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Andrew Stephenson

Head of Projects

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A market-leading projects lawyer with a particular focus on matters involving technology, engineering, construction, infrastructure and international arbitration, Andrew has successfully run some of Australia’s largest arbitrations and litigation.

He provides advice to clients on contractual project risk allocation, dispute management and dispute resolution, and also advises in relation to bi-lateral investment treaty protection for inward and outward investment. Andrew’s practice has a truly global reach, with projects in diverse jurisdictions ranging from all Australian States and Territories to Papua New Guinea, the United Kingdom, Iran, Kuwait, Singapore, China, Malaysia, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Andrew is consistently listed as a leading lawyer by legal directories and publications including the Legal 500, Chambers and Partners and Best Lawyers.

Andrew is a board member of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) and the Australian correspondent for the London-based International Construction Law Review. He is a Senior Fellow and Lecturer for the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Law Masters Program, a Fellow and former board member at the International Academy of Construction Lawyers, and Former Co-Chair Project Execution Sub-Committee at the International Construction Projects Committee.

Key deals

Santos

Acted for Santos in relation to Queensland Supreme Court proceedings against Fluor Australia Pty Ltd in respect of new LNG facilities in central Queensland. Amount in dispute is greater than A$1 billion.

Anaconda Limited and Glencore

Acted for the joint venture owners of the Murrin Murrin in respect of the Stage I arbitration (in which the claims and counterclaims were in excess of A$500 million) and the Stage II arbitration (matter settled after a hearing for A$170 million).

BW Offshore

Successfully prosecuted Federal Court proceedings for a Norwegian multinational relating to the supply of a floating production storage and offtake facility to an Australian/Japanese joint venture which owns the Basker Manta Gummy oil and gas field in the Bass Strait. The matter was resolved after six days of hearing by an agreement to pay Andrew’s client US$32.5 million.

Origin Energy

Acted for Origin in relation to an arbitration conducted in accordance with international arbitration practice before J Uff QC (London Bar) in which disputes of greater than A$250 million arose in relation to a new platform in Bass Strait, a 170 km underwater pipeline, new onshore process plant and associated distribution works.

State of Victoria

Advised the State of Victoria on strategic issues, contract drafting and post-contract issues related to the A$2.2 billion Melbourne City Link infrastructure project.

Acted for the State of Victoria in an arbitration relating to claims in excess of A$100 million concerning the Material Adverse Effect provisions of the Concession Deed for the Melbourne City Link Project.