Graeme Christie

Graeme Christie is a Construction Lawyer with over 30 years’ experience in construction law advising on contracts and the many issues arising on construction projects, including three years with Linklaters in London. He was also named by Best Lawyers in New Zealand in their 2019 edition, as the top construction lawyer in New Zealand for 2020.

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Graeme conducts arbitrations, and regularly appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has also appeared in the Fijian Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal in the Cook Islands. In 2011 Graeme appeared at Lausanne, Switzerland at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Graeme has been involved in many major construction projects both on and offshore and is well known in the construction industry. He is regularly listed amongst the leading practitioners in this field in New Zealand.

He has considerable experience of acting for principals, consultants, contractors, and subcontractors. He provides advice on a wide range of construction issues including structuring and contract documentation, joint venture agreements (including for the iconic 7 star Burj Al Arah Hotel in Dubai –(https://www.jumeirah.com) alliancing, partnering, guaranteed maximum price contracts, and code compliance. He also assists clients to resolve construction disputes by means of negotiated settlements, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and litigation. He has acted as arbitrator on an ICC international construction dispute sitting in London and as arbitrator in New Zealand. He has also been appointed adjudicator in a number of New Zealand adjudications.

Graeme is a sought after specialist in the New Zealand construction industry. He has spoken at many conferences due to his expertise in contract law both in New Zealand and abroad and for many years was a lecturer in construction law at the School of Architecture, University of Auckland.

In addition, Graeme has considerable experience with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

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Rolls–Royce New Zealand – litigation concerning the Kinleith cogeneration project (New Zealand’s largest construction case to date)

International consortium – refurbishment of Auckland’s wastewater treatment system (one of the largest civil engineering projects of its kind in the world)

Canam Construction – landmark Court of Appeal case on adjudication and the Construction Contracts Act

Major infrastructure projects, including Moa Point, Kupe Gas oil field, and Pohakura

Major construction projects, including Auckland Hospital A+ $350 million upgrade, University of Auckland Business School, Auckland Museum Stage II, Civic Theatre upgrade, and Auckland University of Technology building programme

Westfield – successful defence of a substantial claim arising from a leasing dispute

OceanaGold – decline contracts for the Frasers underground gold mine

Ministry of Justice – large claim against contractor and architect concerning roof of Manukau court complex

Major stadium projects including Eden Park New North Stand, Westpac Stadium, Hamilton Stadium, and Jade Stadium

Contractors, cladding suppliers, and timber suppliers – major “leaky building” claims

Joint venture undertaking Kiwi Dairy upgrade – successful arbitration

Aotearoa Kiwifruit Export – recovery of damages from the Zespri Group (a statutory single-desk kiwifruit marketer) for obstructing kiwifruit exports

Dispute relating to completion and taking over of the Te Rapa cogeneration plant

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Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2024 Dispute Resolution – The Bar: "Graeme Christie specialises in construction law disputes, bringing to the table over 40 years' experience in the space, acquired largely with leading solicitors' firms in both New Zealand and London."