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Chris Mitchell

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About

Chris is an experienced M&A and Projects lawyer who advises clients on regulated and unregulated M&A transactions in a variety of industry sectors with a particular focus on the energy, infrastructure, agriculture and oil and gas sectors.

Chris advises both local and international investors on energy, infrastructure and agriculture investments in Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region. He also acts for project developers assisting with the acquisition of projects, advising on project development requirements having regard to future financing and divestment strategies and structuring competitive but efficient project sale processes to enhance equity value on divestment.

Chris also regularly advises listed clients on equity capital markets and public market control transactions (including IPOs, secondary capital raisings, takeover bids and schemes of arrangement) and all aspects of corporate governance and securities law issues.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Supreme Court of VictoriaSolicitor registered with the Law Institute of Victoria

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising Banpu Energy Australia on its first renewable power investment in Australia. This involved advising on its entry into a Securities Sale Agreement for the acquisition of a portfolio of two operating utility scale solar projects in New South Wales from New Energy Solar Limited. The projects comprise the 110.9 MWDC Beryl Solar Farm and 55.9 MWDC Manildra Solar Farm, located in Central West New South Wales. The projects are located in a strong region of the NEM and have high quality power purchase agreements in place.
  • Advising Green Giraffe in respect of a joint venture arrangement for an Australian and New Zealand offshore wind joint venture.
  • Advising global investment firm BlackRock on its first renewable energy investment in Australia - the acquisition by a fund managed by BlackRock of a majority interest in a portfolio of two large scale solar PV projects in Queensland, namely the 150MW Daydream project and the 50MW Hayman. As well as advising BlackRock on its Australian and broader Asia Pacific renewable energy investments.*
  • Advising Canadian Solar, one of the third largest integrated solar companies globally, on an investment by Foresight Group in two utility scale solar farms in Queensland and the simultaneous divestment of an additional solar farm in Queensland. The transaction included project financing and implementation of a unique structure for two adjacent projects to share connection infrastructure to connection to the grid.*
  • Advising Canadian Solar in relation to the acquisition of a majority interest in a 1.14GW pipelines of solar projects comprising five utility scale solar development projects in New South Wales.
  • Advising Trajan Scientific and Medical on its successful IPO and ASX listing. The IPO was a complex transaction which involved preparing a substantial global business for admission to the ASX. The proceeds raised under the IPO are intended to be used by Trajan to execute on its exciting global growth initiatives.
  • Advising BP Australia in relation to its AUD1.8 billion acquisition of Woolworth Limited's network of Australian retail petrol stations.*
  • Advising Spark Infrastructure, an ASX-listed energy infrastructure manager, in relation to its equity participation in the consortium that won the bidding for the NSW State government sale (through long term lease) of its TransGrid 'poles and wires' business in a deal worth AUD10.3 billion.*
  • Advising Danish wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas Australia, in relation to its participation as a supplier of wind turbines to numerous Australian wind farm development projects, including: Yandin Wind Farm located in Western Australia, Dundonnell Wind Farm located in Victoria; Lal Lal Wind Farm located in Victoria; Granville Wind Farm located in Tasmania; Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm located in Victoria; Stage 2 development of the Waterloo Wind Farm located in South Australia; Kiata Wind Farm located in Victoria; and Mt Emerald Wind Farm located in Queensland.
  • Advising Hassad Food Group in relation to the merger of its Australian pastoral and cropping properties with Macquarie Group’s agricultural investment business, Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Asset (MIRA).*

(* - Experience gained while at a previous firm)

Education
  • University of Melbourne, Master of Law, 2014
  • Monash University, Bachelor of Laws (Hons), 2006
  • Monash University, Bachelor of Commerce, 2006

Awards

  • Referenced in The Legal 500, 2019 Global Legal Directory – “Chris Mitchell is outstanding at solar transactions.” 
  • Winner, Special Counsel of the Year, Lawyers' Weekly Australian Law Awards (2017) 
  • Finalist, Senior Associate of the Year, Lawyers' Weekly Australian Law Awards (2014)

Memberships And Affiliations

Law Institute of Victoria

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