Qualifications
BA, LLB, University of Auckland
Admitted
2009, New Zealand
Lauren leads Chapman Tripp’s energy sector group, and specialises in development of major projects, M&A and regulatory matters in the energy sector.
She has a passion for renewable energy, and has experience working on projects for all four renewable fuels – wind, solar, hydro and geothermal.
Her experience includes conventional electricity, renewable electricity, oil and gas (upstream and downstream), mergers and acquisitions of energy companies, joint ventures, energy storage, hydrogen and new fuels, and negotiation of power purchase agreements, grid connection agreements and O&M agreements.
Lauren previously worked for UK magic circle law firm Allen & Overy in their Abu Dhabi projects team. While there, she advised on the development of independent power and water projects and large scale gas transactions, including LNG.
Lauren was named Energy, Natural Resources & Mining Lawyer of the Year at the 2023 APAC Women in Business Law Awards, and has been recognised as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, an Up and Coming lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific, and featured in NZ Lawyer’s Elite Women List in 2024.
Recent highlights
- Advising Mercury on the Huntly strategic reserve arrangements, including a 10-year term Huntly Firming Option and associated coal procurement and joint strategic reserve stockpile agreement entered into with Genesis Energy, Contact Energy and Meridian Energy.
- Advising NZ Clean Energy on the development its solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects, and on the sale of its renewable energy platform to Foresight through its Australian Renewables Income Fund, enabling the Masterton (89MW solar + BESS), Darfield (106MW solar + BESS) and Dannevirke (72MW solar + BESS) projects to progress to construction.
- Advising Pioneer Green Power on the development of its solar projects, and the sale of the ‘ready to build’ Rangiriri solar project (271MW) to Genesis Energy.
- Advising Vector on the sale of its OnGas LPG business, and its 60.25% shareholding in Liquigas Limited, for $150m.
- Advising Eastland Group on its sale of a 50% stake in its electricity generation business to Japanese construction conglomerate Obayashi Corporation - Awarded the Best M&A Deal for 2024 by FinanceAsia.
- Advising Mercury on its power purchase agreement with Solar Bay and ‘sleeving’ of that electricity purchase for Ryman Healthcare.
- Advising Eastland Generation on various geothermal projects including on the development of TOPP2 49MW geothermal power plant and the Te Ahi o Maui 26MW geothermal power plant, and its purchase of the TOPP1 geothermal power plant from Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
