George Varma

Biography

George is a partner in our Energy, Resources and Infrastructure team specialising in construction.

He has over 20 years of experience advising developers, contractors and financiers on a wide variety of complex cross-border transactions in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.

George has particularly strong experience advising participants in renewable energy projects such as wind farms, solar farms and green hydrogen projects, energy + resources (including mining and oil and gas projects), transport and infrastructure assets such as roads, rail and public infrastructure.

Experience

George's experience includes advising:

  • DT Infrastructure on the development of the 550MW Goulburn River Solar Farm and BESS project, including drafting and negotiating the EPC Contracts and the O&M Contracts.

  • Aker Clean Hydrogen on the development of a 600MW green hydrogen production facility, ammonia production facility and data centre in Norway, including providing advice on project structuring, finance, PPA, offtake, construction contracts, supply contracts and permitting requirements.

  • A developer in respect of the development of a natural hydrogen project in South Australia, including providing corporate and project structuring advice.

  • Wind Energy Holdings as the owner and developer of a 450MW wind farm project, which consisted of 5 onshore wind farms in Thailand. Led client negotiations and drafted balance of plant contracts, turbine supply agreements, turbine services agreements, transmission line agreement, design consultant agreements and substation civil works contracts.

  • Aker Solutions on the drafting and negotiation of a subsea gas compression EPC contract package for an off-shore LNG project in Western Australia.

  • Acciona, BMD, AECOM and WSP on their successful tender submission for the performance of rail works as part of the WA Metronet Project. Subsequently engaged by consortium to prepare suite of template subcontract documents for project delivery.

  • Cockburn Cement Limited on a $190 million expansion and upgrade of its cement processing facility in Western Australia, including drafting the full suite of procurement contracts, including, design and construct, minor works, supply and install, supply, consultant and construct only contracts.

  • Acciona, Clough and WSP on their successful tender submission for the construction of the Stephenson Avenue Extension Project. Subsequently engaged by the consortium to prepare a suite of template subcontract documents for project delivery.

  • YTL Starhill Global REIT on the redevelopment of the Plaza Arcade in the Perth CBD for the Uniqlo store, including drafting the design and build construction contract and advising on project delivery matters.

  • Ora Banda Mining Ltd in developing and amending its suite of mine development template contracts, including mining services, construction, minor works, equipment hire, labour hire and consultancy agreements.

  • Faru Graphite Mining Company Limited in respect of the construction of a 220kV transmission line and associated substations at Mahenge, Tanzania, including the construction of a 33kV distribution network to the graphite mine.

  • Ganfeng Lithium International Co Limited on the drafting and amendment of an offtake agreement for the purchase of lithium products from a mine site in Brazil, with delivery to China.

Awards and Recognition

  • Doyle’s Guide 2024

    Recommended Front End Construction and Infrastructure Lawyer

  • Experts Guide Rising Star 2021

    Expert in Energy and Natural Resources, Construction