Australian Law Firms Advise on Major Deals, Including APA Group Project

On 13 October 2026, several prominent Australian law firms, including Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Mallesons, Allens, and Gilbert + Tobin, announced their involvement in significant transactions across Australia, encompassing energy infrastructure, corporate acquisitions, and debt financing. Corrs Chambers Westgarth acted as lead tax adviser to APA Group on the $1.3 billion Brigalow Peaking Power Plant project in Queensland, a gas power station development aimed at supporting the state’s renewable energy transition. Separately, Mallesons advised Lynas Rare Earths Limited on its proposed acquisition of Meteoric Resources Limited, which was advised by Allens, through an all-scrip scheme of arrangement valued at approximately $968 million. Additionally, Mallesons advised SharonAI Holdings Inc. on a US$356 million senior secured debt facility for deploying graphics processing unit (GPU) compute infrastructure, with Gilbert + Tobin guiding a lender group comprising Australian, Asian, and global lenders. The excerpt details the specific partners and legal teams involved in each of these substantial deals, highlighting the complex legal expertise required.

These announced deals underscore the continued robust activity within Australia's energy, corporate M&A, and finance sectors, reflecting strategic investments and a dynamic economic landscape. The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant project signifies ongoing investment in energy infrastructure, balancing traditional and renewable sources during the transition, where intricate tax structuring is paramount. The proposed acquisition of Meteoric Resources by Lynas Rare Earths via a scheme of arrangement highlights a common and often preferred mechanism for corporate control transactions in Australia, particularly for its efficiency in achieving 100% ownership. The significant debt facility for SharonAI Holdings Inc. demonstrates the growing demand for financing in technology infrastructure, attracting both domestic and international capital.

The legal context for these transactions is multifaceted. The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant project is subject to Queensland and federal environmental, planning, and energy regulations, with tax advice navigating the complexities of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) and Goods and Services Tax Act 1999 (Cth). The proposed scheme of arrangement between Lynas Rare Earths and Meteoric Resources falls under Part 5.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), requiring stringent shareholder approval and court sanction, typically from the Federal Court of Australia or a state Supreme Court. Such transactions also necessitate careful consideration of competition law under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), potentially involving review by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The SharonAI debt facility would be governed by general contract law principles, the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) for security interests, and potentially foreign law depending on the domicile of the lenders.

Key parties involved include the corporate entities APA Group, Lynas Rare Earths Limited, Meteoric Resources Limited, and SharonAI Holdings Inc., alongside the prominent law firms Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Mallesons, Allens, and Gilbert + Tobin. Specific legal professionals mentioned for their leadership roles include Luke Imbriano and Cameron Blackwood from Corrs; Robert Kelly, Yuen-Yee Cho, and Stephen Sharpe from Mallesons; and David Gray, Alexandra Meade, Igor Bogdanich, and Charles Ashton from Allens. The outcome of the proposed acquisition by Lynas Rare Earths Limited is not yet reported, as the excerpt focuses on the firms' advisory roles in the announced transactions.

Practitioners should note the sustained demand for sophisticated legal advice in large-scale infrastructure, M&A, and finance deals across Australia. The emphasis on specialized tax advisory for energy projects signals the increasing complexity of structuring and financing such ventures in a transitioning energy market. For corporate lawyers, the scheme of arrangement remains a critical and frequently utilized tool for significant takeovers, demanding meticulous adherence to the Corporations Act and an understanding of court processes. Furthermore, the involvement of international lenders in the SharonAI deal highlights the cross-border nature of modern finance transactions, requiring expertise in both domestic and international legal frameworks. Attorneys should remain vigilant regarding regulatory developments in energy, competition, and corporate law, as well as evolving tax implications for major projects and cross-border financing structures.