Pinsent Masons continues growth in Australia with appointment of Planning and Environment partner in Melbourne

Florence has extensive experience advising energy and infrastructure sector clients on environment and planning matters. Florence joins Pinsent Masons from the PwC Energy Transition team where she advised on a range of significant and large-scale renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, waste-to-energy, green hydrogen and offshore wind.

Head of Pinsent Masons Australia Matthew Croagh said Florence’s appointment is an important step in the firm’s strategic goal of further expanding our property practice in Australia and continuing to focus on the growing renewable energy sector.

“The focus in Australia on transitioning to renewable energy has enabled us to continue expanding our energy sector capability so that we are able to support our clients who are increasing their investment in this crucial area. Part of this expansion is to provide an outstanding capability when it comes to obtaining planning and environment approvals for renewable energy projects which are so vital to the success of such projects.”

“Florence is the seventh partner we have either hired or promoted in Australia in 2023 and many of these partners are in practice areas such as corporate, employment and reward, and planning and environment where there is demand from our clients to deepen the legal teams that support our core focus on energy and infrastructure.”

Prior to her time at PwC, Florence worked for Ashurst and Norton Rose Fulbright and has extensive government experience, having been head of legal for the Victorian Government’s Suburban Rail Loop Authority.

Florence adds to the firm’s planning and environment capability, joining Sydney-based partner Kirstie Richards and her team who joined last year. Associate Niren Menon will be joining the team with Florence.

Florence said of her appointment: “It is exciting to be joining a firm that is globally recognised as the leading construction law firm and is a market-leader in the Asia-Pacific region in the energy and infrastructure sectors. There is going to be significant opportunities for the private sector to drive the transition to renewable energy in Australia, with recent developments in offshore wind and hydrogen showing that this shift has now gained unstoppable momentum.”

Florence’s appointment comes after the firm announced this month the launch of an Australian Employment & Reward practice with the hire of a team of six lawyers, including partners Aaron Goonrey, Ben McKinley and Neil Napper. The firm also announced the promotion of Infrastructure partner Sean Henderson and Energy partner Tim Dorgan from 1 May, and the hire of Corporate partner Andrew Fisken in January.