For the litigation partner, disputes are “rarely black and white”
Since he was a student, Peter Brabant has always enjoyed examining issues from various angles to figure out different perspectives. As a litigation partner today, he applies this instinct to great effect especially with disputes, which he describes as “rarely black and white”.
In the first part of this interview, the K&L Gates partner talks a years-long secondment in Singapore, decommissioning matters, and building a practice across the APAC region.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
It goes back a while now! I’ve always been drawn to problem solving. Even at school and university, I enjoyed debating and pulling apart an issue from different angles — not just to “win” an argument, but to understand why people see things differently and how a resolution might actually be reached. That instinct has stayed with me throughout my career.
My favourite part of the job is working through disputes because they’re rarely black and white. I enjoy building a client’s case, responding to the other side, and – where it makes sense – finding common ground that helps move things forward. When you can help a client cut through the noise and get to a practical outcome that aligns with their business goals, that’s incredibly satisfying.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
Another tough one! I recently returned to Sydney after living in Singapore for 8 years. I first moved up to Singapore on a secondment with a global energy major. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn what a client wants from outside counsel and be part of the inner workings of a global giant, including reporting to business leaders and aligning on objectives and outcomes. I was part of a team stretching across APAC and EMEA managing some very complex and significant disputes and investigations. The secondment lasted two-and-a-half years!
In the disputes and investigations world, I really enjoy rolling up my sleeves and getting involved in fact finding and problem solving; so, being on the ground with clients, speaking to businesspeople, learning about operations. This naturally led me back to private practice.
I was lucky enough to base myself in Singapore and use that as a platform to build out my practice across APAC. I've run cases in dozens of countries, from Australia to India to China to Thailand to Korea and built some fantastic relationships along the way! It's amazing how distinct each nation's culture and way of doing business is across the region. Understanding this is important, as it shapes how you go about resolving disputes and investigations for clients.
What in your opinion was the most important thing you got involved in over the past year?
Decommissioning has been, and continues to be, a major focus of my work. For a range of reasons – operational, environmental, strategic, and technical – we are witnessing an increasing number of sites and assets in the energy and resources sector being decommissioned across APAC – from Australia to Thailand to China.
Over the past year, I have regularly advised clients on how to navigate the myriad risks that decommissioning can present at every stage of this process. That often includes helping clients manage disputes when issues arise, which is a critical part of ensuring a smooth transition as assets and sites reach the end of their lifecycle.
I've been fortunate to work alongside clients on decommissioning matters for almost a decade across the region, and that long-term involvement has given me a deep appreciation of how complex these projects can be. Supporting clients on everything from liability exposure and regulatory obligations to environmental considerations, operational challenges and commercial negotiations has been both demanding and rewarding – and it remains one of the most meaningful aspects of my practice.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
Ending with another tough one! I'm fortunate to be able to say, there are quite a few days I’d happily relive! But if I had to choose just one, it would be my wedding day. So much fun, love and what a party it was!
