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Phillip has practised construction, engineering and infrastructure law for 30 years. His broad practice spans commercial front end work and dispute work. He has extensive experience in contract drafting, contract administration advice and construction dispute resolution. He is highly regarded for enhancing his clients' understanding of risk allocation in commercial contracts and the inherent and particular risks in disputes. Phillip works for public and private sector clients and has deep experience working with clients in the energy and resources and property industries. He has significant experience with Government Procurement Authorities in relation to contracting and procurement strategies, contracting principles, and Government Codes of Conduct. He is also a specialist in resolving construction disputes across an extensive range of industries. Phillip is an expert in procurement methodologies relevant to the construction industry and public sector procurement generally. He has advised various institutional clients on procurement systems and suites of contract and administration documents. He has also advised the participants in numerous high rise apartment projects that were impacted by the Domestic Building Contracts Act. These participants have included developers, contractors, purchasers and financiers. He has worked for both government and the private sector in relation to the franchising of the Melbourne public transport system. His experience also includes working on significant disputes for both government and the private sector, most recently including the Murrin Murrin arbitration, one of the largest construction arbitrations conducted in Australia. Long standing clients are: Victorian Department Education and Early Childhood Development, Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment , City of Melbourne, Major Projects Victoria and the Port of Melbourne Corporation.. Chambers Global 2010 recommends Phillip as a leading lawyer in the construction area, where his 'contract negotiation and arbitration skills' are noted. Phillip often presents seminars to professional associations, universities and government bodies, on a variety of topics, including effective contract management, improving contractor and consultant performance, insurance law for the construction industry and dispute avoidance.
Areas of expertise include:
Phillip is a member of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators, Australia, the Vice Chair of the Society of Construction Law Australia and a former President of the Building Dispute Practitioners Society. Phillip is a specialist in resolving construction disputes across an extensive range of industries.
Phillip has provided cradle to grave support for many large projects and clients. The provision of timely and focussed advice during the contract administration phase can be critical to preserving the contract and minimising the prospects of disputes arising. This support is often supplemented by the convening of workshops, the production of contract administration manuals and administration toolboxes.
Many of Phillip's clients operate in the energy and resources industries. These include major Australian and multinational EPC/EPCM contractors. Phillip has also drafted many contract suites for a number of the major operators and developers of mining facilities. Phillip's experience also includes providing extensive support for European wind farm turbine developers and other major equipment suppliers.
Phillip has practised construction law for over 30 years and has advised on projects including some of Australia's most significant transport and social infrastructure projects.
Phillip has advised regulatory authorities impacting on the construction industry for over 25 years. His experience includes a strong track record in the application of the controls on the residential building industry, particularly the way in which those controls impact on commercial or high rise developments. He has also assisted in a number of legislative review exercises including a review of the Victorian Security of Payment legislation.
Phillip has acted on behalf of government and public authorities as well as high profile public sector clients. Phillip's experience allows him to give advice as to the most suitable procurement methodology and to fine tune the standard methodologies, such as EPC, EPCM, alliancing, ECI and DCM, to best suit the needs of a particular project.
Phillip has assisted many of the major property developers in Australia. Many of these developers are the owners of multisite developments and Phillip's assistance has included the preparation of suites of contracts and administrative documents and advice on stream procurement systems. Phillip has also been involved in iconic property developments in Victoria and interstate.