Melbourne, 25 June 2010: The reputation of Clayton Utz's Major Projects practice for being at the cutting-edge of major infrastructure project activity in Australia and globally has been reinforced with the release of the "Infrastructure 100" – a joint initiative of KMPG and Infrastructure Journal.
"Infrastructure 100" is an industry initiative that identifies the future game-changers for infrastructure around the world. Projects were judged by panels of third party executives from around the world with a focus on scale, feasibility, complexity, innovation, and impact.
Of the 100 projects singled out, three were Australian – AgriBio, New Royal Adelaide Hospital, and the multi-award winning Victorian Desalination Plant project.
Clayton Utz had the principal legal advisory roles on all three projects:
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AgriBio, the Centre for AgriBioscience (formerly known as the Biosciences Research Centre): Construction of the centre is currently underway and the facility is expected to be fully operation by 2012. The project has an estimated value of $320 million and reached financial close in May 2009. Clayton Utz acted as advisers to the Victorian Government and La Trobe University. Key partners - Joanna Pugsley, Brad Vann.
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New Royal Adelaide Hospital: The project is currently the largest social infrastructure project in Australia with an estimated value of $1.7 billion. Clayton Utz is acting as joint legal adviser to the South Australian Government, with the Crown Solicitor's Office. Key partners - Joanna Pugsley, Brad Vann.
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Victorian Desalination Plant: The multi award-winning Victorian Desalination Plant project valued at $3.7 billion is the largest PPP to be undertaken globally since the GFC began and was successfully brought to financial close in a challenging environment. Clayton Utz advised the successful project bidder, the AquaSure consortium, throughout the bidding process, providing strategic and commercial advice on both the bidding documentation and financing arrangements for the project. Key partners - Dan Fitts, Naomi Kelly, Marcus Davenport, Brendan Groves.
The National Head of Clayton Utz's Projects practice, Doug Jones AM, said recognition of the projects as being among the world's most cutting-edge reinforced Clayton Utz's reputation as legal advisers at the forefront of innovative and market-leading infrastructure activity. "We are proud to have been involved in these projects," said Mr Jones.