Sarah Ferrett
Special Counsel , Brisbane
I am an experienced major projects lawyer and have been acting for clients in disputes in all forums across the construction and infrastructure sectors for over 15 years. I have significant experience from both in house and private practice roles in all forms of dispute resolution from statutory claims and expert determinations to large scale formal litigation and everything in between.

My construction and infrastructure experience, gained from both private legal practice and commercial legal roles, combines to ensure that my advice is technically solid, commercially sensible and appropriately tailored to the specific circumstances and industry context in which it is given.

Career highlights

  • Acting for the Leighton Abigroup joint venture in large and complex Supreme Court litigation pertaining the Gateway Upgrade Project.
  • Acted for Downer EDI in an adjudication (2020) and defending the subsequent application to set aside the favourable decision in the Supreme Court on the basis of the mining exclusion under the New South Wales Security of Payment legislation.
  • Acted for the Quanta (solar) and Vestas (wind) renewable energy joint venture on the Kennedy Energy Park dispute including a successful adjudication under the Queensland Security of Payment legislation (2018) and subsequent mediation.
  • Acted for Lendlease Engineering on a range of claims brought by its subcontractors under the Building & Construction Industry Payments Act (Qld) 2004 (BCIPA) and the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act (Qld) 2017.
  • Acted for SEQWater in a Subcontractor’s Charges Act proceeding.
  • Acted for the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal in respect of contractual claims brought by contractors relating to the construction and commissioning of the coal export terminal infrastructure.
  • Advising Stanmore Coal Limited in relation to potential claims under a mining services agreement.
  • Advising AngloCoal in relation to pricing and delay claims brought by subcontractors regarding the construction and commissioning of the Grosvenor drift and earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine.