Christopher Flynn

Biography

Chris is a partner in our Energy and Infrastructure group.

He is one of Australia’s leading energy and infrastructure lawyers and strategic advisors. He is an energy and critical infrastructure specialist. His experience spans complex M&A, project development and cross-border joint ventures. His experience extends to energy, security, data, defence, space, and telecommunications. 

He has worked in over 60 countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, Europe and in Africa. He is particularly experienced in matters involving complex regulatory issues, including FIRB. Previously, he was co-head of Energy and Power (APAC), and global co-head of Sovereign Energy at a leading global law firm. 

Chris holds a Master of Letters from the University of St Andrews (taken as a Chevening Scholar), a Master of Laws (International Law) from the University of Sydney and Bachelors degrees in Law (Honours) and Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from Griffith University. He also studied at the University of Salamanca (as an Ambassadorial Scholar).  

He is a member of the Advisory Board, Law Futures Centre at Griffith University. 

Chris is admitted to practice in New South Wales, Queensland, and England and Wales. 

Experience

Chris’s experience includes advising:

  • EIG / MidOcean on its A$18.4 billion joint bid with Brookfield for Origin Energy.

  • EIG / MidOcean on its US$2.2 billion acquisition of a portfolio of LNG assets from Tokyo Gas.

  • FRV on the 50% sell-down of its Australian and New Zealand renewable energy business to Canadian pension fund OMERS, and the design and structuring of their related joint venture arrangements.

  • Sun Cable on the design, structuring and implementation of its landmark solar power production, transmission and export project from Australia to Singapore.

  • A short listed, final bidder on its bid to acquire Tilt Renewables, valued at approximately NZ$3 billion.

  • TasNetworks on its arrangements regarding Marinus Link with Victoria, Tasmania and the Commonwealth.

  • Qube Logistics in respect of its bulk storage and handling arrangements and related joint venture at the Port of Newcastle.

  • The State of Papua New Guinea and its national petroleum company, Kumul Petroleum, on negotiations with ExxonMobil (as operator) and its joint venture partners on the multibillion-dollar development of the P'nyang gas field, including a third train alongside the existing US$19 billion PNG LNG project, and across from Total SA on the US$15 billion Papua LNG Project.

  • Bernard Collaery, the former Attorney-General of the ACT and lawyer for Timor L'este, in relation to his criminal charges under the Intelligence Services Act 2001.

  • A bidder on its 'first in market' innovative solutions to supply the South Australian and the New South Wales governments with 100% of its electricity supply requirements from a renewable portfolio.

  • Eni S.P.A. on its US$2.6 billion acquisition, with Var Energi ASA, of Neptune Energy.

  • Total Energies on its US$900 million acquisition of OMV’s 50% interest in SapuraOMV.

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

    Ranked Band 3 for Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas

  • Chambers Global 2024

    Ranked Band 3 for Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas

  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024

    Leading Individual for Energy (Transactions & Regulatory)

  • Who’s Who Legal 2024

    Leading Individual and Global Elite Thought Leader in Energy in the Asia Pacific region (one of three)

  • IFLR Australia 2024

    ‘Notable practitioner’ for Project Development

  • Best Lawyers 2025

    Construction / Infrastructure Law

  • Best Lawyers 2025

    Natural Resources Law

  • Best Lawyers 2025

    Oil and Gas Law