Housing a ‘diverse range of experience‘, Ashurst remains at the forefront of the development of major projects across Australia, evidenced by its work on the Perth Metronet and the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade. Sydney-based Lee McDonald, Krista Payne and practice head Angus Foley continue to support the Parklife Metro consortium as the successful bidder on the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport rail PPP project, with counsel Ben Kipic advising on contracts and tender documentation for construction and infrastructure projects. Grant Rowlands leads the front-end construction, infrastructure and contracting team in Melbourne, which also includes David Jardine, a specialist in PPP, concessions, outsourcing and construction procurement.

Standing out as ‘a strong infrastructure projects practice with a depth of capability to ensure expert and responsive service at all times‘, Clayton Utz‘s market-leading team is involved in Australia’s most transformative transport infrastructure projects. James Kendal (in Canberra) and Joanna Pugsley (in Melbourne) make up the core team advising the ACT Government on the A$1 billion ACT Light Rail PPP project. Brisbane-based Sergio Capelli is highly skilled in drafting construction project documentation. In Sydney, Frank Bannon leads on contentious construction mandates, and construction partner and practice head Graham Read is a trusted advisor to  government entities such as the Department of Defence and the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Boasting ‘excellent depth of team and industry knowledge‘, Corrs Chambers Westgarth‘s sizeable bi-coastal practice made great strides in expanding its front-end project capabilities with the high-profile lateral hires of A&O Shearman‘s projects co-head Adam Stapledon and project finance partners James Abbott and Simon Huxley (all of whom joined the Sydney office in late 2022). ‘Exceptional problem solver‘ Chris Ryder (in Perth) and ‘technically brilliant‘ practice co-head Andrew Stephenson (in Melbourne) are the standout construction lawyers, while Joseph Barbaro is another key Melbourne contact for project delivery and outsourcing. Litigators Carla Mills and practice co-head Matthew Muir are also highly recommended in Sydney and Brisbane, respectively. In Victoria, senior partner John Walter and David Warren act for governments, sponsors, contractors and financiers on road and rail PPPs, rolling stock procurement and social infrastructure projects.

Comprised of ‘highly capable, pragmatic and commercial lawyers‘, King & Wood Mallesons is a prominent name for project development, construction and engineering procurement, project finance, and M&A and regulatory compliance. It is also known for its market-leading construction litigation practice, which is led by Peter Pether and also includes Hamish Macpherson, Amy Munro (in Melbourne) and Scott Watson (in Brisbane), who have extensive experience of advising principals, contractors and consultants in complex termination disputes, bond demand proceedings, variation and defects claims, and enforcements. Chris Mitchell, Mark Upfold (who leads the energy, resources and infrastructure sector team) and Scott Budd (who heads the national front-end construction practice from Brisbane) lend their expertise to infrastructure and construction front-end project work. Brisbane-based managing partner Craig Rogers oversees the practice. All lawyers are based in Sydney unless stated otherwise.

Minter Ellison continues to be instructed by government bodies and developers on high-profile front-end and back-end infrastructure mandates; in one recent example, Jonathon Williams led the Brisbane team to assist Queensland Rail on all aspects of the Cross River Rail and the Inner City European Train Control System project. Sydney-based Elizabeth McKechnie has extensive expertise in project development and large-scale infrastructure contract negotiations and dispute resolution. Peter Wood (in Melbourne) and Andrew Orford (in Brisbane) are heavyweight construction litigators. Also in Melbourne, infrastructure industry lead Owen Cooper and senior advocate Stewart Nankervis are the lead partners in the planning and delivery of complex construction, PPP and infrastructure projects, and managing partner Cameron Ross oversees the construction business unit.

Norton Rose Fulbright stands out for its end-to-end offering across the lifespan of major energy transition and renewable energy projects, and is also known for its capabilities in social infrastructure projects. Kevin Arkwright, Alex Whiteside, Luke Van Grieken (in Melbourne) and Steven Choi are the key partners of note for front-end construction and infrastructure delivery mandates. The practice has also been bolstered by several significant recruitments: Ben Bradstreet moved over to the Perth office from King & Wood Mallesons in March 2023, bringing complementary commercial expertise in competitive tenders and bid processes, procurements and contracts, and in August 2023, the firm welcomed construction partners Glen Warwick and David McElveney and special counsel Chloe Blackwell, all from Clyde & Co LLP. All lawyers are based in Sydney unless stated otherwise.

The ‘very collaborative‘ Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘excellent capability in the construction and engineering field‘. In Sydney, Mark Waddell utilises his unique civil engineering and front-end infrastructure background to advise public and private sector clients on social, water, road and rail infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Similarly, Melbourne-based infrastructure partner James Morgan-Payler focuses on procurement models such as ECI, EPC and PPP projects. Matthew Croagh (in Melbourne) and Robert Buchanan (in Sydney) are lead counsel in construction litigation. Sydney-based Adam Perl is active in tenders and procurement and project delivery structuring.

