Ben Cansdale
Clayton Utz
A lawyer who seems to have the ability to cover the whole field of legal advice
– client testimonial
Ben brings specialist knowledge and exceptional experience in advising on energy and resources projects, particularly in respect of sale, processing and transportation arrangements, M&A transactions, joint ventures, infrastructure and project development for petroleum, minerals, renewables, water and hydrogen. He is highly regarded for his strategic advice on complex commodity, infrastructure and services projects in the Australian energy and resources sectors. Ben is recognised as a "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch" in Australia – Energy, Natural Resources and Oil and Gas Law (2024 & 2023), ''Rising Star Partner'' in Project Development - IFLR1000 (2024 & 2023), as a "recommended lawyer" in energy in Doyles Guide, and selected in Best Lawyers Guide for expertise in Energy and Natural Resources (2025).
Arrow Energy: advised on the project development, approvals and transactions for Arrow's Surat and Bowen Basin projects, advised on its sale of the Moranbah Gas Project in Queensland to Queensland Pacific Metals, including its electricity business, gas and water treatment facilities, pipelines, and related infrastructure.
Northern Territory Government: advised on the Territory's gas marketing arrangements securing future gas supply for the Territory, including the execution of recent gas deals with Tamboran, Empire and Central.
Alinta Energy: advised on its joint venture arrangements with CS Energy, facilitating its entry into the Queensland electricity retail market, and provided advice on various commodity transactions, including negotiating and drafting detailed gas sales and transportation contracts.
Sydney and Perth Airports: advising Sydney Airports and Perth Airport on each airport's new fuel storage and distribution services following its acquisition of the airport’s jet fuel facilities.
APLNG CSG-LNG Project: acted as a lead lawyer on the project, advising gas sales, transportation, compression and processing agreements, regulatory approvals, joint ventures, and project development.
Senex Energy: advised on gas supply arrangements supporting its Queensland developments including regulatory approvals, land access, project development and gas sales and transportation agreements associated with Senex's Western Surat and Atlas Projects.
Origin Energy: acted as one of the lead legal counsels for commodity, joint venture and M&A transactions, including the acquisition and development of various onshore and offshore petroleum assets in Queensland and Victoria.
Major energy proponent: acts on its new green hydrogen and ammonia developments.
Pacific National: acted in the negotiation and documentation of rail haulage arrangements, restructuring agreements and haulage terms.
Consortium of sellers led by Brookfield and Macquarie: advised on the US$2.15bn sale (plus deferred contingent payments and 36 royalties) of Quadrant Energy to Santos.
Beach Energy: advised on the structuring and sale of a 40% interest in its iconic Otway petroleum assets in offshore Victoria to OG Energy.