Trevor is a non-contentious construction lawyer specialising in major infrastructure and engineering projects. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Trevor had a career as an engineer working in Australia, Germany and England, and he has also acted as a superintendent on major engineering projects.
He is familiar with a wide range of procurement methods, and acts for government, principals and contractors across the transport sector (airports, sea ports, road and rail), telecommunications infrastructure, mining (including iron ore and coal), power plants (renewable and conventional energy), chemical plants (including hydrogen production plants) and other significant infrastructure.
Trevor was the inaugural winner of the Society of Construction Law Australia’s Brooking Prize and the Law Council of Australia’s Tom Yuncken Award and he is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne where he teaches construction law. His articles are widely published in domestic and international journals and have been cited with approval in a number of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal cases.
Trevor also sits on various subcommittees of the Society of Construction Law Australia.
Key deals
nbn co
Led a team developing and negotiating the new performance based construction contracts for nbn co’s fixed line rollout. Led the negotiations with Telstra for the acquisition, migration and development of nbn co’s Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) network.
Melbourne Airport
Led the negotiations for Melbourne Airport’s new third runway and is advising on the expansion of Terminal 2, the supply and installation of a new automated baggage handling system, the supply of new scanning equipment, the development of various elevated roadways and a number of other major projects at the airport.
Fortescue Metals Group
Assisted Fortescue in the development of various aspects of the Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek mines, and in the procurement of high capacity, heavy processing equipment for the Iron Bridge Project. This included negotiating a range of EPC and Equipment Supply and Install Contracts with a variety of international suppliers. Negotiated a contract for the design and construction of a new railway line for the Eliwana Mine and the design and construction of a new airport.
The Hydrogen Utility
Acts for The Hydrogen Utility in the development of its green hydrogen production plant on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The project is being developed in 2 stages – an initial demonstrator stage and a subsequent export stage.
Renewable Energy Projects
Advised numerous developers of renewable energy projects, including:
- Roaring 40s in relation to the Waterloo Wind Farm in South Australia and the Shandong Wind Farm in China;
- Hydro Tasmania in relation to the Musselroe Wind Farm;
- Woolnorth Wind Farms in relation to the Mt Fyans Wind Farm;
- Trust Power (now Tilt) in relation to a number of proposed wind farms in South Australia;
- Beon (part of CitiPower) in relation to the Bomen Solar Farm; and
- Pacific Heat and Power in relation to a number of bioenergy projects.
Public-Private Partnership Agreements
Acted for the joint venture contractor party on a major road public private partnership project, based in Melbourne’s West. This contractor was engaged to undertake a significant civil works package and a 20 year service contract.
Kupe Gas Project Alliance, New Zealand
Acted for the owner of the Kupe Gas Joint Venture in relation to the Kupe Gas Project, an A$900 million offshore / onshore gas plant which was delivered on a project alliance basis. Advised on risk allocation strategies and various aspects of the project delivery method as well as drafting and advising on downstream contracting arrangements.
Port of Melbourne
Advised the Port of Melbourne in relation to the negotiation of contracts with the Victoria International Container Terminal, appointed by the Port of Melbourne to design, construct and operate Australia’s first fully automated container terminal.