Francis Tiernan KC specialises in large scale construction and engineering disputes, and professional negligence claims.

He also acts in general contractual disputes, trade practices (Schedule 2 – The ACL), product liability cases, major torts and site contamination cases.

Cases

He has acted in numerous significant cases and arbitrations including the Victorian Public Hospitals Cogeneration Project – arbitration (for Fletcher Constructions ats Varnsdorf); the Melbourne Crown Casino Project litigation (for Kennedy Taylor v. Grocon Contractors & Crown Limited); the Melbourne Citylink Project litigation (for the Transfield Obayashi Joint Venture ats Abigroup); the Emmaus College Project litigation (for the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation v. Van Driel); the Southside Towers Development Project litigation (for Fletcher Constructions v. Southside Towers Pty Ltd); the Melbourne Museum Project litigation (for the Office of Major Projects ats Baulderstone Hornibrook); the MCG Northern Stand Project litigation (for the MCC ats Grocon); the Herald & Weekly Times building arbitration (for Australian Super Developments ats Denton Corker Marshall); the Princes Highway – Little River Section Project arbitration (for VicRoads ats Leightons); the Epworth Hospital Refurbishment special reference (for the Epworth Hospital ats Multiplex Contractors); the Ballarat Police & Courts Complex arbitration (for the Minister for Police & Emergency Services ats Abigroup); the TNT Laverton Airport Runway Project litigation (for CMW Design & Contractors Pty Ltd v. TNT Australia); BHP’s Olympic Dam Solvent Extraction Plant project litigation (for Steuler Services GmbH & Co KG (formerly Steuler Industriewerke GmbH) ats BHP & Protec)); the Tasmanian Gas Piping Rollout Project arbitration (for Powerco Energy Services v. KT Pty Ltd); the Manningham Medical Centre arbitration (for Inoffice Partitions v. Manningham Medical); the Ingham’s Food Plant at Somerville – Waste Water Treatment Plant litigation (for Maddocks v. Ovivo Australia); the Victorian Desalination Project litigation and adjudication (for the State of Victoria ats AquaSure); the Perth Southwest Metropolitan Rail project litigation and adjudication (for O’Donnell Griffin v. The John Holland/Multiplex/McMahon Joint Venture); the 620 Collins Street Project litigation (for 620 Collins Street ats Abigroup); the VicRoads Ballarat to Burrumbeet Section of the Western Highway Project arbitration (for VicRoads ats John Holland); the Coal Tar Contamination of the former City of Richmond Site litigation (for the City of Yarra ats The Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board); the Sunraysia Modernisation Project arbitration – relating to the design and construction of a new irrigation system in Mildura (for the Lower Murray Rural Water Corporation ats GOLD Joint Venture between Guidera O’Connor and Leed Engineering).

Areas of practice

Adjudications and Judicial Review
Arbitrations
Contractual Disputes
Major Torts
Neutral Evaluations
Professional Negligence
Special References
Trials in all jurisdictions

Appeals (civil)
Building and Construction
Expert Determinations
Mediations
Product Liability
Site Pollution and Contamination
Trade Practices (Schedule 2 – the ACL)
VCAT hearings and appeals

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.