Multi-Disciplinary Energy + Infrastructure Practice to Accelerate Land Access for Major Renewable Energy Projects

Melbourne, Australia – Law Squared, a global leader in Human Centred Law, proudly announces the launch of its dedicated Energy + Infrastructure practice group. Leveraging innovative technologies and disciplined project management methodologies, Law Squared has reimagined the approach to land access for energy, telecommunications, and infrastructure projects into a multidisciplinary, streamlined but landowner centric process. 

Demetrio Zema, Founder + Director of Law Squared, highlighted the significance of renewable energy and infrastructure projects for Australia's future, stating: "The efficient and timely construction of renewable generation and storage, linked by transmission lines, is critical for our energy transition and net-zero objectives. Removing roadblocks and engaging affected landowners and communities effectively is critical to this ambition.” 

“Law Squared is leveraging new technologies to make the land access and engagement process more efficient and effective. We’re excited to bring this new way of working and methodology to energy and infrastructure clients and their projects.” 

“Without an efficient, effective and transparent land access process, and positive landholder engagement, projects can stall, and landowner trust is compromised, leading to delays, increased costs, and potentially, a more onerous land acquisition process. Our unique approach seeks to significantly increase positive landholder engagement, improve social license adoption, and provide deep insights and analytics on the data captured,” says Demetrio. 

Australia last conducted large-scale land acquisition for transmission projects more than thirty years ago, and despite technological advances revolutionising project management and operational efficiencies, the standard playbook for land access remains rooted in a purely legalistic approach. 

“Leveraging technology is a threshold requirement for most projects with widespread consumer impact today,” explains Demetrio of the drivers behind the firm’s technology-led approach to landholder engagement. 

“By combining legal expertise with disciplined project management and technology, under our fixed cost approach, clients have cost certainty and visibility at every stage, informing strategic decision-making and delivering more cost-effective outcomes.” 

Spearheaded by lawyers skilled in complex property matters, along with project managers and human-centered technologists, the multi-disciplinary team offers a one-stop solution for energy and infrastructure clients tasked with land acquisition. The new team will deliver project support and legal capability to manage land access agreements, options for easement/purchase, long term lease arrangements and compulsory acquisition (if required). Working on a phased approach, the team offers services across Legal Project Planning, Legal Operations + Technology Design, and Legal Delivery. 

“Our broad experience and integrated approach eliminate the need to engage multiple law firms, reducing duplication of effort and costs, leading to single point accountability and building a powerful body of landholder data,” says Demetrio. 

Nino Ficca, Law Squared Advisory Board Chair, celebrates the firm’s innovative approach to helping energy and infrastructure companies solve this critical piece of the energy transition puzzle. 

Nino highlights the significance of the firm’s progressive approach to risk: “Law Squared changes the conventional legal approach to landholder engagement significantly. Instead of relying on time-based billing metrics where every delay, legal challenge, and inefficiency benefits the legal provider, this outcomes-focused approach provides a single point of accountability and shifts the risk from clients to Law Squared. The team is incentivised to understand project needs deeply, optimise efficiencies, and leverage technology to the client’s satisfaction - and ultimately to the advantage of the wider Australian community.” 

“Innovative approaches like this will be crucial for accelerating Australia's transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future and ultimately a better way to manage land access and land holder engagement,” says Nino. 

For more information about Law Squared's Energy + Infrastructure practice, visit here.

For media enquiries please contact:  

Lisa Malone //  Marketing + Communications – Law Squared  //  Mobile: +61 456 922 808  //  Email: [email protected]