Emma Covacevich specialises in energy and corporate matters, with a particular focus on upstream and midstream petroleum projects.
She has provided advice on the acquisition, development and ongoing operation of a number of significant oil, gas and LNG projects in both Australia and New Zealand, and is experienced in advising on all aspects of upstream exploration and development, downstream supply and distribution of petroleum products, drilling and completions, processing of water, disposal of brine and the acquisition and disposal of interests in upstream exploration and development projects.
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Emma has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating a range of project agreements. These include joint operating agreements, wholesale (upstream) gas supply agreements, liquid hydrocarbon supply agreements, gas balancing agreements, onshore and offshore drilling agreements, agreements for the transportation of gas and liquid hydrocarbons (via pipeline and trucking), and pipeline interconnection and metering agreements. She has also been involved with farm-in agreements and the acquisition and disposal of interests in petroleum tenements, pipelines, oil and gas joint ventures and LPG equipment.
For 20 months from September 2011, Emma fulfilled the role of General Counsel of Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG), a fully integrated, 8 mtpa, coal seam gas (CSG) to LNG development project. She returned to Clayton Utz in May 2013 with a depth of oil and gas experience. Having acted as the General Counsel, Emma has unique insight as to what commercial and in-house legal teams want from their external legal advisors.
Recognition
- Chambers Asia-Pacific: ranked
- in Energy & Natural Resources (Oil & Gas) (2018-2020)
- up & coming in Energy & Natural Resources (Oil & Gas) (2017)
- The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific: named a next generation partner in Energy (Transactions and Regulatory) (2020)
- IFLR1000: recognised as a notable practitioner (2019-2020)
- Who's Who Legal: Energy (2014)
- Best Lawyers Australia: voted by peers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers in
- Energy (2014-2021)
- Mergers and Acquisitions (2018-2021)
- Mining (2014-2021)
- Natural Resources (2015-2021)
- Oil and Gas (2013-2021)
- Australian Legal Business Women in Law Awards: Finalist (2013)
- Doyles: Rising Star, Energy & Resources (2012)
- Euromoney LMG Asia Women in Business Law Awards: winner for Energy and Natural Resources (2019)
qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, University of Queensland (1998)
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Queensland (1998)
Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Securities Institute of Australia (2004)
admitted to practice
Queensland (2001)
Victoria (2003)
New Zealand (2004)
affiliations
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Queensland Law Society
- New Zealand Law Society
- Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association
Expertise
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Energy and Resources
Origin Energy Limited: Has acted in relation to various acquisitions, including of: coal seam gas interests in Queensland; the Speed-E-Gas LPG distribution business in New South Wales; a 90 percent interest in gas production and storage facilities in the onshore Otway region; its disposal of the Ballera to Mt Isa Pipeline; the Tubridgi Joint Venture, off Western Australia; its 50 percent interest in the Moura Joint Venture (coal seam gas) in Queensland; and interests in a number of petroleum exploration permits in both offshore Victoria and in Queensland.
National energy firm: Representing a major national oil, gas and electricity supplier in relation to its interests in Australia and in New Zealand.
Various projects: Acting as principal legal adviser to the BassGas Project, the Geographe-Thylacine Project, the Kupe Project and other offshore Victoria projects.
Onshore and offshore: Advised on a number of onshore and offshore drilling agreements and related services agreements for drilling programs offshore Victoria, offshore New Zealand and onshore Queensland.
See Energy and Resources
Construction and Major Projects
Various projects: Acting as principal legal adviser to the BassGas Project, the Geographe-Thylacine Project, the Kupe Project and other offshore Victoria projects.
See Construction and Major Projects
Climate Change
National energy firm: Representing a major national oil, gas and electricity supplier in relation to its interests in Australia and in New Zealand.
See Climate Change