Mark Gillard

Special Counsel, Wellington

Contact

+64 4 915 6806 +64 21 576 724 View my LinkedIn

Expertise

Mark is a specialist construction lawyer with over 20 years of experience advising clients on the procurement and delivery of major construction and infrastructure projects in both New Zealand and Australia. 

He has advised on the procurement and delivery of some of the largest and most complex public transport projects in Australia, including the Sydney Metro Northwest and Sydney Light Rail. Having spent extended periods embedded within project delivery teams, he is skilled at combining competing contractual, commercial and technical drivers to produce a best for project approach.

More recently, since returning to New Zealand, Mark’s practice has focused on the procurement and construction of renewable energy projects and significant water infrastructure. 

In addition to contract drafting and negotiation, Mark has extensive experience in contract administration and dispute resolution. Mark brings a practical approach to the delivery phase of major projects, focusing on the early identification and resolution of issues, before they give rise to disputes.

Qualifications

2020-2026 New Zealand Full Service Law Firm, Auckland and Wellington
2018-2020 Chorus (In-house Counsel) Wellington, New Zealand
2010-2018 Clayton Utz Sydney, Australia
2007-2010 IPART (In-house Counsel) Sydney, Australia
2004-2007 Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer) Sydney, Australia
2000-2001 Judges’ Clerk, High Court of New Zealand

Market recognition

Doyle’s Guide 2017 Leading Construction and Infrastructure – Australia, ‘Rising Star’.

Work highlights

Elecnor New Zealand Limited

Advised Elecnor New Zealand Limited on its appointment as the EPC Contractor and O&M Contractor for the 200MW Tauhei Solar Farm (NZ’s largest solar farm).

Turitea Windfarm project

Advised Vestas as the EPC Contractor on construction issues and claims arising out of the 222MW Turitea Windfarm project (New Zealand’s largest wind farm).

Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plant

Advised Waipa District Council on the procurement of the NZ$108.5 million Cambridge Wastewater Treatment Plant.

F&P Healthcare East Tamaki campus

Advised Dominion Contractors on the construction contract for a NZ$250 million building for research and development, manufacturing and distribution on Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s East Tamaki campus.

Construction Contract Templates / Design Consultancy Agreement Templates

Advised various local government entities on template Special Conditions for NZS 3910, NZS 3916 and NZS 3917 contracts, as well as template design consultancy agreements.

Southern Corridor Improvements Project, Auckland

Advised CPB Contractors Pty Ltd (the D&C Contractor) on claims and entitlements in relation to the NZ$356 million project to upgrade the Auckland Southern Motorway.

CPB Contractors Pty Limited v WSP New Zealand Limited [2024] NZHC 640

Acted for CPB Contractors Pty Ltd in its successful claim against WSP for over NZ$5 million in damages for failure to comply with tender design requirements.

Sydney Metro Northwest

Advised Sydney Metro (Principal) on the delivery of the first fully automated metro railway system in Australia, delivered as an AUD$8 billion PPP project.

Sydney Light Rail Project

Advised Acciona (D&C Contractor) as part of its project team delivering an AUD$2.1 billion PPP project to design and construct a 12km light rail route through Sydney’s CBD.
  1. Home
  2. Our people
  3. Mark Gillard