Dado Hrustanpasic

Expertise

With over 14 years’ experience in major projects and infrastructure disputes, Dado has acted for clients in large, complex and high-profile proceedings, with a practice focused particularly on disputes involving engineering, construction and technology issues. He has acted for owners and contractors in the energy, road, rail, electricity, water, power and natural resources sectors.

Dado brings to clients extensive experience in managing and resolving complex disputes across their lifecycle. He has successfully advised on and represented clients in developing claims, initiating and defending proceedings, gathering evidence, developing technical expert evidence, conducting complex hearings and managing alternative dispute resolution. He has particular expertise in managing and effectively communicating engineering and technical issues in their legal context.

In providing commercial and risk insights, Dado draws on his experience as in-house counsel at a tier one Australian civil engineering contractor, where he advised on high value road, rail and civil infrastructure projects.

Dado was listed in 2023 as a Rising Star in Victoria for Construction Law and in 2024 as a Leading In-House Construction & Infrastructure Lawyer by Doyle’s Guide.

Dado is dual-qualified in law and civil engineering. He is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School, where he lectures in construction dispute resolution.

Experience

Highlights of Dado's experience in construction, infrastructure and projects disputes include:

• acted for ASX-listed owner on all aspects of large-scale Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings in relation to the Gladstone LNG project, involving claims in excess of $1 billion for delays and cost overruns
• acted for international owner in Federal Court of Australia proceedings in relation to the Ichthys LNG project, involving claims in excess of $1 billion for defect rectification issues
• advised tier one contractor joint venture in relation to a $10 billion road tunnel project in Melbourne
• acted for tier one head contractor in an arbitration on a national highway duplication project in Victoria involving unforeseen ground conditions and delay issues
• acted for government owned energy generator in an arbitration in relation to performance issues on national electricity infrastructure
• advised ASX-listed resources company in relation to performance issues on a natural resources processing project
• advised head contractor in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings in relation to design and construction issues on water treatment infrastructure
• advised head contractor joint venture in Supreme Court of Victoria proceedings and insurance claims in relation to design and construction issues on a major water desalination project
• acted for ASX-listed energy generator in an arbitration in relation to performance issues on a gas power generation project.

Highlights of Dado's experience advising on front-end transactions and project delivery issues include:

• $3 billion rail tunnel project package in Melbourne
• $1 billion freeway upgrade project package in Melbourne
• $1.5 billion civil infrastructure project in Melbourne
• $200 million aviation building project in Melbourne.