The Legal 500

Clayton Utz ‘stands out at a national level’ with ‘strength and depth in all cities’. It remains ‘indisputably a leader’ in the field, advising contractors, developers, and energy and resources companies on high-value construction projects. Brisbane-based Arch Fletcher and Stephen Fall recently acted for a consortium on the design and construction (D&C) matters concerning the $35bn Australia Pacific LNG project. Peter Wiese, who gave operational advice to Fortescue Metals Group, and Doug Jones are also recommended.

Freehills’ solid grounding in PPPs has resulted in a steady flow of instructions for its huge construction group. Response times typically ‘exceed the expectations’ of clients and the ‘appropriateness of the advice converts those who may be sceptical of the value of external legal services’. Practice head David Templeman leads this ‘outstanding’ team, which recently acted on the Gorgon LNG facility for Chevron Australia. Andrew Clark advised Victoria’s Department of Transport on D&C contracts relating to the $4.3bn Regional Rail Link Project. David Opperman is the team’s key disputes lawyer.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques has lost a number of prominent construction partners in recent years, but continues to provide ‘prompt commercial advice’ to market-leading contractors, developers and multinational corporations. It is ‘excellent’ across the breadth of Australia, ranging from representing BHP Billiton in a dispute in Port Headland to advising QGC on a $6bn engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract in Curtis Island. Peter Pether heads the team, with James Forrest valued for his ‘strategic contractual advice’.

Allens Arthur Robinson’s ‘impressive’ team is particularly potent advising in construction litigation and complex contractual matters. It recently advised Westpac on the construction of data centres, and Leighton O’Brien led advice to the Transport Construction Authority on the second phase of the $2bn South West Rail Link project.

Blake Dawson’s Graham Read led advice to the Road Traffic Authority on project deeds and D&C contracts relating to the widening of the M5 motorway. Elsewhere, Chris Mitchell and Kevin Arkwright assisted Energy Australia with the construction of a cable tunnel in Sydney’s central business district. Other clients include Leighton Holdings and Brisbane City Council.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is ‘excellent in all sectors’. It advises ASX-listed energy or resources companies on EPC contracts and disputes. Practice head Peter Schenk is appreciated for staffing teams leanly. He recently led advice to QGC on the QCLNG project. Chris Ryder exhibits ‘excellent knowledge of construction law’; Peter Jarosek provides ‘invaluable advice in commercial negotiations’; and Rod Dann is the team’s prize litigator.

Minter Ellison has a raft of expertise in front and back-end construction work, with a noteworthy history in advising public sector clients. Ian Briggs was recently instructed by Queensland’s government to advise on construction of the $2bn Abbott Point multi cargo facility. Stewart Nankervis led advice to Victoria’s Department of Health on the redevelopment of Box Hill Hospital. Commercial development specialist Pamela Jack also does ‘excellent work’ in this area.

Renowned for its ‘professional and complete service’, Baker & McKenzie recently played a key role in disputes relating to Sydney’s Eastern Distributor toll road and the Adelaide Desalination Plant. Geoff Wood leads this ‘impressive’ team; Leigh Duthie is a ‘superior, tactical litigator and a gentleman’.

DLA Piper Australia gave key advice to Oakajee Port and Rail on a number of procurement and construction contracts in relation to its rail and deepwater port project. Jane Hider and John Gallagher also advised Victoria’s Department of Transport on a rail extension project in Melbourne.

Norton Rose Australia continues to act on a large number of PPP, mining and LNG projects. It has a solid grounding in government-side work and an equally impressive track record in the private sector for contractors such as Leighton, McConnell Dowell and Clough. Grant Ahearn heads the team, which has ‘excellent depth’, most notably Jeffrey Wilson, Rob Buchanan, and Mark Waddell, who recently advised ITOCHU on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project.

Gadens Lawyers’ niche is in disputes, and it recently acted for CSR in arbitration with the Commonwealth. Despite a slowdown in front-end work, the team was instructed by AMP Capital to act on the upgrade of its international offices. Robert Riddell has temporarily relocated to Papua New Guinea but the ‘effective and practical’ Scott Laycock will hold the fort in his absence.

Emanuel Confos heads the practice at Gilbert + Tobin, which specialises in the construction of renewable energy plants and technology centres. The team is praised for its ‘communication of complex legal matters in an easily comprehensible manner’, and recently advised a bidder in relation to the Solar Flagship Program.

Henry Davis York suffered a blow when Helen Vickers resigned. Despite this, the team has maintained a commendable level of involvement in key rail deals in New South Wales, including the Gold Coast Rapid Transit PPP. Michael Bampton heads the group, which advised David Jones on building contracts and construction disputes relating to its Bourke Street Mall premises.

Maddocks provides ‘sensible and commercially focused advice’ to construction companies. Clients appreciate the ‘genuine interest’ shown by practice leader Paul Woods. The ‘excellent’ group head Mal Fielding recently advised Watpac on Sydney’s One Central Park development.

Construction projects and supply contracts with ‘high levels of risk’ are the main drivers of work for McCullough Robertson. Brad McCosker’s ‘professional and personal’ team recently acted for Wesfarmers Mine Infrastructure on the development of a major greenfield site in Queensland. Matt Bradbury shows the ‘dedication and willingness’ to win cases.

Piper Alderman is ‘gradually building a good practice’ under the leadership of Geoff Emmett and recently represented 77 Bouverie Pty Ltd in a construction dispute. The firm was also instructed by Construction Engineering (Australia) on two building projects in Queensland and New South Wales.

Known for its ‘strength in Sydney’, Colin Biggers & Paisley provides a full-service approach to construction projects, advising prominent contractors and government bodies on matters ranging from D&C contracts to dispute avoidance. Geoff Standen heads the group.

TressCox recently won a number of government contracts in Queensland. Anthony Jeffries and Brian Ambler are ‘excellent at managing large projects across many legal disciplines’.