Jessica Howe

Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

Jessica Howe

Jessica Howe

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Biography

Jessica Howe is an environment and planning lawyer based in Brisbane. Jessica focuses her practice on environmental law matters, and regularly advises public and private sector clients in a wide variety of industries, including mining, oil and gas, aviation, waste, and major projects. In particular, Jessica has extensive experience in energy and resources matters, carbon reporting and compliance, and waste and contamination matters.

Jessica provides a broad range of services to clients, including environmental due diligence, advice on approval pathways, advice on environmental transactions, including carbon projects, and regulatory compliance. Jessica has been involved in several environmental litigation matters in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court, the Supreme Court of Queensland, and the Land Court of Queensland.


Professional experience

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  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law, 2017
  • Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Bond University, 2017
  • Bachelor of Business (majoring in Marketing), Bond University, 2017
  • High Court of Australia 2017
  • Supreme Court of Queensland 2017

Energy and Resources

  • Arrow Energy –secondment at Arrow Energy in the Land Access team, part time. For over a year, Jessica aided in the delivery of their deviated wells co-existence project, as well as negotiating conduct and compensation agreements on behalf of Arrow Energy. External to Arrow, Jessica provides advice to Arrow in respect of a range of environmental matters, including environmental offsets, environmental authority applications and the interpretation of conditions, compliance and enforcement matters arising under relevant State and Federal legislation.
  • Multicom Resources – on Multicom's application for an Environmental Authority, PRC plan and PRCP Schedule for the Saint Elmo Vanadium Project. Jessica also assisted in negotiations with relevant regulators regarding water allocations for the project.
  • Stanmore Resources – on the environmental aspects of Stanmore's acquisition of an 80% interest in BHP Mitsui Coal, as well as Stanmore's acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in the MetRes JV.

Carbon projects, reporting, and compliance

  • Energy and resources clients - on various carbon project transactions relating to the Carbon Farming Initiative and Emissions Reduction Fund, including project declaration and registration, methodology determinations, and project suitability.
  • Mining and gas clients - on carbon reporting obligations and compliance with the newly amended Safeguard Mechanism Rule.

Renewables

  • Renewables clients on securing appropriate environmental approvals, which involves providing legal guidance on every phase of the project, from feasibility assessment to operational stages and decommissioning.
  • Central Queensland Power - on its deal with CleanCo on a portfolio of renewable energy projects, including the Moah Creek Wind Farm.

Environmental litigation and compliance

  • Two alleged Linc Energy executives - defending against an environmental prosecution by the Queensland Government. The proceedings were discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions, as the Director was no longer satisfied that there were sufficient prospects of convictions.
  • A number of clients across various sectors - on ensuring compliance with environmental obligations.

Major projects

  • Cross River Rail project – on the development and submission of EIS documents, including on technical aspects of the EIS such as flooding issues, noise, and vibration.
  • Queens Wharf Brisbane – on the development and implementation of the PDA planning instruments to facilitate the Queens Wharf Brisbane project, on proposed amendments to planning instruments and approvals, and on compliance with the PDA development scheme.
  • Inland Rail project – on the application of the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 (Qld) to the project.
  • Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Project – on issues relevant to the delivery and completion of the expansion project, in relation to environmental compliance.
  • Toondah Harbour PDA – on aspects of the Toondah Harbour PDA and compliance with the PDA development scheme.
  • Queensland Environmental Law Association member
  • Brisbane Charity Committee Chair

Insights

Nature-related risks and directors’ duties

Publication | November 23, 2023