Jonathon Williams
Partner, Brisbane
I am an industry leading major projects practitioner and a partner in our Infrastructure, Construction and Property group. I have over 25 years' experience advising Government and the private sector on a broad range of major infrastructure projects. I am regarded as a trusted adviser by Government and private sector operators.

I advise clients involved in a broad range of major infrastructure projects, services outsourcing, infrastructure finance and procurement. Clients value my 'strategic and analytical approach, 'responsiveness', 'nimble, agile and pro-active style' and 'solutions driven thinking'.

Career highlights

  • Western Sydney Airport: Advising Sydney Metro and Transport for NSW on this new 23km metro rail development servicing the proposed second Sydney International Airport at Badgery's creek. I was lead partner advising on the Stations, Systems, Operation and Maintenance PPP package, including all construction and development interface issues at stations and interfaces with the contemporaneous adjacent development of the new Nancy Bird Walton Airport and the Aerotropolis precinct.
  • Brisbane Metro project: Lead partner advising on the State's role in this project, including elements relating to delivery models, project documentation, land acquisition, the use of relevant State powers to facilitate the project, project funding, regulation of the delivery of public transport services in South East Queensland, coordination of environmental and planning approvals, competition law issues and all related intergovernmental arrangements with Brisbane City Council. Jonathon and his team have worked closely with TMR's Corporate Counsel and the project team to manage and protect the State from unacceptable risk associated with this project.
  • Schools infrastructure NSW - Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) program: Lead partner advising Schools Infrastructure NSW on Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) program to deliver $5.6B program of new schools in NSW. Jonathon assisted the project team in successfully designing ECI and GC21 based collaborative contracting models and prequalification schemes required for Government to incentivise development of a strong DfMA capability within NSW and to realise material benefits across the schools program.
  • Queensland Rail: Cross River Rail (CRR) and Inner City European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS2): Lead partner advising on all risk management, governance and procurement aspects of the Inner City ETCS2 Project (through a competitive ECI process) and CRR project through a combination of the Rail Infrastructure and Systems Alliance and the Tunnels and Station Development PPP.
  • Queensland Train Manufacturing project: Lead Partner to Queensland Rail for the Queensland Train Manufacturing Project, including advising Queensland Rail on all aspects of contractor-facing and intra-governmental arrangements.
  • Metro Trains Sydney (MTS): Sydney Metro City and Southwest Augmentation: Lead partner advising MTS (a joint venture between MTR, John Holland and UGL) as operator of the Sydney Metro Northwest (OTS PPP) and part of the Plenary and MTR led consortium in negotiations with the NSW Government for the further $6.5B augmentation of the Sydney Metro through the Sydney CBD and conversion of the existing railway line to Bankstown to full metro operations (OTS2 PPP).
  • Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads: South East Queensland Bus Contract Project: Lead partner over 3 years advising the Queensland Government on the $4.6B outsourcing of all public passenger bus services in South East Queensland to 16 separate service providers (including Brisbane City Council). Assisted Government to design the procurement process, performance based contract design, all regulatory considerations, evaluation, all negotiations and contract finalisation.
  • Business cases: Advising a range of government clients in relation to preliminary and detailed business cases including Cairns Convention Centre, Satellite Hospitals (QLD), Cooktown MPHS, Bundaberg and Toowoomba Hospitals, Ipswich Hospital Stage 2 expansion and the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
  • John Moroney Correctional Centre (JMCC): Acting for the NSW Government on services commissioning for custodial services at the John Moroney remand facility.
  • New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) project: Lead partner advising Queensland Rail on all aspects of this project through the initial DBM procurement and subsequently through the delivery phase of the NGR PPP.
  • Logan Enhancement project: Lead Partner advising the Queensland Government on all aspects of Transurban's $500M market led proposal to upgrade the Logan Motorway and Gateway Extension Motorway.

Awards and recognition

  • 'Best Lawyers' - 'Construction & Infrastructure Law' and 'Project Finance & Development Practice'.