MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Construction and Infrastructure

Partner

Mark is highly regarded for his specialist legal work in large scale and complex property, construction, and development projects. He provides high-end, commercial and strategic advice to public and private sector clients about development and construction issues. He is an expert in project structuring, funding, procurement, legislative and regulatory compliance, and project documentation. He also provides commercial advice on project disputes.

Mark acts primarily for owners and developers, as well as investors and funders of projects, both domestically and internationally. He also acts for some key contractors. He has extensive industry experience including in the following sectors: large scale residential, shopping centres, hospitals, retirement, office and commercial, heritage projects, and technology.

Mark’s clients include Kiwi Property Group (New Zealand’s largest listed property company), Cooper and Company (owner and developer of Auckland’s CBD waterfront heritage precinct), Generus Living Group (high-end retirement village developers and operators), several Government Ministries, and several Health Boards.

Regularly engaged for significant New Zealand commercial projects, Mark advises on planning, procurement strategies and implementation. As a former director of major construction and development companies, Mark is renowned for his pragmatic advice. He also advises on dispute resolution strategies, has experience conducting independent reviews of projects, and has sat on project dispute resolution boards.

His formidable track record of achievement in development projects features high profile office and residential towers and precincts, hospitals and medical premises, data centres, port developments, regional parks, utilities, education assets, and social housing projects.

Mark also has expertise in real estate financed transactions and the acquisition and sale of commercial property.

A regular industry commentator, Mark has presented a variety of seminars on construction related legislation, particularly the Construction Contracts Act and the Building Act. He lectures the construction law papers for the Master of Engineering degree at the University of Auckland. Recently he has provided COVID-19 related presentations to the construction sector, with a focus on sector business and projects continuity.

Member, Society of Construction Law New Zealand Member, Property Council New Zealand (PCNZ)