Baker McKenzie Grows its Construction Practice in Brisbane with the Appointment of a New Partner

Today, Baker McKenzie announces the appointment of a new construction partner in Brisbane, Melanie Harwood. Melanie joins the Firm from MPC Kinetic (MPK), where she held the role of General Counsel and Company Secretary. Melanie has been advising MPK on essential infrastructure services and solutions, including for large scale wind and battery projects.

Baker McKenzie's National Managing Partner, Anne-Marie Allgrove stated: "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. We are thrilled to have her join our Brisbane office."

Baker McKenzie's Head of Construction, Emanuel Confos commented: "Melanie joins us at 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."

Melanie has worked extensively with industry standards and regularly advises her clients on procurement, whilst also drafting and negotiating project and construction related documentation (including PPPs, alliancing, EPC, O&M, ECI, incentivised target cost and delivery partner models). She has particular expertise across infrastructure sectors comprising: transportation, renewables (wind, solar, battery storage, hydrogen), water, waste and health.

When asked about her appointment as a construction partner at Baker McKenzie in Brisbane, Melanie remarked: "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."

Likewise, Melanie commented: "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."