Qualifications
LLB, BA (Political Science), University of Canterbury
Admitted
2006, New Zealand
Hamish is a major projects specialist. He leads Chapman Tripp’s Construction & Major Projects practice and co-leads our Infrastructure Sector Group.
Hamish's experience covers a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, energy and natural resources, health, airports, ports, manufacturing, water, tourism and commercial. He acts for government entities, project sponsors, lenders, developers, contractors and consultants on all stages of a project including procurement strategy, funding and financing, tendering and probity, contract drafting and negotiation, contract administration and dispute avoidance and resolution. A significant amount of his experience involves project finance transactions.
Hamish previously worked for UK magic circle law firm Allen & Overy in their Dubai projects team, where he acted for sponsors and lenders on numerous world-scale project finance transactions in the Gulf region.
Hamish is consistently recognised as a Leading Partner by Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Chambers Asia Pacific and is named as a ‘Preeminent’ construction lawyer by Doyles Guide in 2025.
Recent highlights
- Advising Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora on its regional hospital development programme including the redevelopment of Christchurch and Nelson hospitals, and the New Dunedin Hospital Project.
- Advising Auckland Airport on its multi-billion dollar Terminal Integration Programme including various enabling packages, a new domestic jet terminal and the installation of a purpose-built integrated baggage handling system.
- Advising Westpac on its lending into New Zealand’s largest solar project to date – five solar farms, being developed by Lodestone Energy and constructed across the North Island. Hamish is also advising Lodestone Energy on its further solar developments.
- Advising the New Zealand Antarctic Institute on the procurement of Scott Base Redevelopment Project in Antarctica.
- Advising Napier Port on its Wharf 6 upgrade project and, its terminal vehicles upgrade project.
- Advising Eastland on several developments including: all aspects of its new TOPP2 geothermal power station at Kawerau (which utilised an innovative BOOT structure); its Wharf 7 upgrade project at Eastland Port; and its solar farm at Gisborne Airport.
- Advising Fonterra on its major process plant procurements, and its refurbishment and decarbonisation projects.
- Advising Canberra Data Centres on its data centre procurements in New Zealand.
Affiliations
- Society of Construction Law New Zealand.
