Scott is a highly regarded lawyer who co-leads both our Band One ranked Construction & Infrastructure and Energy practices. With over 15 years of experience across New Zealand and the United States, Scott specialises in guiding complex construction and infrastructure projects from delivery through to completion, helping clients navigate risk, mitigate disputes, and achieve commercial success. He is also highly experienced in formal dispute resolution that arises from projects, including adjudication, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution forums.
Scott has advised an array of major stakeholders and acted on some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects and disputes. He has represented clients such as Mercury, Genesis, Fisher & Paykel, Crown Infrastructure Delivery, Fulton Hogan, Northpower, Jacobs, and AECOM. His project experience includes Transmission Gully, Turitea Wind Farm, Waimea Dam, Paremoremo Prison, Waikeria Prison, and Metro Sports Facility. He is experienced with all major contracting models, including PPP, EPC, D&C, and the NZS suite, as well as all primary dispute resolution forums.
In his project leadership role, Scott offers clients a strategic, tailored service across all key phases of project delivery, from tender stage through to completion. He frequently works in a light-touch advisory capacity, staying across project delivery as it progresses. This allows him to provide proactive support, helping clients identify and plan for legal or commercial pinch points and resolve issues quickly and cost-effectively when they arise. Scott’s approach focuses on clarifying an effective project delivery roadmap upfront, alleviating or preventing conflict, and acting as an independent sounding board, bringing a wealth of legal and commercial experience to ensure better project outcomes.
When formal disputes arise, Scott takes a strategic and commercially focused approach from the outset, working to deliver pragmatic resolutions that protect his clients' interests and maintain valuable project relationships.
Before joining MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Scott worked at Bracewell LLP in Houston, Texas, where he gained extensive experience advising public and private energy companies, banks, and private equity firms on energy transactions, project financing, and joint development arrangements for major energy projects. His global perspective allows him to bring world-class insights and strategies to New Zealand’s infrastructure and energy sectors.
Licensed in New Zealand, New York, and Texas, Scott holds a Master of Laws (Energy, Environment & Arbitration) from the University of Texas. He is committed to supporting the growth of New Zealand’s energy transition and enabling the delivery of infrastructure that creates climate and nature-positive outcomes.
Career highlights
Advised Mercury on all aspects of project delivery in respect of both the wind farm development and the associated transmission line. Successfully resolved all claims between the parties under both contracts. Turitea Wind Farm is New Zealand’s largest wind farm.
Advising the contractor (a joint venture between Fulton Hogan and Taylors Contracting) of the Waimea community dam, on all aspects of project delivery and managing claims, including running adjudications and arbitration. The Waimea Community Dam is the largest dam to be built in New Zealand in over 25 years.
Advising the contractor (Wellington Gateway Partnership) of the Transmission Gully project on an array of project delivery matters, disputes, and litigation. This is the first roading project in New Zealand procured through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. It is a key component of the Wellington Northern Corridor Road of National Significance.
Represented Jacobs in High Court, arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution processes on all New Zealand based projects. Some recent highlights include: Advised Jacobs during the project delivery phase of the Clevedon water and wastewater project, and represented Jacobs in arbitration. Successfully settled all claims. Represented Jacobs on the Paremoremo prison project and successfully settled all claims. This project was delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Numerous successes at arbitrations that have gone to a substantive hearing, including large cost recoveries for clients. Some recent highlights include: Successfully represented the Department of Internal Affairs in arbitration proceedings in respect of design defects associated with one of its newly constructed facilities. Recovery of the claimed amounts also included recovery of its legal fees. Successfully represented AECOM in defending claims brought in arbitration in respect of its design services of a projected delivered under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. AECOM was also successful in recovering its legal and expert fees.
Advised AECOM in its capacity as Independent Reviewer on the Waikeria Prison PPP project. The project involves the construction of one of New Zealand’s largest prisons. The contracts are complex, and we provided legal advice to support AECOM in its role as IR.
Advising Northpower in respect of proposed contract structures to support its investment decisions in respect of future energy developments, including solar farms.
Affiliations
- Member, Infrastructure New Zealand
- Member, Society of Construction Law New Zealand
- Member, New Zealand Wind Energy Association
- Member, New Zealand Hydrogen Council
Achievements and recognition
- Band 1 team, Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Band 1 team, Construction, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Tier 1 team, Construction, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Recognised, Construction Law, The Best Lawyers