Media Release: Clayton Utz named Most Innovative Law Firm – Australia at 2019 IFLR awards

Sydney, 15 March 2019: Clayton Utz is the winner of the Most Innovative National Firm of the Year at the 2019 International Financial Law Review (IFLR) Asia-Pacific Awards held in Hong Kong on 7 March.

Clayton Utz won the award for Australia for its innovation in deal structuring, particularly in relation to its advice on Australia Pacific LNG's recent US $1.4 billion US private placement.

The Australia Pacific LNG USPP was a significant cross-border deal that spanned five countries. Clayton Utz advised Australia Pacific LNG and its shareholders on the placement to American and insurance funds. The transaction marked the first US private placement for an operational Australian energy project and was also the first Australian investment for a number of the US state and regional insurance and pension funds involved.  The deal has therefore expanded the types of Australian assets able to access US capital markets while also exposing a new class of investor to the Australian energy market.

Clayton Utz, Chief Executive Partner, Rob Cutler congratulated the firm's team behind the deal, led by Projects and Finance, Partner, Peter Staciwa.