JWS bolsters energy, infrastructure practices with new hires

Johnson Winter & Slattery (JWS) has beefed up its corporate and infrastructure, and energy and resources practices with two new senior hires.

The firm announced the appointment of Nicolas Grambas as partner in Melbourne and Darren Grondal as consultant in Perth.

Grambas has joined JWS’ corporate and infrastructure practice last July from Sidley Austin LLP, where he was the global leader of the project finance and infrastructure group. He is the sixth partner to join JWS this financial year.

Nicolas Grambas

Grambas brings extensive expertise in mergers and acquisitions, projects, finance, and commercial and legal structuring across a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, utilities, power and renewables, water and wastewater, district energy, mining, and resources.

He also boasts more than two decades of experience in representing strategic and financial sponsors, lenders, and arrangers on complex equity and debt transactions for greenfield and brownfield assets in Australia, Asia, Europe, the US, and the Middle East.

Peter Slattery, JWS managing partner, said Grambas is a great fit for the firm.

“Nicholas has a strong practice representing investors and project sponsors on a range of complex infrastructure asset deals, with a strong focus on the energy sector,” he said. “[He] will further strengthen our capabilities and help us continue to build our corporate offering in Victoria.”

Meanwhile, Grondal has joined JWS last August, bringing more than 30 years of experience in competition law and infrastructure access regulation.

Darren Grondal

He co-founded the boutique commercial law and litigation firm Grondal Bruining, serving as its inaugural managing director prior to joining JWS. He also served as a partner at Ashurst for more than a decade.

Grondal’s work in competition law covers all forms of restrictive trade practices, including cartels, M&A, misuse of market power, exclusive dealing, retail price maintenance, and anti-competitive arrangements. He boasts a deep understanding of the electricity, gas, rail, water, transport, and mining sectors.

Grondal is also an expert in access regulation, ranging across both federal- and state-based regimes. He also regularly advises on statutory interpretation, administrative law, economic and market regulation, and commercial law.

Slattery expressed excitement over Grondal’s appointment.

“Darren has built a strong reputation in the West Australian market for his specialist expertise and deep industry know-how,” he said. “His expertise will perfectly complement the [energy and resources practice] team and provide a unique insight for our clients in the region.”