At Allens, Sydney-based Leighton O’Brien advises financiers, government and private owners, concessionaries and contractors on the procurement and delivery of road, rail and PPP projects. David Donnelly, who has developed a specialisation in resource development projects and project financing transactions, leads the national projects and development practice from Melbourne, where Nick Rudge is highly recommended for construction work.

Offering ‘strong capability‘ with ‘national leading partners‘, Baker McKenzie is a good choice for transport infrastructure projects and for representing investors involved in greenfield and brownfield projects. In Brisbane Leigh Duthie specialises in construction law; and in Melbourne Charlie Detmold is recognised for his knowledge of infrastructure financing. The firm’s construction and renewable energy offering in Sydney was bolstered in mid-2023 by the hires of former Norton Rose Fulbright partners Emanuel Confos, who heads the construction practice and has extensive expertise in acting for developers on D&C and EPC contract matters, and litigator Harriet Oldmeadow.

DLA Piper's integrated projects department boasts both commercial and contentious capabilities, advising developers, investors, public authorities and contractors on the full range of infrastructure and property development work. Brisbane-based Stephen Webb leverages his background in construction and project finance in Asia and the Middle East to assist with domestic renewable energy projects and those located in Timor, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In Melbourne, senior partner John Gallagher is another standout name for project structuring and delivery. Gitanjali Bajaj and Richard Edwards lead on construction litigation and arbitration from the Sydney and Perth offices, respectively. Perth-based Alyson Eather chairs the national finance, projects and restructuring group, and is Australia lead for the firm’s leadership alliance for women programme.

At Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Andrew Griffiths is particularly well regarded for major road and rail projects, while fellow partners Nicholas Carney and Kristen Percy are skilled in the structuring, procurement and governance of complex infrastructure projects. Toby Anderson‘s practice concentrates on connection and transmission agreements, pipeline and gas storage projects, and project delivery, and Erin Wakelin leads the project finance offering. Geoffrey Hansen (in Melbourne) and senior associate Kate Bower (in Perth) are noted for construction disputes. All lawyers are based in Sydney unless noted otherwise.

Praised for its ‘exceptional understanding of complex infrastructure projects and documentation’, White & Case team is highly recommended for M&A, project finance, construction and project development, as well as contentious matters. Brad Strahorn and Kate Perumal (both based in Sydney) and Alan Rosengarten are trusted counsel in high-value disputes within the transportation and renewables sectors. Andrew Clark serves as global head of the Asia-Pacific energy, infrastructure and projects practice and is a leader in the representation of key players in the transport and rail sectors. Jared Muller and Adeline Pang are skilled in the preparation and negotiation of engineering, procurement and construction contracts. All lawyers are based in Melbourne unless stated otherwise.

Gilbert + Tobin leverages its multi-disciplinary expertise in corporate advisory, finance and construction mattters to support sponsors, contractors, financiers and government entities involved in large-scale projects. In Sydney, construction and infrastructure partner Kon Nakousis represents clients in the negotiation of contracts, namely in relation to wind and solar farms, rail, roads, airports and sporting facilities, and Peter Doyle is recognised for his work in privatisation and social infrastructure PPPs. Alexander Danne leads the practice from Melbourne.

Johnson Winter Slattery has recently bolstered the procurement and project delivery capability of its Brisbane team with the additions of former Allens partner Michael Hogan, who brings expertise in alliance contracts in the water infrastructure sector and in projects across Australia and in Papua New Guinea to the firm, and Aleisa Crepin, a specialist in construction disputes, from Baker McKenzie LLP, in March and July 2023, respectively. In the emerging Papua New Guinea oil sector, Perth-based duo Will Coulthard and Peter Smith are continuing to advise Santos on the acquisition of a floating storage offtake vessel for its KPS Papua New Guinea project.

Led by ‘legend‘ Sandra Steele, K&L Gates' Sydney-based team maintains strong front and back-end construction capabilities, participating in significant infrastructure projects and related disputes across Australia. Steele has 25 years’ experience in contract drafting and negotiation, litigation, and uniquely, in security of payment claims. The ‘incredibly knowledgeable and responsive’ Simon Ashworth focuses his practice on PPPs for electricity transmission lines, road, hospitals and defence contracting.

Piper Alderman continues to work with the government on a number of significant construction projects in the defence, health, transport and hydrogen sectors, including acting as the lead adviser on the $13bn Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub. In Adelaide, Martin Lovell is active in the development and funding of major infrastructure and construction projects, and Kathryn Walker has a strong focus on all forms of construction documentation, water infrastructure, planning, approvals and land access. Melbourne-based Megan Calder and Geoff Emmett are the other key figures.

