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Julie Whitehead is a specialist construction lawyer experienced in all facets of construction and infrastructure projects. After fifteen years in practice, she has numerous high-level government and private projects to her name. Julie works across diverse industry sectors with a comprehensive understanding of operations, plant and equipment in the mining and gas sectors, water grids and treatment plants, transport and logistics, and commercial building. Hand-in-hand with her large-scale infrastructure dealings, Julie is skilled in developing major contract suites compliant across multiple jurisdictions. Julie’s core project documentation expertise includes the preparation and review of tender conditions of contract; preparing and negotiating construction contracts including early contractor involvement models; as well as project management, consultancy, supply, and project alliance agreements. A former Secretary of the Queensland Chapter of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia, Julie advises widely in dispute resolution through litigation, mediation, expert determination and arbitration. Her leading client list includes Anglo American, Gladstone Area Water Board, Laing O'Rourke, Peabody Energy, Queensland Rail and QR National and Springfield Land Corporation. Julie is a widely published author and speaker on construction-related affairs.
Areas of expertise include:
Highly experienced in energy and resources infrastructure, Julie is the joint head of our Brisbane energy and resources construction team. Her practice focuses on strategic project delivery and procurement advice for large mining developments and operations. Julie works closely with a number of large Australian resource houses bringing a comprehensive legal understanding of the water and mining industries in tandem with major infrastructure developments.
For more than a decade Julie has advised government departments at all levels on a range of high-level projects, particularly in the energy, resources and transport sectors. Some of her key government clients are Transport and Main Roads and Treasury in Queensland as well as Queensland Rail. She also acts for private clients on the flip side of government transactions. Through her long-standing dealings in major public projects, Julie has developed a deep and practical understanding of government processes, requirements and priorities.
Drawing upon significant project delivery expertise, Julie has worked on numerous high-profile infrastructure projects throughout Queensland, particularly in the rail, roads, mining, energy and water sectors. In addition to her leading advisory role on many private sector mining developments, Julie has provided strategic advice to the Queensland Government on several key public projects. They include the Queensland Rail Infrastructure Strategy, the western corridor recycled water scheme, and Brisbane’s Northern Busway project.
Julie is a leading procurement specialist with experience in all aspects of project documentation. She operates across a range of sectors spanning mining, water, property, transport, infrastructure, and government, including defence. Her expertise encompasses preparation and review of tender conditions of contract; preparing and negotiating construction contracts including early contractor involvement models; and project management, consultancy, supply and project alliance agreements. Notably, Julie was instrumental in developing a global procurement package for an international mining company for use in multiple jurisdictions to ensure compliance with local legislation.
As a member of the Board of Architects of Queensland, Julie brings a unique perspective to her property development practice. Her expertise in both residential and commercial office developments includes advice on design and construct contracts, consultancy agreements, tendering arrangements, and purchase and service agreements. Julie provides ongoing construction advice to the Springfield Land Corporation, currently building the largest master-planned community in Australia.