Team size: six

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

We have worked on a range of significant cases and transactions including the following examples. Our legal team obtained a favourable outcome from the National Competition Council for the recertification of the South Australian Ports Access Regime as an effective regime under section 44N of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) for a further 10 years. Having involved in divestment of Townsville Bulk Storage and Handling business, we also advised the company on strategic (c.10%) investment in artificial intelligence company Complexica Pty Ltd. Whilst managing legal aspects of the covid pandemic on the business, we drafted the project agreement with Venice Energy as part of proposed LNG import terminal at Port Adelaide. The terminal will become the only LNG import facility in South Australia and the first in the world to be powered by renewable energy.

How do you feel the pandemic has changed the world of work for in-house counsel and the function of the general counsel?

The world of work has changed at a number of levels. At the beginning of the pandemic, people were running to check their contracts to work out what the pandemic meant to them in legal terms, considering the fact of the pandemic needed to be factored into negotiations and new contract drafting. Employment law issues and general compliance issues arose in terms of government mandates and working from home. As these are essential matters affecting day-to -day work, they were particularly relevant to us. Now those issues have moved on as we consider vaccine mandates and the like. The pandemic also caused the significant disruption to supply chains and the increased counterparty risk in some sectors.

Looking forward, what technological advancements do you feel will impact the role of in-house legal teams in the future the most?

Having recently been exposed to the commercial benefits to our business of artificial intelligence, the opportunities seem immense where large volumes of data are involved. Whilst not replacing the role or responsibility of the lawyer, the ability of AI to populate or review a standard and commonly used contract is in its infancy. Similarly, blockchain has yet to really impact in a significant way but this is not far off. Technology will continue the push for In-house lawyers to work faster and smarter.