Toby Shnookal qualified and practiced as an engineer, first working in the oil industry and then in civil construction, before turning to the law 25 years ago. His practice is increasingly as arbitrator (international or domestic), expert or adjudicator. He maintains an extensive practice as counsel and as mediator. He is recognised as a senior Mediator by the Victorian Bar. He is commonly engaged in disputes that involve complex engineering issues, software disputes, disputes that involve building or engineering technology, and cases that involve complex construction programming and sequencing. Some multi million dollar disputes Mr Shnookal has appeared or been arbitrator in:

• Cost growth of a design and construct Woodside FPSO (WA)
• Delays, defects and cost growth Bass Strait (Origin) oil platform and on shore gas processing plant (VIC)
• Catastrophic collapse Cement Silo (TAS)
• Design failure Adelaide Oval retractable light towers (SA)
• Design failure of Anaconda Nickel Laterite processing plant, a $1b dispute encompassing many areas of the plant (WA)
• Rubber lining failures Uranium processing plant, Olympic Dam (SA)
• Functional growth of major software design, Melbourne’s public transport ticketing system (VIC)
• Earth dam wall failure (VIC)
• Design failure of 5 large gas turbine based cogeneration plants installed as a package in Melbourne’s largest hospitals (VIC)
• Design failure and construction delays of windfarms (SA and TAS)
• Design failure of Melbourne City Link tunnel (VIC)
• International diary trade agreement dispute (NZ)
• Construction dispute regarding Australia wide satellite television service Design based cost overruns, Lucas Heights Nuclear Facility (NSW)
• Ship loader design based cost increases (SA)

Mr Shnookal was a part time member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for 10 years. As arbitrator, expert, VCAT member and adjudicator he has published over 60 determinations. Mr Shnookal is a co-author of the 4th edition of Brooking on Building Contracts, a text for legal practitioners practicing in the field of TEC disputes. He has published papers on FIDIC contracts, Experts, Adjudication, and the Ethics of Forensic Engineers. He is the chair of the Adjudication Subcommittee of the Victorian Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.