consequences are already visible.

Read more

Contact

Enquiries

Enquiries about a project or a proposed engagement can be sent by email. An initial discussion is not charged.

Office

Level 19, 180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia