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Experience is everything

 

Every sector faces a unique set of issues and challenges. When it comes to the law, partnering with a team who has a deep knowledge of your sector is critical to get the best outcomes. We cherry pick our teams to best suit the needs of our clients and to ensure that you get the results you are looking for.

Aviation

 

Airports are complex from a legal point of view. Vincent Young provides innovative, practical commercial and project advice to owners and operators of airport infrastructure.

We have worked on major airports. We understand the complexity of airport developments with the large number of stakeholder requirements and the need to deal with critical operational and safety issues. We work closely with our clients to identify and mitigate risks and resolve matters as they arise.

Our experience includes work at a major international airport for three years in preparation of the Olympic Games which included managing substantial disputes, contract negotiations, reviewing contracts and training staff.

Roads

 

Road infrastructure projects are a critical feature of the Australia’s current economic growth strategy. Our team provides commercial advisory services in the road sector, including transaction management, contract and commercial management and dispute resolution.

We leverage our skills to provide our clients with the best technical, delivery and commercial experience of our advisors to lead and deliver realistic and practical, commercially-focused solutions.

Our team was involved in the drafting of maintenance contract for a major NSW government department and completed the negotiation and drafting of a $100 million services contract for an ASX listed infrastructure company.

Rail

 

Whether in rollingstock, heavy rail, light rail, station construction or rail systems, we have extensive experience advising in all phases of the project lifecycle.

Our team’s wealth of experience in complex rail infrastructure places us at the forefront to support the development, delivery and operation of public and privately owned rail infrastructure.

Some of our major matters include acting for the NSW Government rail and transport bodies in relation to the Ultimo/Pyrmont Light Rail transit system including all easements, leases, acquisitions and other property arrangements; working with the NSW Government to develop the concept of rail access arrangements and preparing various rail access documents and advising on rail access issues; and acting for the private sector light rail developer on later stages of the light rail network.

Maritime

 

In the construction, property contracts or commercial aspects of ports, ferry and cruise ship terminals and wharfs, and ferry fleets our team can drive the right outcomes.

We work with both the public and private sectors on maritime ports projects. We have acted on may high profile ports precincts developments and redevelopments, some with public private partnership profiles.

We identify risks and also opportunities and are focused on the delivery of projects and resolution of major disputes. Some of our matters include acting for the government in the precinct redevelopment of King Street Wharf jointly with the private sector, Rozelle Bay maritime precinct, Glebe Island projects and projects at Circular Quay.

Energy

 

Australia is experiencing significant growth in energy infrastructure projects, particularly in the renewables sector and our focus is to simplify the complex and mitigate risk.

We have worked on an array of significant energy infrastructure matters and achieved great success for our clients. This includes an international arbitration under the French Civil Code concerning a Power Plant in Prony Bay New-Caledonia (for Austrian Energy and Alstom Power) and acting on the development of a wind and solar farms with all associated agreements, leases, easements, licences and environmental agreements and requirements.

Social infrastructure

 

Our team has a depth of experience in all aspects of the project lifecycle within the social infrastructure sector including schools, social housing, healthcare, aged care and public spaces.

We have achieved significant outcomes for our clients including Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust and Western Sydney Parklands to name a few.

Water

 

Water infrastructure and assets have their own unique challenges and our team have worked on a number of significant projects.

The key to our success is to work closely with our clients to identify and mitigate risks, develop tight contracts and to solve complex problems as they arise.

Public sector projects

 

Our team has extensive experience in acting for the public sector and the private sector on government projects.

We are aware of, and can advise clients on the regulatory processes and requirements and assist in the fundamental objective of delivering projects from whole of precinct projects, tourism related and transport-oriented developments to specific purpose projects.

Private sector real estate projects

 

Our team advises private sector clients on all aspects of real estate projects and can guide clients through the project from initial due diligence to end sale, occupation or lease or on coordinated disposal projects.

We are involved in brown field projects with contamination issues, large scale greenfield projects with land subdivision, sales or redevelopment of fuel stations, low and high rise commercial and residential developments, public private partnerships and tourism precinct projects (W Hotel – Ribbon Project at Darling Harbour) and transport-oriented developments.

Tourism

 

Acquisition, construction, developments including hotel and resort development, management arrangements and all matters related to tourism projects.

 

 

 

 

OUR SECTOR SPECIALISTS

Partner - Construction

Mark Irwin

Mark is a partner in our construction team with near 20 years’ experience.

Mark is a partner in our construction team with near 20 years’ experience.

Mark’s practice spans both front and back end from contract negotiation and drafting through to all forms of dispute resolution and advisory services across multiple jurisdictions.

In terms of litigation and dispute resolution Mark has extensive experience in all dispute resolution processes from mediation to adjudication, expert determination and arbitration and has litigated in all relevant courts and tribunals (including the Court of Appeal on multiple occasions).

