About James

James is the practice team leader of the Maddocks Government & Not-for-Profit team in Victoria.

He has over 25 years of experience providing a broad range of contract, commercial and administrative law advice to government departments and statutory authorities. James regularly provides practical and strategic advice about tendering and procurement issues, managing contractual performance and the resolution of contractual disputes. He also advises his clients on the exercise of their functions and powers and on compliance with legislation

James has specific expertise in the issues associated with the establishment of new government entities and the outsourcing of key government functions. He also understands the legislative framework applying to public bodies in Victoria.

James regularly presents papers at industry conferences on topics including procurement, managing contractual performance and statutory interpretation. He also co-authored the Chambers Government ‘Outsourcing’ publication.

Experience

• Solar Victoria (DELWP)

  Advising on the $1.3 billion Solar for Homes program including on legislative, governance and compliance issues.

• Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA)

  Advising ESTA on outsourcing its legislative powers and duties in relation to automated building alarms and developing a new governance framework involving key stakeholders inside and outside.

• City West Water (now Greater Western Water)

  Advising on its integration with Western Water. The project involved advising CWW on the new entity’s functions and powers, developing delegations, preparing board documents, facilitating the development of shared services arrangements and advising on the transfer of a large number of contracts.

• Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

  Advising on the establishment for the Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector including on the Commissioner’s powers and functions under the new Act.

• Energy Safe Victoria

  Conducting a number of prosecutions against Powercor for breaches of the Electricity Safety Act in relation to electric line vegetation clearances and for causing bushfires. The Magistrates’ Court imposed significant fines on Powercor and the prosecution has led to Powercor significantly improving its pole inspections and replacements and its bushfire mitigation practices.

• Ambulance Victoria

  Assisted in the outsourcing of the provision of non-emergency patient transport services to seven providers across Victoria. This included advising AV on the procurement process, drafting the RFT version of the contract and negotiating the contract with the providers.