MinterEllison

M&A/Capital Markets Partner and Korea Practice Leader Tom Shon, along with Managing Partner - International Brendan Clark, this week attended the grand opening of Hanwha Defence Australia's Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE), a state-of-the-art facility in Victoria for high-tech armoured vehicle manufacturing. The H-ACE will produce Self-Propelled Howitzers, Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles (Stage 1), and Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Stage 2) for the Australian Army. They were joined by notable delegates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Richard Marles MP, Chief of Army LTGEN Simon Stuart, Minister of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Mr. Seok Jong-gun, and His Excellency Mr Seungseob Sim, South Korea’s Ambassador to Australia. Led by Tom Shon and Project, Infrastructure & Construction Partner Ben Fuller, MinterEllison is proud to have advised on all aspects of Stage 1 of the H-ACE project, and is now advising on Stage 2. The completion of H-ACE marks a significant milestone in Australia-Korea relations, boosting Australia's defence capabilities and providing new opportunities for the Australian defence industry and regional allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Today is Wear It Purple Day! Across our Australian offices, we're donning purple hues to show our support for young people in the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating their right to pride in their identity. Our Pride Network at MinterEllison (PRIME) leads the charge, advocating tirelessly for inclusion and nurturing a culture where everyone feels they belong. This year is extra meaningful as we embark on a new journey as pro bono supporters with Wear it Purple, reinforcing our commitment to championing diversity and inclusion. Whilst we celebrate the purple today, we're about rainbow every day. Thanks to PRIME's dedication, we're honoured to support events like Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and have achieved Platinum Employer status in the Australian Workplace Equality Index. #WearItPurpleDay #InclusionMatters 🌈🏳️🌈

The debate on superannuation governance is heating up. MinterEllison ESG Strategic Adviser Jeremy Cooper and Partner Ruth Stringer, share their thoughts in the AFR this week on rethinking the role of retirees on super boards to strengthen our superannuation system. They also delve into the new "retirement challenge," highlighting that younger members, who will retire well beyond 2050, will find the decarbonisation of the Australian economy to be a key factor in their standard of living in retirement. Read more in AFR https://lnkd.in/g7y_APBV

The unique challenges of AI procurement and why it requires a different approach to traditional technology acquisitions was the key topic explored as we relaunched our Technology Breakfast series in our Sydney office this week. During this engaging panel discussion, we tackled the critical questions to ask #AI vendors, best practices for managing AI risks throughout the #procurement lifecycle, and key elements to include in AI contracts. A big thank you to our guest speaker Christina Wiremu-Brook, AI & Data Specialist, Education and Skills Reform, NSW Education who joined Partner Nicholas Pascoe (Technology, Digital and Data Law), Mandy Bancroft (Executive Director, Technology Consulting) and Sam Burrett (AI Lead Client Solutions and Legal Optimisation Consulting) in sharing valuable insights into the complexities of procuring AI systems.

In our second Trans-Tasman Investment Roundtable, we had the privilege of welcoming New Zealand Prime Minister the Hon Christopher Luxon and senior cabinet ministers the Hon Christopher Bishop, the Hon Simeon Brown and the Hon Shane Jones to our Sydney office last week.   Partner and Head of Private Equity Kimberley Low joined the discussion between the NZ PM and ministers, the Australian High Commissioner and heads of business and leading PE investors in relation to both challenges and opportunities for investment in NZ. As one of the few firms with a truly trans-Tasman presence, we were delighted to be part of this exciting initiative and look forward to further contributing to future investment in NZ. We thank all attendees and the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise team for organising this event.

We believe in the power of technology to transform education. That's why we were delighted to recently donate HP laptops to Northam Senior High School through our partnership with ABCN. The heartfelt thank-you letters from the students have been incredibly touching, showcasing the difference these devices make to their learning and future ambitions. Our engagement doesn’t stop at donations. The recent mentorship session with Optus opened new horizons for these students, revealing the vast possibilities for their future careers and education pathways. We're proud to support these bright minds and look forward to continuing to invest in our community's potential. #CommunityImpact #Education #Mentorship

On Friday 23 August, MinterEllison proudly sponsored and attended the 2024 Australian Institute of Company Directors Climate Risk Governance Forum. The forum provided us with the opportunity to engage with both our clients and leading experts in the field.   One of the day’s highlights was our very own Keith Rovers discussing Not-for-profits and Climate Governance alongside Global Energy Transition Lead at PwC Jon Chadwick, Director of Paul Ramsay Foundation Natalie Walker and Senior Policy Advisor at AICD Anna Gudkov. NFP directors face unique opportunities, risks, and challenges in #climategovernance, and a key takeaway from the discussion was that whilst NFPs may not be subject to the new mandatory #climatereporting regime, there is still value in understanding #climaterisk exposures in the context of the organisation’s value chains and there may be strategic opportunities to create or unlock value. Learn more about our distinctive #ESG legal and consulting expertise: https://lnkd.in/gcweVs_E

The High Court of Australia has set aside an arbitral award under section 34 of the Commercial Arbitration Act 2012 (WA) on the basis that the tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction by revisiting issues already determined in bifurcated proceedings.    The judgment provides a cautionary reminder to ensure all arguments are raised at the appropriate time in bifurcated proceedings.    Read the update. https://lnkd.in/gUvrGWZh

MinterEllison is a major sponsor of today's third annual Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Climate Risk Governance Forum, particularly timely as Australia's mandatory climate reporting law was passed by Parliament yesterday. This morning, we had the pleasure of hearing from Coles Chair James Graham AM, who shared insights on how large companies approach sustainability and environmental management. We particularly resonated with his emphasis that sustainability is a core issue for boards and strategy, not an adjacency. Whether you are an experienced climate and sustainability reporter, or a recent entrant, it is time to get serious. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gahaDePD

With #AI already automating or augmenting contract drafting, administration, and dispute resolution, the potential for AI to transform aspects of the construction lifecycle is undeniable. These were just some of the areas our Legal and Consulting team explored in a seminar with more than 100 industry experts, who offered their insights on the AI landscape. Most respondents (74%) see the scope for AI in their current role, but not until it is more tailored and sophisticated. In line with expert commentators who see the value of AI in enhancing the construction lifecycle, 81% of respondents did not think AI would replace human decision makers in resolving construction disputes in the next five years. Stay tuned for more updates on the role of AI in construction.