MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Lawyers
Scott Thompson
- Phone+64 9 353 9994
- Email[email protected]
- Social
- Profilewww.minterellison.co.nz
Work Department
Construction and Infrastructure
Position
Partner
Career
Scott is a highly regarded lawyer who co-leads both our Band One ranked Construction & Infrastructure and Energy practices. With over 15 years of experience across New Zealand and the United States, Scott specialises in guiding complex construction and infrastructure projects from delivery through to completion, helping clients navigate risk, mitigate disputes, and achieve commercial success. He is also highly experienced in formal dispute resolution that arises from projects, including adjudication, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution forums.
Scott has advised an array of major stakeholders and acted on some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects and disputes. He has represented clients such as Mercury, Genesis, Fisher & Paykel, Crown Infrastructure Delivery, Fulton Hogan, Northpower, Jacobs, and AECOM. His project experience includes Transmission Gully, Turitea Wind Farm, Waimea Dam, Paremoremo Prison, Waikeria Prison, and Metro Sports Facility. He is experienced with all major contracting models, including PPP, EPC, D&C, and the NZS suite, as well as all primary dispute resolution forums.
In his project leadership role, Scott offers clients a strategic, tailored service across all key phases of project delivery, from tender stage through to completion. He frequently works in a light-touch advisory capacity, staying across project delivery as it progresses. This allows him to provide proactive support, helping clients identify and plan for legal or commercial pinch points and resolve issues quickly and cost-effectively when they arise. Scott’s approach focuses on clarifying an effective project delivery roadmap upfront, alleviating or preventing conflict, and acting as an independent sounding board, bringing a wealth of legal and commercial experience to ensure better project outcomes.
When formal disputes arise, Scott takes a strategic and commercially focused approach from the outset, working to deliver pragmatic resolutions that protect his clients' interests and maintain valuable project relationships.
Before joining MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Scott worked at Bracewell LLP in Houston, Texas, where he gained extensive experience advising public and private energy companies, banks, and private equity firms on energy transactions, project financing, and joint development arrangements for major energy projects. His global perspective allows him to bring world-class insights and strategies to New Zealand’s infrastructure and energy sectors.
Licensed in New Zealand, New York, and Texas, Scott holds a Master of Laws (Energy, Environment & Arbitration) from the University of Texas. He is committed to supporting the growth of New Zealand’s energy transition and enabling the delivery of infrastructure that creates climate and nature-positive outcomes.