Experienced construction lawyer joins Holman Fenwick Willan from Clifford Chance
Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW), a global firm, has announced the appointment of Sean Marriott as a disputes partner in Perth, effective 4 November.
“Sean has significant experience advising contractors on complex construction disputes in Australia, Asia and London, and a distinguished track record in investor-state dispute settlement in construction projects,” said Michael Sergeant, HFW’s head of construction, in the firm’s media release.
Joining HFW from Clifford Chance, Marriott focuses on construction disputes and international arbitration. He has also handled shipping and maritime disputes and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) matters. His work has covered the oil and gas, mining, power, renewables, and public infrastructure sectors.
“His extensive experience in both construction and maritime disputes, combined with his engineering expertise, will be invaluable for our clients, particularly those engaged in offshore oil and gas, decommissioning, shipbuilding and offshore wind projects,” said Gavin Vallely, managing partner at HFW Australia, in the media release.
“HFW’s reputation as a leading construction practice in Australia and internationally continues to grow, and I am excited to be joining a firm that is committed to investing in the construction sector,” Marriott said in the firm’s media release.
“In addition, HFW’s specialisation in related industry sectors including maritime, energy, mining and insurance, together with its ISDS and international arbitration practice, provides a unique service offering to construction clients in Australia, especially those undertaking onshore and offshore energy and resources and infrastructure projects,” Marriott added in the media release.
Marriott – who is admitted to practise in Australia and England & Wales – has practised in London and Perth. He is experienced in the international arbitration of construction, energy and resources, and investor-state disputes.
He has been appointed as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators and Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and as an Australian delegate to the Commission on Arbitration and ADR of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Marriott is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA).
He has served as managing counsel and advocate in construction disputes in Australia and under various arbitral rules relating to the ICSID, the ICC, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA).
Marriott has litigated before the Technology and Construction Court, Commercial Court, and Court of Appeal in London.
He has taught and lectured on construction law and international arbitration. He is a member of the Thought Leadership Committee of the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA).
Before embarking on a legal career, Marriott worked as an engineer.
HFW’s growth
HFW, which entered the Australian legal market in 2006, now has eight construction partners across the country, following Marriott’s arrival. Its global construction practice includes 19 partners and a total of 90 lawyers.
The firm has added seven construction partners worldwide within the last 18 months, including Steven Yip and Malcolm Chin in Hong Kong, Tom Hutchison in London, and three other partners in Singapore, Melbourne, and Dubai.
HFW has 34 partners and a total of around 110 lawyers across its offices in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Since the start of FY24, it has welcomed over 50 new partners, including 13 across its offices in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
The Australian additions include a corporate, projects, and regulatory team in Perth and a corporate restructuring, insolvency, and commercial litigation team in Melbourne.
