HWL Ebsworth’s corporate, property, planning, construction, and grid connection & regulatory teams have advised renewable energy developer WestWind Energy on the path to achieve financial close of Stage 1 for the 1.3GW ($3+ billion) Golden Plains Wind Farm located near Rokewood, Victoria (60km north-west of Geelong in Victoria).
HWL Ebsworth have been involved in the Project since its commencement. More recently HWL Ebsworth also provided legal support for WestWind’s development and investment partner Tag Energy S.A.
Stage 1 of the Project reached financial close on 25 November 2022. HWL Ebsworth’s property and grid connection team worked with WestWind and Tag Energy to finalise the extensive property and related documentation plus the grid connection agreements for the Stage 1 financial close. Construction tenders, construction and operational documentation, and corporate work for the first stage were part of the development legal work. White & Case acted for the project sponsors for the project financing and other aspects of the project. Herbert Smith Freehills also supported WestWind and the project on planning and other matters. King & Wood Mallesons acted for the financiers.
The HWL Ebsworth team was led by Peter Dreher, who had overall conduct and advised on major contracts and corporate matters. The HWL Ebsworth Property team was led by Partner Matthew Powell (supported by Senior Associate Natalie Gnoato and lawyers Elle Regester, Megan Fook, Ava Argiropoulos and Alex van Haandel). The HWL Ebsworth Grid Connection team featured Senior Consultant Graeme Dennis and Special Counsel Adam Goldner. Construction Partner Leighton Moon for construction work, and Partner James Lofting provided discrete advice on planning issues.
The Project will be the largest wind farm project in the southern hemisphere (comprising 215 turbines) and will provide power to more than 750,000 homes. HWL Ebsworth continues an advisory role in respect of post financial close matters for Stage 1 as well Stage 2 of the project and the Battery Energy Storage System component of the Project.
Note to Editors:
HWL Ebsworth is the largest legal partnership in Australia according to the most recent partnership surveys published by the Australian Financial Review.
The firm comprises 1,650 staff including 277 Partners, 997 other legal staff and 376 support staff across offices in nine locations – Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Hobart, Norwest (North West Sydney), Perth and Sydney.
HWL Ebsworth is an independent, nationally integrated, full service commercial law firm, providing tailored and commercially oriented legal services.
HWL Ebsworth operates a different business model to the other leading national law practices, and this allows us to offer unrivalled value for money without compromising quality and service. Our low ratio of solicitors to partners ensures that our clients receive optimal access to partner resources for all matters.
For further information, please contact:
Russell Mailler, Chief Strategy Officer (03) 8644 3569 or rmailler@hwle.com.au
Angelique Kear, National Marketing Manager (02) 9334 8541 or akear@hwle.com.au