The Legal 500

Doug Jones’ ‘pre-eminent’ team at Clayton Utz primarily advises public sector clients on large-scale projects, including critical infrastructure such as road and rail. Recent work included advising the Australian Rail Track Corporation on a proposed A$350m Sydney freight rail line, and the Queensland government on its Airport Link and Northern Busway projects. Capabilities are weighted towards the procurement, development and management of contracts. Key individuals include Bradley Vann and Alan Maguire.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques’s top-end project finance and infrastructure practice wins plum roles for private sector clients that appreciate this ‘one-stop shop’. The Sydney team advised the winning consortium on the Royal North Shore Hospital PPP, and acted for Investa on the Ark project, a new commercial office building in Sydney. Leading individuals include Peter Pether and the ‘totally client-focused’ Geoff Wood, described enthusiastically as ‘Australia’s leading front-end construction lawyer’.

‘One of the best’, Blake Dawson’s ‘highly competent’ and diverse national practice delivers ‘advice of outstanding quality’; it has notable strengths in resources and infrastructure. Recent wins included advising 16 coal producers on the A$5bn Wiggins Island coal export terminal, and BHP Billiton on a $4.8bn growth project to rapidly increase its iron ore production capacity. Paul Riethmuller heads the team.

Deacons is ‘the firm of choice’ for construction and engineering contractors, who praise its ‘specific knowledge of construction’ and ‘timely, relevant advice provided in a cost-effective manner’. Abigroup and McConnell Dowell instructed the team on the design and construction of South Australia’s A$1.37bn desalination plant. Other clients include Clough, and Leighton. John Sharkey, Grant Ahearn and Matthew Croagh are recommended.

Freehills’s ‘strong, experienced team’ is a front-end practice headed by David Templeman. Strengths include property, infrastructure, energy, renewables, and water construction, as well as PPP-related work. It advised on all aspects of the $500m Star City Casino redevelopment, and counts Leighton Contractors and Thiess among its clients.

Minter Ellison provides ‘great overall advice’ to a mix of contractors, developers and public sector bodies in infrastructure and property development projects. Head of team Ian Briggs is recommended, along with Pamela Jack and Stewart Nankervis. Flagship instructions include advising Brisbane Airport on its proposed new A$1bn runway, and Leighton Contractors on a successful bid for the South East Queensland Schools PPP.

Allens Arthur Robinson boasts front- and back-end strength across its network. Its experience includes advising consortiums and financiers on infrastructure project bids, particularly roads such as the Western Sydney Orbital, and representing a petroleum company in a contractor dispute. John Dorter is recommended.

Anthony Whelan in Melbourne heads Baker & McKenzie’s team, which is developing quality relationships with clients such as Coffey International, and won roles with Theiss and Degremont on their bid for Victoria’s desalination PPP project. The busy international practice advises Vestas Wind Technology India in drafting contract documents for wind farms in India.

‘First-class’ Corrs Chambers Westgarth ‘strikes a good balance between technical knowledge and commercial reality’, focusing on high-value and complex front and back-end briefs. The firm advised South Australian Water on its A$1.7bn desalination plant. Andrew Pitney’s expert team includes Chris Ryder, Simon Ashworth and Ben Davidson.

DLA Phillips Fox has developed a leading edge in relationship contracting, including alliance and early contractor involvement, and provides ‘good technical advice’. The practice has front- and back-end strength in Perth and along the East Coast; its work ties in closely to its government, transport, water and litigation practices. Andrew Kelly is the primary figure.

Geoff Standen’s construction team at Colin Biggers & Paisley offers ‘quality service’ and ‘great value for money’. The group largely focuses on major projects, and has a separate construction risks group.

Finlaysons is a strong South Australian player headquartered in Adelaide. It recently advised on a major deal for the developer of Australia’s largest homemaker centre. Anthony Floreani heads the team.

Gadens Lawyers’s ‘exceptional’ practice is managed by Robert Riddell. Primarily a front-end offering, the firm advised ANZ Bank on the Mercy Hospital redevelopment, and AMP Capital Investors in regard to the Mt Ommaney Centre retail development.

A ‘strong player in Western Australia’, Jackson McDonald focuses on construction and engineering contracts, though it covers some back-end work.

Maddocks provides ‘great turnaround and sharp, to-the-point advice’. It advised contractor Watpac on the $200m development of Channel 7’s new studio. Mal Fielding has ‘excellent background knowledge in construction’, while Andrew Chapman is also recommended.

McCullough Robertson’s clients receive ‘good, consistent and reliable service’ on contentious and non-contentious matters. Russell Thirgood was appointed to advise on the design and construction of the largest private rail loop in New South Wales. Brad McCosker heads the practice.

Middletons advised Melbourne Cricket Club on its A$425m redevelopment of the MCG’s North Stand. Steven Mackay, Justin Lethlean and Nathan Abbott are recommended.

Piper Alderman advises on contentious and non-contentious matters. Anne Freeman advised Metro Transport Sydney in a multiparty arbitration. Rocco Caruso works out of Perth.

TressCox provides a ‘very high’ level of service, under Sydney-based Brian Ambler. It advised on major defence contracts, including a 10-year service contract for all Australian Navy ports.