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Baker McKenzie adds construction partner
Global law firm Baker McKenzie has bolstered its construction practice in Brisbane with the addition of a new partner, who was formerly a GC at an energy services and infrastructure company.
Lauren Croft
Baker McKenzie has appointed Melanie Harwood, who has returned to BigLaw after a stint in-house, as a construction partner in Brisbane.
Harwood was most recently a general counsel and company secretary at MPC Kinetic (MPK), where she advised on essential infrastructure services and solutions, including for large-scale wind and battery projects.
She has extensive expertise across infrastructure sectors comprising transportation, renewables (wind, solar, battery storage, hydrogen), water, waste and health and regularly advises her clients on procurement while also drafting and negotiating project and construction-related documentation.
“Baker McKenzie is at the forefront of growing the digital infrastructure of the future. A firm that has led the market in supporting their clients’ advancement in AI, cloud computing and big data processing (i.e., data centres), along with the requisite renewable energy production, transmission and storage infrastructure,” Harwood said.
“It’s well known as a firm which is regularly called upon to advise major companies on their energy transition plans and hence knows, perhaps more than any other, how to support clients build and secure the sustainable infrastructure of tomorrow.”
This news follows the promotion of 18, including three partners, in July this year and comes at a time of growth for Baker McKenzie’s Brisbane office, according to head of construction Emanuel Confos.
“Melanie joins us at a time of significant growth in our Brisbane practice, which will draw heavily on her extensive experience advising clients on major infrastructure and energy projects around the world,” he said.
Further commenting on the new appointment, Baker McKenzie national managing partner Anne-Marie Allgrove said she was “thrilled” with the firm’s new partner.
“Melanie is a market-leading construction lawyer, with a career spanning in-house and private practice, both in Australia and the Middle East, across a large range of industry sectors, including transportation, health, power, water and renewables,” she said.
“We are thrilled to have her join our Brisbane office.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
