EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Joel began his career at Allens (now Allens Linklaters) and worked there for twelve years before commencing with Moray & Agnew. During his time at Allens, Joel advised on the successful delivery of some of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, including advising:

• Aquasure on its design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Victorian Desalination Plant ($4.5 billion)
• Plenary Group on its design, construction, operation and maintenance of 4,500 Defence accommodation units across Australia as part of the LEAP Defence Accommodation Project ($1.2 billion)
• Transport for NSW on the delivery of the South West Rail Link ($1.3 billion) and Auburn Stabling Yard ($100 million) and its long term operation and maintenance agreement with John Holland in respect of the Country Rail Network ($400 million).

Joel has advised on the following tier one projects during his time at Moray & Agnew:

• University of Newcastle on all aspects of its STEMM, Honeysuckle and Bioresources facilities ($220 million), Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute ($75 million, in conjunction with NSW Health) and long term maintenance and facilities services contract with Broadspectrum ($85 million)
• Various water utilities and contractors on the design and construction of assets such as the Murray to Broken Hill Pipeline ($350 million), Coombabah Sewage Treatment Plant ($160 million), Dungowan Pipeline ($100 million), Cleveland Bay Treatment Plant ($52 million) and Ballina Water Treatment Plant ($30 million)
• Whittens on the construction of all concrete infrastructure associated with the Williamtown Airbase runway extension ($1.5 billion), Wickham Transport Interchange ($200 million) and water storage infrastructure for Sydney Water ($80 million).

Joel’s particular expertise includes advising on tendering processes (EOI, RFP, RFT and BAFO), risk allocation and mitigation and contract preparation (construct only, D&C, O&M, DCOM, EPC, tripartite, interface, services, supply of goods and funding), negotiation and administration.

Joel’s exceptional technical skills, coupled with his wealth of experience and pragmatic approach, mean that he is regularly called upon by clients to advise on or salvage large, complex and strategic projects.

RECOGNITION

Publication and Papers

In addition to delivering bespoke presentations to clients, Joel regularly presents to industry bodies such as the Institute of Civil Infrastructure, Civil Contractors Federation and National Precast Concrete Federation on legal issues in the construction sector.

Awards / Accolades

Joel has provided pro bono legal services to Northcott and the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service since 2006.

References / Testimonials

Legal 500 Asia Pacific – 2020 – ‘Joel Sturgeon is excellent to work with. His technical skills are impressive, but more than that, Joel provides pragmatic and commercially balanced advice’.