Susan TaylorPrincipal

M: +61 407 965 664E: susan.taylor@hivelegal.com.au W: www.hivelegal.com.au

Qualifications

• Grad Dip (Corporations and Securities Law) University of Melbourne

• LLB University of Melbourne• BCom (Economics) University of

Melbourne• New York Bar• Graduate – Australian Institute of

Company Directors

Industry Experience:

• Energy – Electricity, Gas & Renewables• Water• Climate Change• Commercial Law• Competition Law• Government and Policy

Background

Susan has been practising law for over 25 years. She is a specialist energy regulatory lawyer with a background in commercial and competition law. She played a leading role in the development of energy regulatory frameworks in Australia and in several locations overseas. She is formerly a partner of Freehills and has also held senior legal roles within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (US) and as General Counsel and Company Secretary of ASX-listed energy utility, AusNet Services.

Areas of Speciality:

• Energy markets (electricity and gas)• Regulatory advice• Strategic and policy advice• Price reviews and access arrangements• Renewable energy projects, regulation

and compliance• Energy commercial transactions, including

PPAs, Connection Agreements, Ancillary Services Agreements, and interactions with AEMO, AER and AEMC

Independent recognition

• Ranked in “Preeminent” category of In-House Lawyers in Energy and Resources Companies in Australia – Doyles Guide 2015

Representative transactions:

NGMC: Drafted original National Electricity Code (precursor to National Electricity Rules)

State Government of Victoria: § Major role in the regulatory reform and

privatisation of the Victorian electricity and gas industries (sell-side)

§ Drafted Victorian regulatory instruments, including legislation, electricity and gas licences, electricity and gas market rules; codes of conduct

§ Prepared Regulatory Impact Statements to support new legislation for electricity and gas industries (Victoria)

§ Prepared rules and guidelines for independent energy regulator (Office of the Regulator-General, Vic – now Essential Services Commission)

§ Drafted Victorian Gas Market System and Operations Rules (precursor to National Gas Rules)

Other State Governments – Australia: Advised State-owned electricity companies and their government-owners in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania on transition to national electricity market, including preparation of rules and codes to implement participation in the NEM

Drafted and managed process for ground-breaking Rules changes to introduce market transmission network services

International: Extensive experience workingin the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and the United States on electricity and gas regulatory systems and frameworks, including preparing market rules and establishing independent regulatory bodies

Crisis management; Litigation and Royal Commission coordination: Managed legal response to Black Saturday Bushfires Royal Commission and three major class actionswhile General Counsel of AusNet Services.

Renewable Energy: Extensive work on renewable energy projects, including establishment, connection and operations; Experience working with renewable energy target schemes

Commercial: Negotiated and drafted PPAs, hedge contracts (including ISDA documents), connection agreements, use of system agreements, gas supply agreements, gas off-take agreements, gas quality agreements, LNG agreements, acquisitions and sales of assets/shares; held role as member of Executive Leadership Team (General Counsel & Company Secretary) of major ASX-listed electricity/gas utility company, AusNet Services – managed ASX and ASIC requirements

Regulation: Acted for AusNet Services in preparing submissions to AER on distribution network price/revenue resets; conducted appeal to Australian Competition Tribunal of distribution business’ revenue regulatory determination; acted for Australian Energy Regulator on preparation of compliance report; acted for major electricity/gas retailer on solar feed-in tariffs and other regulatory matters