I am Robert Fenwick Elliott, a construction and energy lawyer.  Having practised as a barrister and an International Member of Keating Chambers between November 2014 and January 2023, I am now available for apointments as a pendulum aritrator, mediator, or dispute review boad member.

I live near Adelaide, South Australia, on the Fleurieu Peninsular.

One of the most experienced construction and energy lawyers in the common law world, I was the founder of Fenwick Elliott LLP in London in 1980, and was a partner at Fenwick Elliott Grace in Adelaide until 2013, when I went to the independent bar.  I am presently admitted in South Australia, New South Wales, the Federal Court of Australia.

I have been involved – typically as lead lawyer – in the resolution of many disputes involving in aggregate many hundreds of millions of dollars. Most of these have been in the field of construction or engineering disputes.

The projects have involved the construction or repair of

• airports
• bakeries
• bridges
• civil engineering
• cryogenic gas storage
• dams
• electricity substations
• embasies
• entertainment centres
• factories
• FPSOs
• harbours
• hospitals
• hotels
• housing developments
• libraries
• light industrial
• light rail
• marine terminals
• mining facilities
• museums
• office buildings
• offshore gas facilities
• oil storage facilities
• pipe lines and pumping stations
• power stations (combined cycle and nuclear)
• prisons and other detention centres
• process plants
• rail
• reservoirs
• roads
• security facilities
• ships and smaller craft
• shopping malls
• solar installations
• sports facilities
• storage facilities
• tunnels
• yoghurt plants
• and other types of structures.

They have involved work in many jurisdictions, including

• Argentina,
• Brazil,
• Chile,
• Christmas Island,
• Egypt,
• England,
• Fiji,
• Germany,
• Hong Kong,
• India,
• Iran,
• Iraq,
• Jersey,
• Kenya,
• Lebanon,
• Libya,
• Malta,
• Malawi,
• Netherlands,
• New South Wales,
• New Zealand,
• Northern Territory,
• Queensland,
• Pakistan,
• Russia,
• Scotland,
• South Africa,
• South Australia,
• Spain,
• Sudan,
• Syria,
• Tasmania,
• Ukraine,
• USA,
• Victoria,
• Wales,
• West Indies and
• Western Australia.

In addition, I have worked for clients in a few more countries; see map.

TeCSA

I am a former chairman, then now vice president, of TeCSA, the Technology and Construction Solicitors Association. Based in London, this is an association including almost all the solicitors in England and Wales who specialise in construction work.

SoCLA

I was a founding a board member of  the Society of Construction Law Australia, and remained on the board until March 2018

ICLA

The International Construction Law Alliance is a grouping of construction law specialist firms around the world of which I was the founder Chairman.

IAMA/ The Resolution Institute

I was accredited a mediator by CEDR many years ago and by the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia (now the Resolution Institute) in November 2006.

Education

I obtained my degree (BA Hons) in 1972 from the University of Kent at Canterbury; Part I was in Natural Sciences (streamed for a degree in Theoretic Physics) and Part II was in English and American Literature. Post-graduation I took the fast-track courses at the College of Law (now the University of Law) in Lancaster Gate, London and Chester, taking and passing at first attempt all Law Society Finals Part I before articles in 1974, and Part II after articles in 1977. I was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature of England and Wales (now known as solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales) in 1977. For the purpose of qualification in Australia, I enrolled at the Australian College of Law and passed at first attempt the required papers in Accounts and Professional Standards.

 Professional Standards Act

Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards legislation