I act for both government and the private sector on major energy projects that have a significant regulatory overlay. My practice includes advising on strategic policy implementation, drafting and negotiating large offtake agreements, connection and use of system agreements, gas transportation and storage agreements, energy retail contracting, and green scheme (including carbon offset) compliance and contracting.

Career highlights

• Lead adviser to AEMO in respect of laws being made by the NSW government regulating the Central-West Orana and other NSW renewable energy zones which require AEMO's concurrence.
• Lead adviser to the Victorian Government on the project design and implementation of the State's second successful renewable energy reverse auction (VRET 2), where the State contracted for 623MW of new renewable generation and up to 365MW and 600 MWh of battery storage.
• Lead adviser to the Victorian Government on the implementation of all of Victoria's renewable energy zones, involving a $540 million fund to assist in strengthening and expanding Victoria electricity transmission network in order to help support up to 3,000MW of new generation and enable an orderly and coordinated transition to renewable energy.
• Lead adviser to the Victorian Government on the first of its kind Victorian Big Battery Project, involving the State's procurement of a system integrity projection scheme (SIPS) thermal service from one of the world's largest lithium ion batteries, to increase the import capacity of the Victoria-New South Wales electricity interconnector.
• Lead adviser to Aurora Energy on multiple offtake and retail agreements, including the long term offtake agreement for the Cattle Hill Wind Farm.
• Adviser to the Victorian Government on the successful implementation of VRET1.
• Adviser to the Victorian Government on its energy storage initiative project, involving the funding of two large-scale battery projects in Western Victoria.

Awards and recognition

• Best Lawyers in Australia
• Rising Star 2020, 2021, 2022, Key Lawyer 2023 Energy Transactions and Regulatory – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Clients said 'Fiona Lewis is an exceptional lawyer. Her knowledge of the regulatory framework and practice [and] advice on how to navigate it makes her a stand out. She is also very technically savvy – able to speak confidently about various energy technologies and infrastructure, 'Fiona Lewis is a superstar. Great sector knowledge, and I feel confident when she talks about how our regulatory powers may work in practice' and that Fiona has 'very high interpersonal skills and strong legal and communication skills'.

Education
BA, LLB

• Victorian Women Lawyers Association, member

• Ban of embedded networks in Victoria
  

  The Victorian Government intends to reform the regulatory framework for embedded networks in residential sites. We summarise key recommendations of its Embedded Networks Review Final Recommendation Report.

• MinterEllison advises on Victorian Renewable Energy Targets Auction, VRET2.
  

  Leading law firm MinterEllison has advised Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) on designing and implementing its second Victorian Renewable Energy Target reverse auction program (VRET2). The program provides investment certainty in the construction of new energy generation projects.

• Making offshore wind a reality in Australia
  

  Offshore wind has a role to play in Australia's energy transition. In addition, its potential market of 20 gigawatts or more provides potential economic and employment opportunities associated with the billions of dollars of local capital expenditure required for that development.

• Reform of the AER civil penalty regime
  

  How will the proposed reforms in the Statutes Amendment (National Energy Laws) (Penalties and Enforcement) Bill 2020 impact the energy sector in South Australia? As the bill awaits its passage through the South Australian Parliament, we analyse its implications.

• Overcoming renewable energy's challenges in connecting to the grid
  

  For some time, renewable energy industry participants have faced significant risks in connecting their projects to the grid. A new reform roadmap proposes to help ease these challenges.

• Update on Safeguard Mechanism reforms
  

  In this update, we take you through the recent round of reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism and what they mean for regulated facilities.