Graeme is a partner in the commercial litigation group. He acts for national and international clients on all forms of dispute resolution. He conducts arbitrations, and appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Graeme specialises in property and construction law. He has more than 30 years' experience of acting for principals, consultants, contractors, and subcontractors. He provides advice on a wide range of construction issues, including structuring and contract documentation, joint venture agreements, alliancing, partnering, guaranteed maximum price contracts, and code compliance. He also assist clients to resolve construction disputes by means of negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and litigation.
In addition, Graeme has considerable experience with the Health and Safety in Employment Act. He has successfully defended a number of prosecutions involving fatalities. He has also appeared in coroners' hearings.
- The International Who's Who of Construction Lawyers (2006) - Leading Construction Lawyer
Examples of Work
- Rolls-Royce New Zealand - litigation concerning the Kinleith cogeneration project (New Zealand's largest construction case to date)
- International consortium – refurbishment of Auckland's waste-water treatment system (one of the largest civil engineering projects of its kind in the world)
- Canam Construction - landmark Court of Appeal case on adjudication and the Construction Contracts Act
- Major infrastructure projects, including Moa Point, Kupe Gas oilfield, and Pohakura
- Major construction projects, including Auckland Hospital A+ $350 million upgrade, University of Auckland Business School, Auckland Museum Stage II, Civic Theatre upgrade, and Auckland University of Technology building programme
- Westfield - successful defence of a substantial claim arising from a leasing dispute
- OceanaGold – decline contracts for the Frasers underground gold mine
- Ministry of Justice - large claim against contractor and architect concerning roof of Manukau court complex
- Major stadium projects, including Eden Park New North Stand, Westpac Stadium, Hamilton Stadium, and Jade Stadium
- Contractors, cladding suppliers, and timber suppliers - major "leaky building" claims
- Joint venture undertaking Kiwi Dairy upgrade – successful arbitration
- Aotearoa Kiwifruit Export – recovery of damages from the Zespri Group (a statutory single-desk kiwifruit marketer) for obstructing kiwifruit exports
- Dispute relating to completion and taking over of the Te Rapa cogeneration plant
Other Credentials
- Solicitor, England and Wales
- New Zealand Society of Construction Law - Founding council member
- Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand - Member and commentator at seminars
- University of Auckland - former lecturer in School of Architecture and Planning, guest lecturer in Faculty of Engineering
- United Soccer 1 - Director
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