Speaker details

Biography

Chair of the MinterEllisonRuddWatts partnership, Sarah is a highly regarded construction, infrastructure and energy specialist. She has extensive experience acting for both government and private sector clients in large-scale, complex infrastructure projects and public sector reform programmes. Sarah brings a unique whole of system viewpoint and is known for providing commercially pragmatic, strategic advice on infrastructure funding models, procurement strategies, programme delivery, legislative frameworks and contracting structures. Sarah leads our firm’s roles on the Three Waters Reform Programme, Light Rail project, City Rail Link project and the Anchor Projects in the Christchurch rebuild. She has acted on all Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the New Zealand market and is also leading our team supporting the Wellington Gateway Partnership on the delivery of Transmission Gully. Sarah is adept at conceptualising strategy and navigating challenges inherent in projects carried out in the public eye. Sarah has expertise in both the renewable energy and upstream oil and gas sectors and advises on ‘first-of-kind’ projects such as Ports of Auckland’s hydrogen-fuelling project and the Major Electricity Users’ Group (MEUG) renewable energy generation project. Sarah has extensive experience in combining the commercial components of a project with a deep understanding of legislative, procurement and delivery processes, particularly in pathfinder projects. At the forefront of shaping the infrastructure and construction sectors in New Zealand, Sarah also holds significant leadership roles, sitting on the inaugural board of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission – Te Waihanga, and having served on The Treasury New Zealand advisory panel that established the Commission. Sarah’s expertise in construction, infrastructure and energy is consistently recognised in major legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific and Global. With in-house counsel experience at Genesis Energy, Enron Europe, and Utilicorp, London, Sarah focuses on issues critical to value. Clients praise her “deep understanding of the building and construction sector," describing her as “a leading New Zealand lawyer who brings the best out of her teams, has excellent technical skills herself, is very collaborative and has an exceptional network" - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022.