Peter Wood |Partner

Peter is one of Australia's leading construction and adjudication lawyers. He has acted in numerous major security of payment adjudication disputes in all Australian jurisdictions.

They include acting for Grocon, Thiess Degremont, Bilfinger Berger Services/Abigroup and Places Victoria in various adjudications in Victoria; the Department of Defence, Multiserv, Colonial First State, Alfasi Steel Constructions in NSW; Grocon and Alfasi Steel Constructions in Queensland; and Rail Link Joint Venture in Western Australia.

Peter has acted in many significant and complex arbitrations and mediations across the construction, projects, and energy and resource sectors. He is recognised as a leader in the field, conducting more than 70 mediations and a number of major Australian and international 'bet the company' arbitrations. Notably, he successfully led one of the ten largest arbitrations in the world, acting for Fluor Daniel in the Anaconda v. Fluor arbitration over the Murrin Murrin nickel refinery (concerning claims of AUD 1.5 Billion). Peter also acted for Fluor Daniel in a significant dispute with PSA, settled by investigative mediation.

Other profile disputes include Thiess John Holland’s arbitration with United Group Rail over Victoria’s Eastlink PPP project; Suez GDF in electricity tariff arbitration against the Government of Vanuatu; and Metropolitan Waste Management Group in the settlement by mediation of complex five-party Federal Court proceedings.

A leading construction dispute resolution lawyer, Peter has prepared or advised on construction claims in many significant construction and engineering projects. He has dealt widely with programming and delay issues, defects, scope, and claim quantification issues.

Highlights include acting for Thiess John Holland in disputes with United Group Rail over Victoria’s Eastlink PPP project; Thiess Degremont JV in all disputes and claims arising from the Victorian Desalination Project; Rail Link Joint Venture in disputes arising from the Perth to Mandurah rail project; Westinghouse/Invensys Rail concerning the Regional Fast Rail project; Grocon concerning the Soul project; and Bilfinger Berger Services/Abigroup concerning the Sugar Australia Project.

Peter is one of Australia's leading construction dispute litigators, and one of only two construction lawyers in the AFR's Best Litigation lawyers list in 2010. He acts for leading principals and contractors in major Australian constructions disputes, several involving 'bet the company' stakes. Highlights include acting for Fluor Daniel in one of the ten largest arbitrations in the world (concerning claims of AUD 1.5 Billion), the Anaconda v. Fluor arbitration; acting for PT Thiess Indonesia in litigation in London and Brisbane involving claims in excess of US$50 million; for the Thiess John Holland Joint Venture in disputes over the Eastlink PPP Project,; and for Thiess Degremont concerning the Victorian Desalination Project.

Recognised as one of Australia's foremost construction, and energy and resources litigators, Peter has acted in many significant and complex disputes in the sector. They include several high-stakes disputes and international arbitrations such as the major Anaconda v. Fluor arbitration concerning the Murrin Murrin nickel refinery (concerning claims of AUD 1.5 Billion); acting for Clough Engineering in an arbitration in India over an oil and gas project in the Bay of Bengal; acting for Suez GDF in an electricity tariff arbitration against the Government of Vanuatu and in disputes with Alstom over a coal-fired power station in New Caledonia; and for PT Thiess Indonesia in disputes with Arutmin and Bumi Resources involving its coal mines in South Kalimantan.

A leading construction and engineering lawyer, Peter has acted in many significant 'bet the company' engineering disputes and international arbitrations. They include the major Anaconda v. Fluor arbitration over the Murrin Murrin nickel refinery(concerning claims of AUD 1.5 Billion); for Thiess Degremont JV in all disputes and claims arising from the Victorian Desalination Project; for Suez GDF in disputes with Alstom over a New Caledonia coal-fired power station; for Thiess John Holland in disputes with United Group Rail over the Eastlink PPP project in Victoria; for the Department of Defence in claims concerning the Mulwala Munitions Redevelopment Project; and for Rail Link Joint Venture in disputes arising from the Perth to Mandurah rail project.

