Matthew O’Connor

Matthew has practiced extensively in projects and project financing as well as related mergers & acquisitions, focusing on renewable energy projects (solar, wind and storage) and decarbonisation, including green hydrogen and carbon farming.

His clients are the borrowers, developers and sellers of large-scale energy, infrastructure and utility projects, as well as the senior lenders to such projects. Matthew’s previous experience includes working in numerous jurisdictions globally in top-tier UK and US firms, particularly while based in Japan acting for major Japanese trading houses and commercial and ECA lenders. Many of his project finance deals have won international “deal of the year” awards in their categories.

Matthew provides creative, efficient and insightful advice on the structuring and documentation of projects, particularly carbon credit projects, long term carbon funds, joint development agreements, PPAs and connection agreements. Additionally, Matthew advises investment clients supporting the establishment of renewable energy assets in remote and indigenous Australian communities.

Experience

Matthew’s recent experience includes advising:

  • Powering Australian Renewables Fund on its $2.3 billion acquisition of Tilt Renewables Ltd and its portfolio of wind projects;
  • Greenleaf Renewables Pty Ltd on its joint wind farm development agreements with Enerfin and Brookfield Renewables;
  • Energy Australia as in-house project lead counsel for a pumped hydro project;
  • Infradebt on its project financing of a solar farm; and
  • HRL Morrison & Co on its disposition of the Macarthur Wind Farm.

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