Nick Saxton

Nick advises on all aspects of building and construction law. He has a thorough understanding of construction contracts and the issues that can arise under them.
 
Nick regularly assists in structuring projects, outsourcing and procurement, joint venture arrangements, drafting and negotiating contracts and in providing ongoing advice during project delivery on many of New Zealand's major projects.
 

His recent work includes:
 

• Social infrastructure: Providing ongoing project delivery support to the New Zealand International Convention Centre project team including advising on rights and obligations under the head contract, consultancy agreements and subcontracts as well as providing advice on the insurance programme, insurance claims and the rebuild.

• Social infrastructure: Advising a tenderer on a programme alliance for the delivery of build-ready land with total work under contract budgeted at $750m.

• Water infrastructure: Advising a tenderer on the Central Interceptor project on joint venture arrangements, head contract terms, negotiations with subcontractors and design consultants as well as managing insurance placement and approval workstreams. Also provided ongoing project support to the main contractor team on the design and construction of the $108m Northern Interceptor project.

• Transport infrastructure: Acting as independent adviser on the Auckland Electrification Project in connection with the settlement of outstanding claims under an existing fixed price contract and the subsequent delivery of the balance of the works on the basis of a collaborative cost-plus model with structured incentives incorporating project alliancing principles.

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Commerce, Finance, University of Otago.

Prior to joining Russell McVeagh Nick was a Senior Legal Counsel – Projects at Fletcher Construction and spent a number of years at leading law firms in New Zealand and Australia.

Nick is recognised in the 2024 Best Lawyers® New Zealand Guide for Construction Law.