A construction disputes specialist, Peter is one of Australia's leading arbitration and mediation lawyers. He has acted for Government in many major disputes and has a keen understanding of Government sensitivities and priorities, especially in contentious matters. Peter has conducted more than 70 mediations and acted in many significant construction arbitrations, both in Australia and internationally, including several 'bet the company' energy and resources disputes.

He has acted for many arms of Government including for the Department of Defence concerning the Mulwala Munitions project; the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment on forestry issues; Major Projects Victoria in claims and disputes over various major Victorian Projects including the MCG, Austin and Mercy Hospital, and the MSAC2 project; the Port of Melbourne Corporation in litigation arising from the Channel Deepening Project; VicRoads in disputes with Abigroup over the Nilma Interchange; and Places Victoria in disputes with Walker Corporation.

Rated one of Australia’s best construction dispute lawyers, Peter has acted in many complex and significant infrastructure disputes. Some profile matters include acting for Thiess John Holland in disputes with United Group Rail over Victoria’s Eastlink PPP project; the Department of Defence concerning disputes with Bovis Lend Lease over the Mulwala Munitions Redevelopment project; Thiess Degremont JV in disputes and claims arising from the Victorian Desalination Project; Rail Link Joint Venture in disputes arising from the Perth to Mandurah rail project; Major Projects Victoria in various claims and disputes involving many major Victorian projects including the MCG, the Channel Deepening Project, Austin and Mercy Hospital, and the MSAC2 project.

Peter is one of Australia's leading construction and international arbitration lawyers. His many significant and complex international arbitrations include acting for Fluor Daniel in arbitration over the Murrin Murrin nickel refinery, one of the world’s largest-ever arbitrations (concerning claims of AUD 1.5 Billion); for Clough Engineering in an arbitration in India over an oil and gas project; for Suez GDF in an electricity tariff arbitration against the Government of Vanuatu; and for PT Thiess Indonesia concerning disputes in Indonesia with Bumi Resources.

A leading construction dispute litigator, Peter has particular expertise and experience in port issues and dredging contracts. He has acted in port-related matters over many years, and maintains a long-standing relationship with the Port of Melbourne Corporation.

He has advised the Port of Melbourne on its successful Channel Deepening Project, all aspects of port infrastructure procurement and construction, drafted its suite of construction and procurement contracts and commercial terms of entry for ships, advised on the introduction of a Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) system for vessels navigating the port’s channels, and advised on the relocation of services under the Yarra River. His experience includes advising, drafting and negotiating dredging contracts for various projects for the Port of Melbourne, Brisbane Airport Corporation, and Baulderstone.

Peter has recognised expertise in handling major construction and project disputes. His many high-profile cases include acting for Thiess John Holland in disputes with United Group Rail over Victoria’s the Eastlink PPP project; the Department of Defence in disputes with Bovis Lend Lease involving the Mulwala Munitions Redevelopment project; Thiess Degremont JV in all disputes and claims arising from the Victorian Desalination Project; Rail Link Joint Venture concerning disputes arising from the Perth to Mandurah rail project; Major Projects Victoria in claims and disputes concerning many major Victorian Projects including the MCG, Austin and Mercy Hospital, and the MSAC2 project; the Port of Melbourne Corporation in litigation arising from the Channel Deepening Project; and Airport Motorway Ltd in disputes involving the Eastern Distributor Toll Collection System contract.

Peter’s leading construction litigation practice encompasses particular expertise and experience in rail issues and disputes. Representative matters include acting for RailCorp NSW to successfully set aside an Improvement Notice issued by the Victorian Rail Safety Regulator; for Rail Link Joint Venture in disputes arising from the Perth to Mandurah rail project; for Westinghouse/Invensys Rail in claims over the Regional Fast Rail project; the Port of Melbourne Corporation concerning the A$180 million Dynon Port Rail Link Project; for Places Victoria over rail access agreements for the Media House project; for Invensys Rail concerning signal modules claims; and for Nokia Siemens Networks in claims over the GSMR Comms project.