About Anna

Anna is the Practice Team Leader for the Maddocks Construction & Projects team in Victoria.

Anna specialises in the resolution of disputes on construction and infrastructure projects acting, primarily for a mix of Government (both State and local) and national contractor clients. The types of projects on which Anna has advised include transport infrastructure (rail, road and airport), civil infrastructure (water and gas pipelines), social infrastructure (hospitals, schools and universities) and commercial and residential developments.

Anna has previously worked in New Zealand and, subsequently, the United Arab Emirates, where she represented contractor clients in international arbitrations concerning high-value disputes arising out of a number of iconic projects, including the Burj Khalifa and the ‘Palm Jumeirah’ island. She also has significant experience in court proceedings, domestic arbitration, expert determination, mediation, statutory adjudication and other methods of alternative dispute resolution.

Anna prides herself on understanding the technical and commercial complexities of construction and infrastructure projects and providing early stage practical advice to assist her clients in identifying and dealing with potential disputes at an early stage before they escalate to a costly, formal proceeding. Where a formal dispute cannot be avoided, Anna works with her clients to identify strategies to mitigate both commercial and legal risks.

Anna was named Construction Partner of the Year 2022 at the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards. She is recognised by Best Lawyers Australia for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Construction / Infrastructure Law, Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Infrastructure Projects & Construction, and Doyle’s Guide for Construction and Infrastructure Litigation.

As co-chair of the firm’s Gender Equality Network, Anna leads Maddocks approach to creating equal opportunity in the workplace and spearheads significant initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion.

Experience

• Cardno Young Pty Ltd

  Acting for Cardno Young Pty Ltd in high-profile litigation in the ACT Supreme Court concerning claims by the ACT Government against various parties for recovery of damages associated with the discovery of asbestos-contaminated material during the construction of a dam.

• Major national contractor

  Acting for a major national contractor in four successive adjudication proceedings under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 and two subsequent applications for judicial review of the adjudicator's determinations in relation to a project for the expansion and upgrade of an existing hospital.

• State Government entity

  Acting for a State Government entity in relation to various claims by a contractor exceeding $40 million for variations, extensions of time and misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to a contract for maintenance works to a piece of major civil infrastructure.

• Contractor

  Acting for a contractor in an adjudication proceeding, subsequent judicial review and arbitration proceedings following the unlawful exercise by the principal of rights of 'take out' in relation to a contract for the upgrade and refurbishment of a private educational facility.

• Local Government body

  Acting for a local government body in an ad hoc arbitration concerning claims by a contractor for damages flowing from termination of the contract for default and claims for extensions of time and variations arising from a project for the upgrade and refurbishment of heritage listed municipal offices.