Stuart is a resources sector specialist. He has many years of experience in advising Australian and international companies on a range of transactions in the resources sector, including M&A, joint ventures, transport and infrastructure agreements and commodity sales arrangements.
Stuart has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating long term high value rail haulage and track access arrangements. He has advised clients on a number of significant rail infrastructure projects.
He was awarded Projects, Energy and Resources Partner of the Year in the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2023. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in the areas of Corporate Law, Natural Resources Law, Mining Law, Oil & Gas Law, Energy Law, Water Law and Government Practice Law.
According to a client testimonial, “Stuart is an exceptionally user-friendly resources specialist with an excellent ability to cut through the noise and focus his clients’ attention on what they really need to know and how best to address it. His advice is highly commercial based on deep industry knowledge and experience. His drafting is clear, concise and creative.”
According to Australia Pacific Legal 500, Stuart Clague and his fellow Partner Bruce Adkins “have a great all-around combination of industry knowledge, M&A prowess, commerciality and technical discipline, which makes them unique in the E&R market. Their commitment and responsiveness to client demands are also exceptional.”
Advised Magnetic Rail Group (a joint venture between M Infrastructure and PT Asian Bulk Logistics) on the acquisition of One Rail Australia’s east coast rail haulage business from Aurizon.
Advised a confidential bidder on its multi-billion dollar bid to acquire BHP’s 80% interest in BHP Mitsui Coal (Poitrel and South Walker Creek operations, Red Mountain Infrastructure and the Wards Well project), BHP’s 33% interest in the Cerrejón coal mine and BHP’s Mt Arthur coal mine.
Advised a confidential bidder on its multi-billion dollar bid to acquire BHP and Mitsubishi Development’s 100% interest in the Blackwater and Daunia coal mines.
Advised European commodity trader and investor Coeclerici on its strategic investment in Vecco Group which is developing the Debella vanadium project and related processing facilities in Queensland.
Advised a confidential bidder on its unsuccessful bid to acquire the Ensham coal mine.
Advised Bowen Coking Coal on the acquisition New Hope’s interest in the New Lenton Joint Venture (comprising the New Lenton coal project and the Burton coal mine and related on-site infrastructure).
Advised Peabody on the sale of the Millennium coal mine to MetRes (a joint venture between M Resources and Stanmore Resources)
Advised Peabody on the sale of the Wilkie Creek mine to New Emerald Energy.
Advised Peabody on the sale of its 50% interest in the Red Mountain Infrastructure Joint Venture to BHP Mitsui Coal.
Advised MACH Energy in relation to the A$320 million acquisition of the Mt Pleasant Coal Project from Rio Tinto, and the $500 million development of the new Mt Pleasant coal mine. Subsequently advised MACH Energy in relation to the sale of a 5% interest in the Mt Pleasant coal mine to Japan Coal Development Co., Ltd.
Advised Bowen Coking Coal on the acquisition of the Bluff coal mine.
Advised Peabody on the sale of the Metropolitan coal mine to South32.
Advised Peabody on the sale of the Burton coal mine and related infrastructure to the New Lenton Joint Venture (comprising New Hope and Formosa).
Advised Peabody on the sale of the Moranbah / Wotonga and Wotonga South coal projects to Stanmore Resources.
Advised Bowen Coking Coal on the acquisition of the Hillalong coal project from Rio Tinto.
Advised Co-operative Bulk Handling Limited on a long-term rail haulage and maintenance agreement with Aurizon. The agreement covers all of CBH’s rail requirements for Western Australian grain harvests.
Advised Peabody and CITIC in relation to the A$120 million sale of the Olive Downs and Willunga coal projects to Pembroke Resources (an investment vehicle of Denham Capital).
Recent amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EP Act) further reform the mine rehabilitation regime in Queensland.
Peabody and Bowen Coking Coal have executed a binding agreement for the sale of the Broadmeadow East Coal Project, an undeveloped coking coal project located within ML 70257 near Moranbah, Queensland.
Amendments to the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014 (Qld) (MERCP Act) will introduce a new disqualification process for applicants for new resource tenements, and...