ALB guide: building & construction 2009
leading lawyers NB: Listed in alphabetical order
TONY SAINT Firm: Thomson Playford Cutlers Location: Adelaide • Practice areas: construction, infrastructure, corporate and commercial, government • Depth of experience in projects, joint ventures, infrastructure, developments, projects • Memberships: Law Council of Australia, Australian Corporate Lawyers Association, Australian Institute of Company Directors
JOHN SHARKEY Firm: Deacons Location: Melbourne • • • •
Practice areas: construction and engineering More than 30 years of exclusive experience in construction law Has acted on construction contract drafting and dispute resolution Memberships: Victorian Skills Commission
DAVID TEMPLEMAN Firm: Freehills Location: Sydney • Practice areas: construction, PPPs, projects, infrastructure, transport, defence, energy • Acted on commercial property developments for Goodman, Valad Property Group, Leighton Properties; Jacksons Landing development in Sydney; IKEA’s Rhodes store development in Sydney, and industrial waste treatment plant development in United Arab Emirates
ADELAIDE Thomson Playford Cutlers was good for work across the board, but the firm was singled out for its documents and contracts. Recognised for its national capability, it was often chosen by clients for its “valuable” local focus. Tony Saint was effective, knowledgable, broad in his offerings, “cut to the chase” and offered “highlevel service”. Finlaysons was considered to be on par with most national firms in terms of expertise and offering. David Martin was responsive, knowledgeable and provided a high level of service. Anthony Floreani was recognised for his hands-on industry experience in construction and property development. Fisher Jefferies was also strong in construction work. Karen Thomas was known for her commercially minded litigation work. Crawford Legal was popular for building contracts and Victor Daminato was “detail focused” and always put in an extra effort.
JIM THEODORE
PERTH
Firm: Freehills
Jackson McDonald was a top Perth firm. Basil Georgiou was the main person to see for dispute resolution and offered practical and pragmatic advice. Deacons’ Bill Ryan was also noted for providing sound advice. Corrs’ Chris Ryder was a top construction project development specialist. Mallesons also made its presence known in Perth and Simon Lee was highly regarded in the field. Blakes’ Paul Riethmuller was also acclaimed for his construction and litigation work. Minter Ellisons’ Greg Steinpreis and Clive Luck were also mentioned.
Location: Melbourne • Practice areas: construction, PPPs, infrastructure, projects, transport, defence, water, technology and communications • Acted on Melbourne City Link; Royal Children’s Hospital; ABN AMRO, Wyuna Water, Veolia Water Treatment Plant; Transfield Services’ SWIS I Peaking Power plant • Clients: Transurban, Connex, Alstom, United Group, ERG, Santos
MICHAEL WEATHERALL Firm: Simpson Grierson Location: Auckland • Head of the firm’s construction team • Practice areas: construction, energy & resources, transport, local government • Acted on Victoria Quarter development project, Transpower’s transmission line project, Christchurch International Airport expansion project, Auckland City’s indoor stadium (PPP/BOOT basis)
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the final contract was as intended. Ross Lansberg and Julia Whitehead were also mentioned favourably. Blake Dawson’s Chris Mitchell was considered the construction and project expert, Georgia Quick was a dispute-resolution and riskmanagement professional, while Kevin Arkwright was the one to see for construction and engineering projects. Mallesons’ Scott Budd was also highly regarded.
new zealand Bell Gully was named as the premier trans-tasman firm by clients. Garry Downs and Andrew Brown were considered to be experts in infrastructure and energy contracts. Jane Holland, Andrew Petersen, David McGregor and Andrew Beatson were also highly regarded in the field. Chapman Tripp was another premier Kiwi firm, particularly for urban redevelopments. Robert Parker was a specialist property lawyer who was talented at the building side of major infrastructure projects. Bill Sandston and Matt Carroll were also highly regarded. Simpson Grierson was similarly chosen for urban redevelopments. Michael Weatherall had valuable civil engineering experience that proved useful for putting complex engineering structures into legal contractual form. Greg Towers and Graeme Christie were also recommended. Kensington Swan was a highly regarded firm. Paul Buetow was singled out for praise for front-end work, Chris Booth was known for his construction dispute work, while Stuart Robertson was mentioned for his building expertise and construction dispute work. John Meads, Andrew Skelton and Hayden Wilson were also mentioned in this field. Buddle Findlay had clients who kept choosing the firm for its work on contracts and construction-related financing. Peter Owles was named as a “top guy” and “one of the best” with respect to turnaround, availability and completion of deals. Michael Tinkler and Paul Farrugia were also mentioned in this area. Russell McVeagh was praised for its work on urban redevelopments. Sally Fitzgerald, Greg Thompson and Ed Crook were mentioned. DLA Phillips Fox’s Sharon Skinner, Brian Bray and Susan Hesp were mentioned favourably, as were Minter Ellison Rudd Watts’ Andrew Monteith, Paul Radich, Rachel Devine, Ross Pickmere and Stephen Price. Other firms also considered to be strong players in this area included Hesketh Henry, Anthony Harper, Dawson Harford & Partners, Greenwood Roche Chisnall, Gregory Simon, and Grimshaw & Co. Australasian Legal Business ISSUE 7.9