Pinsent Masons hires two partners in Australia to boost its Finance and Projects team

Both are market-leading advisers on major infrastructure projects (whether PPP or otherwise), acting for developers, investors and major contractors. They also bring extensive experience working on significant energy projects and EPC contracts, most notably within the renewables market. Mark and James will work closely with teams across the firm's global offices to complement its sector-focused approach, where the firm is recognised as a leader in the infrastructure and energy sectors. This substantial growth in the team furthers the ambition of the firm to have the depth and breadth of expertise to support every aspect of the market.

Mark and James join the firm from Norton Rose Fulbright.

Based in Sydney, Mark brings over 20 years' technical knowledge providing major construction, engineering and infrastructure contract drafting and advice. Specialising in complex infrastructure, his clients include construction contractors, infrastructure owners, operators and investors. Mark has also acted on some of China's largest infrastructure projects, having previously been based in Beijing and Hong Kong for 5 years.

Based in Melbourne, James was the head of the construction and engineering team at Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia. He has over 18 years' experience with a focus on the development of major infrastructure and PPP projects which extends across the power sector, ports, transport, mining, and commercial and residential developments.

Michael Watson, Head of Finance & Projects at Pinsent Masons said, "This is another exciting chapter in a period of real international expansion for the firm's Finance & Projects group, specifically across the infrastructure and energy sectors. Our strategy responds to the market, and is focused on providing clients the sector-led expertise they need to navigate some of the world's fastest growing and changing regions. We are committed to providing local strength, with global resource." 

Matt Croagh, head of Pinsent Masons Australia said, "The addition of James and Mark to the team further secures our position in the market and is a testament to our reputable work. This expansion strengthens our service offering in the Asia Pacific region, and the seamless way we work with other jurisdictions internationally, particularly China, where Mark has extensive experience. We're building greater resilience to better anticipate, and meet, the needs of our clients."

The firm continues to expand its Asia Pacific footprint with the recent arrival of TMT partner Alex Shepherd in Singapore and the addition of 12 infrastructure and energy lawyers across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.  

These appointments also build on the continued expansion of the firm's Finance & Projects team in Asia Pacific. This year James Harris joined the Singapore office - a well-known and highly experienced finance and projects lawyer servicing clients throughout the region with a focus on South East Asian markets. Jeremy King also recently joined the firm and is based in Melbourne specialising in project and infrastructure finance, structured asset finance, structured trade finance, corporate finance, and restructuring and workouts.