Jonathan Stafford
PartnerTaking a proactive approach with open lines of communication, Jonathan ensures projects are aligned with his clients' expectations, delivering high-quality outcomes. This proactive stance guarantees clients receive precise and dependable services, which is why so many return to him, some for over a decade.
Jonathan advises clients on a wide range of legal issues related to construction and infrastructure projects, including contract drafting and negotiation, project structuring, procurement, project management, risk assessment and regulatory compliance.
Jonathan's strength lies in his commitment to transparency, adaptability, and a diligent work ethic. He stands by his word, always delivering on his promises. When clients choose Jonathan, they're not only getting legal insights; they're entering into a partnership grounded in trust, understanding, and a shared goal for success.
His experience covers a broad range of sectors, including roads, rail, ports, energy, telecommunications, residential, retail, health and education, and across different contracting models, including PPPs, EPC, O&M, alliances, incentivised target cost and collaborative contracts and long-term maintenance contracts.
In addition to his legal expertise, Jonathan has a deep understanding of the construction industry itself, having spent considerable periods of time on secondment to clients in senior legal and commercial roles, and having worked closely with his clients' legal, commercial and technical teams. Jonathan's knowledge of the technical and practical aspects of infrastructure projects enables him to provide clients with practical and commercial advice that takes into account their goals and objectives.
EXPERIENCE
Rail and roads:
- Downer in relation to its tender, as rollingstock supplier and maintainer, for the Linewide Package of the Victorian Government's AUD30 billion Suburban Rail Loop Project.
- Hyundai Rotem Company on its successful tender (as Rollingstock Subcontractor, in a joint venture with Downer) for the Queensland Government's AUD4.6 billion Queensland Train Manufacturing Program for the design and local manufacture of 65 new six-car trains for deployment on the South-East Queensland rail network.
- Webuild, CPB Contractors, China Construction Oceania and GS Engineering & Construction (together, as D&C Contractor JV) on their successful tender (as part of the Spark Consortium, with Capella and Ventia) for the Victorian Government's AUD16 billion North East Link PPP toll road project in Melbourne, the largest PPP project in Victoria to date.
- Hyundai Movex Co., Ltd on its successful tender, as design, supply and install contractor for the platform screen doors and mechanical gap filler package for the upgrade of the existing T3 Bankstown line, as part of the New South Wales Government's AUD20 billion Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.
- Downer on its successful tender for the NSW Government’s AUD2.5 billion Sydney Growth Trains project for design, manufacture, commissioning and maintenance of 41 new eight-car, double-decker trains for the Sydney rail network, plus on-going advice on the delivery, maintenance and upgrade of the rollingstock, including implementation of the European Train Control System on the fleet.
- Downer on its successful tender (as equity participant, delivery contractor and maintenance contractor), as part of the Evolution Rail consortium (together with CRRC Changchun and Plenary Origination) for the Victorian Government’s AUD2.5 billion High Capacity Metro Trains PPP project, for the design, manufacture and maintenance of 70 new metro trains for operation on Melbourne Metro and the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, and the design and construction of associated maintenance facilities.
Energy, Ports and Utilities Infrastructure:
- Spotless on the proposed 1.9MW solar farm to be added to Commonwealth Department of Defence's Joint Operations Headquarters, near Canberra.
- Downer on its tender, as D&C Contractor (as part of the Plenary-led consortium, with Essential Energy), for the design and construction of the network infrastructure, including energy hubs and high-capacity transmission lines, for the NSW Government’s AUD3.2 billion Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ) PPP project, the first project of its kind to commence in New South Wales.
- Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited on its successful tender, as Delivery Contractor JV member (with Acciona and Genus), for the design and construction of 356 kilometres of new 500KV transmission lines and substations for Transgrid’s AUD3 billion HumeLink – East West project.
Social Infrastructure, residential and commercial developments:
- Ramsay Healthcare (as principal) on the development / upgrade of its private hospital and healthcare facilities, including developing the template suite of managing contractor, D&C and construct-only contracts and negotiating and finalising contracts for the delivery of over 20 of its private hospital facilities.
- Spotless on its tender for the provision of infrastructure support services to the NSW Government’s Department of Justice and Communities.
- Altis Property Partners, as developer of the combined private residential and key worker affordable housing development at 680 Kingsway, Miranda, NSW.
- English
- University of Melbourne, Masters in Construction Law, 2012
- BPP Law School, London, Legal Practice Course, 1999
- The College of Law, Chester, Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, 1996
- Warwick University, BSc (Hons),1995
Awards
Best Lawyers (Australia)
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (2021-2024 ed)
- Construction / Infrastructure Law (2014-2024 ed)
Doyle’s Guide (New South Wales)
- Front End Construction & Infrastructure – Leading (2020)
IFLR1000
- Project Development, Energy – Rising star partner (2024-2025)
- Project Development, Construction and Materials, Energy & Transport – Notable Practitioner (2020)
Legal 500 (Australia)
- Construction (2020)
