About Natalie

Natalie’s expertise is in resolving disputes on construction and infrastructure projects, including security of payment adjudications and related court proceedings, arbitration, expert determination, and administrative and regulatory law including complex issues of statutory and contract interpretation. Her clients include government entities, head contractors, subcontractors and private developers.

Prior to working at Maddocks, Natalie was an Associate to the Hon Justice Debbie Mortimer (now Chief Justice Mortimer) in the Federal Court of Australia and during 2016-2017 was an Associate to the Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC in the High Court of Australia. Natalie received a recommendation from Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2022 and was listed by Doyle's Guide as a Construction Law Rising Star - Victoria, 2022 and 2023 and ‘Ones to Watch’ Best Lawyers 2024.

Experience

• Contractor claims

  Acting for a Tier 1 Australian building contractor in an arbitration involving claims for delay and extra payment, relating to a $400 million commercial development.

  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.

  Acting for a contractor in an adjudication, subsequent judicial review, Supreme Court proceedings to appoint and arbitrator and substantive arbitration proceedings, as well as applications by the respondent to have the arbitral award set aside, 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.
  

• Victorian Government Procurement Authority

  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.

• Local Government

  Advising local government bodies on ad hoc claims and acting for local government in respect of proceedings brought for defective works in the construction of key municipal amenities.