Emma Covacevich
Clayton Utz
Emma Covacevich has excellent knowledge and experience, great client service and is very approachable, understanding and commercial in approach. She handles a range of corporate, capital-raising and transactional matters for established players as well as assisting new entrants into the Australian energy markets.
Emma is Clayton Utz's Chief Executive Partner, leading the firm's 1500 staff across six offices since 2023. Joining the firm in 1999, she became Partner in 2007, and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Partner in 2021. Emma served as a director on the Clayton Utz Board from 2017 to 2021.
In addition to overseeing the day-to-day running of Clayton Utz, Emma has a proven track record advising on the acquisition, development and ongoing operation of significant oil & gas, LNG and other energy projects in both Australia and New Zealand. With more than to 25 years' experience practising in the energy sector, her experience, operational knowledge and commitment to the sector sets her apart. As a result, Emma offers a wealth of information and insight into the energy industry that goes well beyond legal advice. Having also served in the private sector as General Counsel of Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG), Emma has unique insights into the commercial operations, requirements and challenges of energy companies.
Emma is recognised as one of Australia's top energy lawyers by several global legal and business publications, including:
Lawyers Weekly Managing Partner of the Year, 2024.
Chambers: Emma was first ranked in Energy & Natural Resources in 2017, and was ranked Eminent in 2024.
Legal500: Tier 1 "Leading Partner" in Energy Transactions & Regulatory.
Best Lawyers Australia: voted by peers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers for Oil & Gas.
Who's Who Legal: Energy.
Doyles: Energy & Resources.
Finalist at Euromoney LMG Australasian Women in Business Law Awards.
Finalist at Australian Legal Business Women in Law Awards.
Senex Energy: the A$900 million takeover by POSCO International Corporation and Hancock Energy.
ConocoPhillips: the US $1.265 billion sale of ConocoPhillips West and Northern Australian and East Timorese assets to Santos.
Quadrant Energy: the US $2.9 billion sale of Quadrant Energy to Santos, following initially proposed IPO. This deal was awarded the Australasian Law Awards Energy & Resources Deal of the Year in 2019.
Australia Pacific LNG: the $35 billion 2-train 8 mtpa/annum CSG to LNG project since its inception in 2008, including its ~$3.4 billion gas purchase from QGC in 2018. Emma also served as General Counsel to APLNG for 2 years.
Squadron Energy: advised on aspects of the development of the Australian Industrial Energy Regasification Terminal – a cornerstone project enhancing Australia's energy resilience – including acquisition of former partners' interests and the proposed dual fuel (gas/hydrogen) power station.