Cyber, energy, workplace: the industries seeing high legal demand

Unprecedented demand for cybersecurity, workplace and energy lawyers has defined the Australian legal market over the past year, while corporate work creeps back to pre-pandemic levels.

Unprecedented demand for cybersecurity, workplace and energy lawyers has defined the Australian legal market over the past year, firms say.

Unprecedented demand for ­cybersecurity, workplace and energy lawyers has defined the Australian legal market over the past year, while corporate work slowly creeps back to pre-pandemic levels.

The Australian’s Legal Partnership survey of nearly 50 firms found many were seeing huge demand for energy lawyers due to a government-led green push, while various large-scale data hacks – including at Optus and Medibank – have seen the need for solid cybersecurity skills.

Firms also indicated workplace lawyers were seeing huge amounts of work, as Labor’s right-to-disconnect laws are introduced and employee rights make their way to the fore.

DLA Piper managing partner Amber Matthews said energy transition expertise was “highly valued in this market now and will continue to be in the coming years as Australia transitions to more renewable energy sources”. “We advise on more renewable energy deals than any other firm globally, so our overall bench-strength on renewables is second to none,” she said. “The pipeline for renewable work continues to grow, and includes a number of recent appointments to large cross-border renewables projects and investments.”

The Australian’s Legal Partnership survey of nearly 50 firms found many were seeing huge demand for energy lawyers due to a government-led green push. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Lander & Rogers chief executive partner Genevieve Collins said the energy transition and ESG had become a huge area of demand for the firm.

“Energy transition and ESG generally have become a growth area for our firm as clients bid for transmission infrastructure projects across Australia, seeking strategic legal and commercial advice across renewable energy infrastructure and relevant regulatory frameworks,” she said.

“Two of our recent lateral partner hires practise in the ­energy and environment sectors. Hoda Naghdy, a Sydney-based partner who joined the firm in September 2023 to enhance our construction and infrastructure offering with a focus on renewable energy infrastructure, including wind and solar and renewable energy zones.

“Tom White, also based in Sydney, who advises on environment and planning law with a focus on energy and infrastructure projects and property development. Tom provides strategic advice across the project life cycle to facilitate the approval and development of infrastructure, industrial, residential and education projects.”

Similarly, Herbert Smith Freehills executive partner Kristin Stammer said demand for ­energy transition “remains a top priority”. She also said the firm was seeing an increase in corporate M&A activity, despite the sector dropping off massively during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ashurst global chief executive Paul Jenkins said his firm had seen growing demand for energy transition, technology, banks and funds, infrastructure and government work. He added that clients were becoming increasingly concerned about the online world and risks associated with data breaches and cyber­security. “An increase in client concerns about privacy, data protection and cyber security is keeping our digital economy and risk consulting teams very busy,” he said. “ESG compliance is another hot topic, as companies face increased scrutiny over sustainability and social licence issues.”

K&L Gates regional managing partner Jason Opperman said the firm was experiencing demand across a range of areas, including some that had dropped off as a result of Covid.

Client demand for employment and workplace safety law remains strong, and construction, banking and finance, ­energy, infrastructure and renewables, and insolvency are all areas of increased activity,” he said. “We are seeing early indications that real estate and corporate/M&A work is beginning to trend upwards, but these areas are still below where they were two years ago.”