Thomas Ambrose

Expertise

Thomas specialises in litigation and all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, expert determination and security of payment adjudications in all jurisdictions. Prior to joining Holding Redlich, Thomas was a Judge’s Associate to the Honourable Justice Alan Wilson and the Honourable Justice David Thomas of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Thomas has been recognised in the 2022 edition of Doyles Guide as a recommended lawyer in Construction & Infrastructure for Queensland. 

Experience

Thomas has acted in a number of complex and high value disputes for leading engineering, construction and infrastructure contracting companies. He also acts for Queensland Government departments, mining companies, developers and individuals.

A selection of past and ongoing matters in which Thomas has acted is set out below:

• an arbitration involving claims for variations, delay and defects in relation to a large mining project in South Australia (acting for the head contractor)
• an expert determination in relation to the design of a sewage treatment plant in Queensland (acting for the designer)
• a Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding involving a damages claim for breach of contract, negligence and unconscionable conduct in relation to a supply contract (acting for the supplier)
• a Supreme Court of Vanuatu proceeding in relation to the measure of damages for a breach of contract and negligence claim (acting for an engineering company)
• a Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding in relation to a damages claim involving allegations of conspiracy to injure and malicious prosecution (acting for a residential developer and its directors)
• five back-to-back South Australian security of payment adjudications (various amounts over $1M) in relation to a structural steel supply contract (acting for the respondent / head contractor)
• a Supreme Court of Queensland (and later Court of Appeal and High Court of Australia) proceeding in relation to the enforceability of a liquidated damages clause (acting for the liquidator of a residential developer)
• advising a joint venture in relation to disputes under an EPC contract for a solar farm in Queensland (acting for the head contractor)
• a Victorian security of payment adjudication ($3M) in relation to an EPC contract for a wind farm (acting for the claimant / EPC contractor) 
• a Supreme Court of Queensland proceeding involving claims for variations, delay and defects in relation to a subcontract for a processing facility (acting for the head contractor)
• a Supreme Court of South Australia proceeding involving the judicial review of an adjudicator’s decision (acting for the applicant / head contractor)
• a Queensland security of payment adjudication ($10M)  in relation to the construction of a subsea crossing (acting for the respondent / head contractor)
• advising in relation to disputes under a contract for the design and construction of a research vessel for a Commonwealth agency (acting for the shipping company)
• a personal injury proceeding in relation to the design of a stadium (acting for the certifier)
• advising construction contractors in relation to industry compliance measures and regulations, including but not limited to the QBCC Minimum Financial Requirements.