Stuart Broadfoot delivers tax expertise, while James Durnall brings his experience with clean energy
Bird & Bird partner James Durnall and King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) special counsel Stuart Broadfoot have made the jump to K&L Gates as the firm’s newest partners.
Durnall brings his considerable experience with clean energy transactions, while Broadfoot’s extensive tax expertise is set to benefit K&L Gates’ taxation team.
“James brings enormous capability around clean energy projects, which is a real focus of not only Australian governments and the private sector, but of high interest around the world. He adds to our existing renewable energy experience across both our Australian offices and our global platform”, managing partner Nick Nichola said.
Durnall previously worked with Bird & Bird’s corporate and project finance team. He concentrated on handling innovative transactions in clean energy and renewables, such as utility scale solar and onshore wind, waste-to-energy, anaerobic digestion, battery storage and energy efficiency projects.
He has also tackled domestic and international investment funds and capital markets. He has worked with developers, energy and infrastructure funds, equity investors, EPC and O&M contractors, off-takers and asset managers.
Durnall spent some time working in-house, and has recorded stints in private equity and project finance for a London-based French aerospace and defence conglomerate.
Meanwhile, Broadfoot specialised in complex Australian and international corporate and finance tax advisory, transactional and dispute matters at KWM. He has handled cross-border and international tax issues for both inbound and outbound investors, M&A deals, restructures, structured finance, and project finance and development.
He has experience with international and UK taxation issues, having logged a tenure at Clifford Chance in the UK. He has advised large corporates, as well as international and domestic funds.
“Taxation is an ever-evolving area of law and we believe there will be an even greater focus on taxation as governments at all levels face economic uncertainty that will place pressure on their budgets”, Nichola explained.
