Construction law and construction contract law | Buddle Findlay

Overview

We’ve worked on New Zealand's most significant and challenging projects

We're best known for our work on high-profile, complex and technically challenging construction and infrastructure projects, particularly for public sector clients.

We advise private and public organisations on all aspects of construction and projects, from procurement, tendering, contract drafting and negotiation, and contract administration.

Our significant experience enables us to serve you well

We work alongside our clients, collaborating with their project teams and stakeholders. Our comprehensive experience means we can help identify practical solutions and deliver successful outcomes.

Our experience includes:

All construction arrangements including two-stage/early contractor involvement, construct-only, design and construct, alliancing, construction management, management contracting, and full 'EPC' wrap
Bid evaluation, ITTs and tender returns, and public procurement procedures
The full range of construction, consultants and engineering contracts (including NZS, NZIA, CCCS, AS, NEC and FIDIC together with customised forms)
Operations and maintenance agreements, and technical services agreements
Day-to-day project administration and management
Construction-related disputes in all forums (adjudication under the Construction Contracts Act, and arbitration and litigation proceedings).

Market recognition

"Buddle Findlay is "friendly, approachable, readily available and provide timely advice." - Chambers Asia-Pacific

"They're engaged and responsive, have good expertise in the areas we need and provide good client care and follow up." - Chambers Asia-Pacific

"The team has extensive experience in significant public sector infrastructure projects and has an excellent understanding of the client organisation’s functions, drivers and priorities." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Experience

Sector/Expertise

Work highlights

City Rail Link and Auckland Light Rail projects

We advise Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on the City Rail Link project and the Auckland Light Rail project. Read more here

Let's Get Wellington Moving

We advise the Consortium of local authorities and the Crown on the construction aspects of the Let's Get Wellington Moving project. Read more here

Wellington International Airport

We advise Wellington International Airport on its international terminal project, runway and taxiway upgrades, parking building and hotel developments, maintenance contracts, retail park development, and baggage handling system upgrades.

New Zealand Steel electric arc furnace plant project

We are advising New Zealand Steel on the procurement and construction aspects of its c. NZ$300m electric arc furnace plant project at New Zealand Steel's Glenbrook steel mill - including New Zealand Steel's design and supply arrangements with Danieli for the electric arc furnace and its enabling and ancillary works contracts. This project is New Zealand's single biggest emissions reduction project and will, when complete, reduce New Zealand Steel's carbon footprint at its Glenbrook steel works by up to a megaton per annum – equivalent to 1% of New Zealand's total annual emissions. Read more here

Olam International

We advise Olam International (and its New Zealand subsidiary Olam Food Ingredients New Zealand) on all construction matters in relation to the development of its first dairy processing plant in Tokoroa.

Department of Internal Affairs

We advised the Department of Internal Affairs on all development and construction aspects relating to the bespoke archives facility to house Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand, on the site of the old Defence House on Aitken Street in Wellington. Read more here

Methanex New Zealand

We advised Methanex New Zealand on the Motunui Distillation Debottlenecking project.

Ministry for Primary Industries

We advised the Ministry for Primary Industries on New Zealand’s only enhanced PC3 national biocontainment facility, and in relation to the lease and build of its new forestry hub in Rotorua.

Te Tupu Ngātahi - Supporting Growth Alliance

We advised the Supporting Growth Alliance (with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport) on project alliance arrangements.

Auckland Transport

We advised Auckland Transport on all aspects of its two most recent public transport procurement exercises, being: (i) its open market tender for a long term Auckland public transport rail services franchise contract; and (ii) its procurement programme for new public transport ferry vessels and ferry infrastructure, as well as a new public transport ferry service operator.

Ormat Technologies

We advised Ormat Technologies, as contractor, on the development and construction of the Te Huka Unit 3 power plant, located outside of Taupo.

Department of Corrections

We advised the Department of Corrections on all aspects of its rapid deployment modular build programme.

ElectroNet Services

We advised ElectroNet Services, as contractor, on the negotiation and documentation of various design and build construction contracts for electrical balance of plant works and services for a number of wind and solar farm projects.

Christchurch International Airport

We advised Christchurch International Airport on its Integrated Terminal Project (redevelopment of international and domestic terminals).

Contact Energy

We have acted for Contact Energy on all major generation development projects since the company was formed in 1996, including the tendering and turnkey procurement for the Otahuhu B thermal power station, Te Rapa co-generation plant and Wairakei Binary geothermal plant.

Central Plains Water

We advised Central Plains Water on its scheme to irrigate 60,000 ha of the Canterbury Plains. Stage 1 has involved obtaining land rights and construction of approximately 16km canal and 150km pipeline.

Massey University

We advised Massey University on construction of its College of Creative Arts building in Wellington and on a range of major construction projects at its campuses in Albany, Palmerston North and Wellington.

Our team

Construction and projects