MinterEllison CEO describes him as a 'pre-eminent construction litigation practitioner'
MinterEllison, has announced that it will be adding Peter Pether – a construction litigation practitioner who is currently working as a partner at King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) – to its partnership, effective next January.
Pether has worked on highly complex litigious matters in the areas of construction, engineering, resources, and infrastructure. During his time at KWM, Pether has helped broaden and deepen the firm’s client relationships and elevate its construction disputes brand in the legal market, said MinterEllison’s media release.
While Pether handles litigation and arbitration if needed, his priority is to resolve major disputes quickly and cost-effectively, according to his profile on KWM’s website. As much as he can, he avoids resorting to litigation and arbitration and instead focuses on mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, and direct negotiation.
His practice areas include real estate disputes, dispute resolution and litigation, and international arbitration, as per his profile. His work has spanned the sectors of real estate, government and public matters, and digital commerce.
“Being able to welcome one of the nation’s pre-eminent construction litigation practitioners to our firm illustrates the alignment of Peter's excellent market reputation with the strength of our Infrastructure, Construction & Property practice within the market,” said Virginia Briggs, MinterEllison’s chief executive officer, in the media release.
“Peter Pether joining the MinterEllison partnership and our Projects, Infrastructure and Construction practice was an intentional strategic lateral hire to sustain our market leading position now and into the future,” said Lee Rossetto, the firm’s managing partner, infrastructure, construction, and property, in the media release.
Notable experience
Pether’s prior experience includes acting for Transport for NSW on the $1.8bn Sydney Light Rail construction dispute, advising contractors on guarantee injunction cases involving major public banks, and acting for CPB Contractors and Hansen Yunken on the Royal Adelaide Hospital PPP case.
He also handled International Chamber of Commerce international arbitration proceedings in connection with the construction of a major liquefied natural gas project involving claims in excess of $500m and advised project sponsors on a dispute with respect to the first thermal waste-to-energy facility in Western Australia.
“MinterEllison's current reputation, particularly in the construction disputes area drew me to the firm, the calibre and structure of its partnership, and the Projects, Infrastructure and Construction practice,” Pether said in MinterEllison’s media release.
MinterEllison’s infrastructure, construction, and property practice has 22 partners and over 100 lawyers across the country. The lawyers within this practice group assist clients with major infrastructure projects in Australia across the areas of energy and renewables, social infrastructure, transport, PPPs, developments, and dispute resolution.