Benjamin is a specialist construction, infrastructure, and resources lawyer, with particular experience in supporting clients through dispute resolution in these sectors. Benjamin also has experience in front-end contracting work.
Benjamin’s career in construction law commenced with Merlehan Group in 2021, working directly with Adam Merlehan on major client engagements. Since then, he has delivered outstanding results, building a reputation for excellence and dedication to our client matters.
Expertise
- Dispute Resolution on Major Private Capital Infrastructure Projects: Benjamin has been directly involved in successful resolution of complex disputes concerning significant infrastructure projects, often involving significant capital at risk or in dispute
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Practices: Benjamin has developed experience leveraging innovative methods to achieve swift and satisfactory resolution to major disputes, often well in advance of formal dispute resolution procedures to bring stalled or distressed projects back on track
- Construction and Commercial Contract Preparation and Negotiation: Benjamin has experience drafting and negotiating forms of construction and procurement contracts for major projects and settlement documentation to resolve major disputes, tailored to the unique requirements of individual clients and projects.
Example Engagements
Back end
- Providing business critical assistance to a major national civil construction corporation in recovering substantial sums owed on a nationally significant project under various construct-only contracts, employing meticulous review of claims, development of heads of claim documentation, contentious contract notices and supporting the implementation of a commercial negotiation to resolve the matter successfully.
- Guiding numerous industry participants in navigating Australia’s Security of Payment legislation to recover or contest disputed payments.
- Providing vital advice to Australia’s largest privately owned construction companies on matters related to payment, alleged defective work, and other associated disputes across many commercial building projects.
- Assisting a medium-sized residential construction company to manage volatile market conditions to mitigate financial hardship by providing carefully developed advice in respect of its on-foot construction contracts and prevailing market conditions.
Front end
- Acting for national commercial builders in drafting subcontracts to align with head contract obligations across a spectrum of residential and mixed-use construction projects.
- Acting for a major mining corporation’s $2 billion mine closure project, involving the drafting and review of major contracts before tender and award as well as the preparation of variation agreements, confidentiality agreements, major works contracts, services contracts, and major procurement contracts.
With his extensive knowledge and hands-on experience, Benjamin is an invaluable asset to the Merlehan Group team. His commitment to delivering exceptional legal solutions ensures our clients receive the highest level of service and expertise.