Elisabeth is a partner in the firm's commercial group. She heads the firm's energy, networks and utilities group and is a lead partner in the competition group.
She is adept at advising on complex commercial transactions. This includes multi-party joint ventures involving detailed value adjustments, procurement and operations outsourcing (including public/private partnerships), supply, distribution, and network agreements. Her reputation is for a strongly analytical approach with a focus on strategic issues and commercial solutions.
Elisabeth has a wealth of experience advising on competition and regulatory matters. She advises on transaction structures, approvals, and authorisations from the competition regulator, as well as assisting clients responding to processes initiated by industry regulators.
-
Asia Pacific Legal 500 Projects & Resource Management 2010 - Leading Lawyer
-
Chambers Global Energy & Resources 2010 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
-
BP Oil New Zealand - principal legal adviser on all commercial and regulatory matters including joint ventures, acquisitions, terminals, strategic partnerships, supply biofuels, emissions trading, and competition compliance
-
Maui joint venture partner - advising on renegotiation of the Maui gas contract and implementation of open access on the Maui pipeline
-
Pohokura joint venture partner - advising on field development and associated contractual arrangements, including gas supply arrangements
-
Upstream oil and gas exploration participant - advising on a range of operational issues, including permitting, Crown Minerals Act compliance, farm in arrangements, sole risk, infrastructure access, joint venture governance, competition compliance, product supply arrangements, and emissions trading
-
Downstream gas participant - advising on procurement, storage, and tolling arrangements as well commercial supply and emissions trading
-
Ministry of Economic Development - advising on the Crown's $1.5 billion Ultra Fast Broadband Initiative
-
PPP proposal for refurbishment of hydro generation and transmission infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo
-
Electricity industry - advising the national grid owner/operator and a number of distribution lines companies on a wide range of commercial and regulatory matters, including targeted price control under the Commerce Act, Electricity Industry Reform Act, Electricity Act, Electricity Governance Rules and Regulations and previous multilateral industry self governance arrangements, as well as advising on a number of wind and renewable generation projects
-
Gas industry co-regulatory body - advising on legal aspects of development of gas industry regulation, including statutory interpretation, rule drafting, and competition law issues
Other Credentials
-
Energy Law Association - Chairperson (2005-2008) and executive committee member (2000-present)
-
Australian Mining & Petroleum Law Association - Member
-
Competition Law and Policy Institute of New Zealand - Member
-
Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ) - Executive committee member (1995-2000), policy subcommittee member
-
Solicitor, Queensland and New South Wales
