Thomsons

Construction & Infrastructure

Partner

Phillip acts for project owners, major construction contractors, subcontractors, consultants and energy companies, including some of Australia’s largest construction, infrastructure and energy participants. He advises domestic and international clients throughout Australia, with particular experience acting for contractors on infrastructure (rail, road and ports), building and energy projects.

Phillip advises on the complete lifecycle of construction and infrastructure projects. His project experience includes large scale infrastructure projects (including roads, rail and ports), energy and renewables (wind, solar, batteries and waste-to-energy projects) and defence projects.

He drafts and negotiates construction contracts (including FIDIC, NEC3, Australian Standards and bespoke contracts), downstream agreements and ancillary agreements (including deeds of amendments/variations and settlement deeds), advises on procurement strategy and project delivery risk, and manages contract administration during project delivery (including providing advice on contractual interpretation and claims). Phillip also provides advice on legal and legislative frameworks that are relevant to clients to ensure that risk (including legislative compliance) is being proactively and efficiently managed.

He acts in complex disputes through litigation, arbitration, expert determination and adjudication. Phillip’s matters include some of Australia’s largest and most technically complex infrastructure disputes. He has acted in multi-jurisdictional proceedings spanning the Supreme Courts of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, the Federal Court, and both international and domestic arbitrations, including pursuant to the arbitration rules of the ICC, LCIA and ACICA.  Phillip has also advised on arbitrations seated in Singapore and been involved in Court challenges in Singapore.

While working In London, Phillip acted on large-scale ICC arbitrations related to energy projects in the Middle East and Turkey.

Prior to private practice, he held a senior in-house role at Lendlease Engineering, which, at the time, was one of Australia’s largest construction contractors. This in-house experience has allowed Phillip to have a strong understanding of the commercial and legal drivers of a business that shape project delivery.

Phillip regularly provides training to clients and has also previously given external presentations as part of the UNSW continuing legal training program.

Phillip brings dual perspective from over 20 years of experience in top-tier private practice in Australia and the UK, and as in-house senior legal counsel at Lendlease Engineering. He is admitted as a solicitor of the High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of NSW, and in England and Wales.

• Society of Construction Law

• Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (Macquarie University)

• Master of Science (King's College London)