In terms of drafting Mark has drafted numerous head contracts and bespoke subcontract suites for main contractors.

Mark has been involved in a number of touchstone cases on Security of Payments.

Founder & Partner - Construction

Brett Vincent

Brett has 30 years of specialised construction law experience coupled with 10 years of hands-on construction engineering work.

The Principal of Vincent Young, Brett has over 20 years’ experience as a senior lawyer.

Brett is a rare breed in the law. His combination of on-site construction engineering experience combined with decades in construction law makes him unique amongst his peers. Hands-on and fearless – this forms the heart of the Vincent Young philosophy and market edge.

Prior to establishing the business in 2005, Brett worked in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and England. He also worked as an in-house construction lawyer for Sydney Airport for three years preparing for the Sydney Olympics. Brett has been involved in all aspects of construction and development related to buildings, as well as mining, gas pipelines, infrastructure, bridges, communications, roads and civil works. His experience with building goes well beyond law.

Before undertaking legal studies, Brett worked for nine years as Wormald Pipe System’s first construction cadet, as a junior project manager with TW Crow and as Incoll Management’s first project manager. Because of his first-hand on-site, in-house and legal experience, Brett is acutely aware of the necessity for practical, timely and cost-effective legal advice. It was for these reasons that he founded Vincent Young.

Brett now specialises in contract drafting and the more technical construction and engineering claims. In addition to being qualified in construction management and law, Brett has attained a Masters of Law, specialising in energy law. His thesis was on the law concerning coal seam gas.

He has been recognised repeatedly in the Doyles Guide as a recommended construction and infrastructure lawyer since 2015.

Partner - Commercial

David Greenberg

David is the head of the commercial and insolvency department at Vincent Young.

David is the head of the commercial and insolvency department at Vincent Young.

David has an extensive network and the proven ability to deliver great outcomes for his clients. David is particularly well known in the insolvency industry and has conducted litigation in almost all of Australia’s appellate and trial courts.

Prior to joining Vincent Young as a partner, David worked as a senior lawyer for many years in a top tier international law firm having worked previously at other large law firms and as the Researcher to the Commercial and Technology and Construction List Judges in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

David is pragmatic. He prides himself on the close relationships he builds with his clients and the quality of the services he provides.

Senior Legal Consultant

Petar Vladeta

Petar has been a legal and strategic consultant to Vincent Young for over fourteen years.

Petar has been a legal and strategic consultant to Vincent Young for over fourteen years.

Prior to working with Vincent Young, Petar has been General Counsel for Sydney City Council and a lawyer at two national law firms specialising in finance, property and commercial matters. Both during and after the Sydney Olympics Petar was also the key legal adviser to the Central Sydney Planning Committee.

Petar has extensive experience in dealing with Councils, other planning authorities and developers and adds value to any transaction with the combination of his commercial and legal understanding of the issues and often by playing a strategic role in working with the planning consultants in dealings with the consent authorities.

Partner - Property

Mike Ellis

Mike has spent many years as a partner in leading law firms, and for some of that time as the National Property + Projects lead partner.

Mike has spent many years as a partner in leading law firms, and for some of that time as the National Property + Projects lead partner.

Mike works with Australian and global private and public sector clients on real estate and infrastructure projects and transactions integral to their business.

Mike has been and is advising on some of the most significant redevelopment and infrastructure projects in Australia including CBD developments, rail and port projects, alternative energy projects and head office leasing.

Partner - Construction

Vick Tan

Vick is an integral part of the construction team at Vincent Young, an in 2024 he was awarded the Doyles Guide Rising Star Award for Construction.

Vick has worked at Vincent Young since November 2016 and is part of the construction group. In recognition of his accomplishments, Vick was awarded the 2024 Doyles Guide Rising Star Award for Construction.

During his time, Vick has honed his skills in both front-end and back-end construction matters. In terms of front-end, Vick has drafted and negotiated complex construction contracts for both developers and head contractors, and as for back-end, Vick has successfully led teams in litigation, adjudication and mediation in complex construction disputes.

Before joining Vincent Young, Vick worked as an Assistant Contracts Manager for a statutory board in Singapore where he was responsible for the management and administration of tender and contract documents of major infrastructure projects.

OUR SERVICES

Contract reviews

Our contract reviews don’t just tell you the risk we propose commercially pragmatic amendments.

Drafting and negotiation

We amend, draft and negotiate head contracts, subcontracts, consultancies and other project agreements.

Advising

Our advisory services span variation and extension of time disputes through to complex legal/project issues.

Seminars and training

Training for project teams on contract administration, dispute avoidance and general refreshers on industry specific legislation.

Security of payments

Preparation of payment claims, payment schedules, adjudication applications and responses and challenging determinations in Court.

Arbitration and litigation

We establish and resource dedicated teams to long running arbitrations (both domestic and international) and litigation.