Scott Thompson

Scott is a construction, infrastructure and energy law expert, who specialises in project delivery and construction disputes.  He has a strong interest in sustainability and is an advocate for actioning the firm’s sustainability strategy.

Scott acts for significant industry participants including global engineering services firms and Fortune 500 companies, NZX listed principals, market-leading Australasian contractors, and the Government.

He specialises in the project delivery phase of complex infrastructure projects and resolving construction disputes. Scott works closely with the project and management teams of clients to set strategies, provide legal and commercial support, and resolve conflict. He acts on nationally significant infrastructure projects including energy, education, road, rail, sport, and water.

Scott advises clients involved in project disputes, both during and after the construction phase, including those relating to variations, extensions of time and delay, disruption, force majeure, risk allocation, non-compliant works, and negligence. Specialising in alternative dispute resolution techniques, he regularly appears in arbitrations as well as in mediations and negotiations for clients.  Scott also acts for lessees in rent review arbitrations.

With a commercial background as an energy transactions and projects lawyer in the United States, Scott knows the energy industry and the commercial realities within which his clients operate. While in the United States, Scott gained a Masters of Law (Energy, Environment and Arbitration) and later worked for a tier-one law firm, Bracewell LLP, advising public and private energy companies, banks and private equity firms.

Focused on understanding his client’s goals at the outset of an engagement, Scott delivers commercially considered legal advice, targeted to achieve those goals. His strategic approach to project delivery and dispute resolution allows clients to make decisions over the lifecycle of a project against a consistent framework.  By closely partnering with clients, Scott and his team help anticipate and plan for future issues on projects and adapt strategies as client objectives evolve.

Clients value Scott’s strategic insights and ability to quickly identify and then focus on the key issues arising on a given project. He is able to assume project and dispute management responsibility, freeing clients of additional day-to-day burdens and allowing client delivery teams to better focus on their given roles and responsibilities.

Scott is a thought leader within the industry, publishing papers and presenting at industry events, including on behalf of the New Zealand Institute of Building and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.  Recently, he has presented in various forums for The Chancery Lane Project, an initiative helping parties incorporate climate-conscious clauses into contracts.

Scott is licensed in New Zealand, New York and Texas.