Focusing on the construction sector, Arnold Bloch Leibler acts for commercial and individual developers, sponsors and financiers in construction disputes relating to commercial leases, professional negligence and trade practice, among other issues. On the non-contentious side, it also assists with the negotiation, drafting, management and enforcement of building and development agreements. Kevin Frawley in Melbourne is the lead partner.

Clyde & Co LLP is noted for its international construction arbitration offering, particularly in the infrastructure, transport, mining, energy and commercial real estate sectors. Sydney-based Phillip Coady ‘offers pragmatic, commercially sound advice’ across the full lifespan of construction matters. In Perth, Beth Cubitt is another top litigator.

Colin Biggers & Paisley ‘is a firm of construction industry experts‘, advising contractors, principals, consultants and financiers involved in commercial and residential property developments and engineering projects on the full range of matters, from the drafting and negotiating of contracts through to procurement, project delivery and construction disputes. Practice head Brad Kermond, Julian Mellick and Greg Begaud are the key figures in Sydney.

Perth-based Jackson McDonald is well placed to advise on Western Australia-focused social infrastructure projects and developments in the booming energy and mining sectors. Isla McRobbie is working with Edith Cowan University on the preparation and negotiation of all construction contracts relating to the construction of its new city campus project. Tom Jacobs is the lead partner for construction law and commercial matters, acting for local government entities, contractors and specialist equipment suppliers. Litigator Anthony Bereyne is another key figure.

At Jones Day, Brisbane-based lead partner John Cooper is a litigation heavyweight and a ‘leader in his field‘, with more than 35 years’ experience in major construction litigation, including Supreme Court cases, and international arbitration. The practice stands out for its strength in the energy and resources, infrastructure, construction, defence and manufacturing sectors.

Lander & Rogers is known for its deep expertise in advising insurers and their insureds across the full spectrum of construction insurance matters, as well as its representation of clients in construction and infrastructure disputes. Sydney-based Charles Thornley heads the practice, which includes Elon Zlotnick (in Melbourne), who focuses on the preparation and negotiation of construction contracts and delivery, and Tim McDonald (also in Sydney), an expert in both front-end transactions and contentious matters.

Maddocks is highly recommended for its advice to both domestic and multinational contractors and government departments. In Sydney, Andrew Chapman specialises in PPPs and the negotiation of tenders and contract documentation, and infrastructure and environmental law partner Patrick Ibbotson is another key figure. Procurement specialist Simone Holding is a name to note in Melbourne, where the firm also benefits from the senior expertise of Andrew Pitney and partnership chair Paul Woods.

McCullough Robertson‘s practice focuses on providing front-end support to project owners, contractors and suppliers in the infrastructure sector, predominantly in relation to project documentation, procurement and compliance issues. Michael Rochester (in Brisbane) has vast experience in the construction space, both in transactional and contentious matters. Evan Economo has since left the practice.

At Mills Oakley, Brisbane-based Rechelle Brost has significant experience in EPC contract documentation and project delivery for mixed-use and residential developments. Andrew Wallis (in Sydney) and Michael Loterzo (in Melbourne) likewise advise on the full spectrum of contractual, commercial and contentious issues which arise in construction projects.

In Thomson Geer‘s Brisbane office, Andrew Kelly has more than 20 years’ experience in front-end construction and engineering matters, both in Australia and in the UK. His practice focuses on advising principals, contractors, sub-contractors, engineers and architects on their bids in relation to residential and transportation development projects, contract documentation, PPP and construction disputes. Franco Aversa is the key figure in Sydney.

Gadens Lawyers has recently seen an uptick in instructions relating to drafting and project documentation, such as fund through agreements and construction contracts, as a result of growth in the build-to-rent and multi-family projects space. Head of construction Daniel Middleton and banking partner Doug Scobie, both in Melbourne, co-head the practice.

Hall & Wilcox‘s team of ‘creative problem solvers’ is experienced in all forms of procurement, project structuring, construction and project delivery methods. In Melbourne, John O’Kane, who is the national leader of the construction, infrastructure and projects team, and Mark Dessi, an expert in energy and projects matters, are the main contacts. The team's capabilities have been greatly enhanced since construction expert Alex Hartmann joined from Baker McKenzie.

Active in advisory and contentious construction work, Moray & Agnew is known for its expertise in security of payment matters and its representation of principals and contractors. Bill Papastergiadis heads the practice in Melbourne, where Phillip Vassiliadis advises on the procurement and delivery of projects in the residential, public infrastructure and transportation spheres. Sean O’Sullivan leads the practice in Newcastle.

Recognised for its strong capabilities in the energy and mining sectors, Squire Patton Boggs boasts front-end construction expertise spanning all forms of construction ducumentation, project delivery and PPP. Key figures in the Perth office include Greg Steinepreis, Brent Henderson, Melissa Koo, Cris Cureton and David Starkoff.