James is a Senior Associate in the Brisbane office of Mallesons, specialising in project developments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring and joint ventures within the mining, resources and infrastructure (in particular, port and logistics) sectors.
His practice includes acting and advising on:
- market leading mining and resource transactions in Australia (coal, gold, copper, critical minerals and forestry);
- development of greenfield and brownfield projects in the mining and infrastructure sectors;
- acquisitions, divestments and restructuring of ports and logistics assets and businesses (including operational matters);
- third party landholder and interface arrangements for the development of overlapping infrastructure; and
- commercial partnerships, privatisations, resumptions and government restructuring of infrastructure assets.
James’s pragmatism and commercial mindset is sought out by clients on their significant transactions. James thrives in complex multidisciplinary matters to ensure there is a holistic approach to achieving his client’s objectives.
Selected experience:
- Divestment of Blackwater and Daunia Mines - BHP Group and Mitsubishi Development: Lead Senior Associate on the divestment of two of their Queensland mines, Blackwater and Daunia to Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC), including the contractual reshaping of BMA’s integrated logistics arrangements and passage of special purpose legislation.
- South Australian Copper Integration and Development - BHP Group: Integration and development arrangements for BHP’s CopperSA Business, comprising the Olympic Dam Mine, Carrapateena Mine, Oak Dam Mine and Prominent Hill Mines.
- BHP Group: Investment in AIM and TSX listed miner SolGold.
- Navarre: Lead Senior Associate on the acquisition by Navarre of the Mt Carlton Gold Mine and Crush Creek Project from Evolution Mining.
- Inland Rail - Strategic advisor to ARTC on their Inland Rail Project and their development arrangements with the State of Queensland.
- Ports – Commercial and strategic advisor to various port owners, terminal operators, access seekers, users and customers in relation to numerous port and terminal operations, port developments, dredging, maritime operations and transactions, including at the Port of Gladstone, Port of Brisbane, Port of Darwin, Port of Hay Point, Port of Townsville, Port of Newcastle and the Port of Whyalla.
- Gladstone Ports Corporation – Seconded as "General Counsel" between September 2021 and April 2023.
- Forestry - Acted for an international forestry investor in transactions involving forestry plantation assets located in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
- Hancock Queensland Plantations (HQP) – Forest Wind Farm Project: Acting for HQP (as plantation licence holder) on all aspects (including project specific legislation) linked to the planned development of a 1200MW wind farm by Forest Wind Holdings in South-east Queensland.
- Origin Energy: Divestment of the Beetaloo Basin Project in the Northern Territory.
- Dexus – Structuring and acquisition of Jandakot Airport in Perth, a landmark transaction for Dexus as it diversified into industrial real estate.
- MM Capital Partners: Acquisition of an interest in the Sydney Metro and Gold Coast Light Rail Projects.
- Sunshine Coast Airport: Acted for the Sunshine Coast Council on the long-term lease of the Sunshine Coast Airport and commercial partnership with Palisade Investment Partners, including the development, construction and commissioning of a new 2450 metre long Code E runway.
James has a leading role in Artificial Intelligence, Legal Technology, data and innovation at Mallesons. He is a "digital native" and is passionate about efficiency and change that adds value. His groundbreaking use of Artificial Intelligence, data and Legal Technology on matters not only enhances efficiency and value, but delivers unmatched strategic benefits to clients.
James is an inaugural member of the Mallesons Australia-India Business Group and builds the firm’s relationships and understanding with India, with a focus on developing relationships between Australia and India in the energy and resources sector.
