Scott Chalmers is an associate in the Energy, Infrastructure, Project Finance and Construction group of White & Case's London office.

Scott practices in the area of construction law, specialising in non-contentious construction work, with an emphasis on large and complex international infrastructure and construction projects. In the past few years Scott has advised on projects worth over $80 billion. He has drafted and advised upon purpose-drafted and standard form construction contracts including EPC , EPCM, DBOM, BOOT, DB and traditional lump sum contracts, as well as consultancy, supply, guarantee, security and direct agreements. Scott has provided advice throughout the construction process, advising sponsors, owners, lenders and contractors during pre-contract negotiation, contract administration, and post contract dispute resolution. He has experience with both non-contentious and contentious matters in relation to oil and gas, petrochemicals, power, water, rail, road, mining and metals, tunneling and buildings.

Prior to joining White & Case in 2003, Scott was a senior associate in construction law at large international law firm in Sydney, Australia. Before coming to the law, Scott practiced architecture for several years in Australia and Canada. He brings extensive practical construction industry experience as a consultant, employer’s representative and project manager to his legal practice.

Recent representations

Scott’s recent experience as lead construction associate includes the following major matters:

• Advising the Saudi Arabian sponsor in connection with its development of the US$9.9 billion upgrade to the Rabigh Petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia, drafting the engineering, procurement and construction management contract and related documents. This project was awarded International Financial Law Review’s 2006 Project Finance Deal of the Year;
• Advising US Ex-Im Bank in connection with construction aspects of the project financing of the US$1.45 billion Q-Chem II Project at Ras-Laffan, Qatar, one of the largest ethane cracker projects in the world. This project was awarded EMEA Petrochemicals Deal of the Year 2005 by Project Finance Magazine;
• Advising, as common counsel, the export credit agencies, multilateral lenders, and commercial bank lenders on construction risks in connection with the US$20 billion financing of the Sakhalin II (Phase 2) LNG Project in Russia;
• Advising the project company in connection with a US$2.4 billion, 350,000 tonne/yr aluminum smelter in Oman, negotiating and drafting the EPCM contract and related documents. The smelter will be the largest greenfield plant in the region. This matter, which closed in December 2005, was awarded Project Finance International 2005 EMEA Industrial Deal of the Year and Project Finance Magazine EMEA 2005 Manufacturing Deal of the Year;
• Acting for a wholly-owned government company, negotiating and drafting US$2 to 3 billion (est.) planning, design, build, operate and maintain contracts for a rapid rail system in Trinidad;
• Advising the lead banks on construction aspects of a EUR 750 million motorway construction project in Hungary. This project, which achieved financial close in September 2004, was awarded “Europe, Middle East and Africa Infrastructure Deal of the Year”, by Project Finance International and “European Transport Refinancing Deal of the Year” by Project Finance Magazine;
• Advising the project company in connection with construction aspects (including EPC and EPCM) of its development of the estimated US$2.25 billion, two train LNG plant in Nigeria’s central Niger Delta;
• Acting for the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority against a contractor consortium in the House of Lords appeal against the decision of an arbitration tribunal, a leading case on the rights of appeal from arbitration under English law;
• Advising a listed U.K. resource company on a US$600 million EPC contract for a natural gas to methanol processing plant in north-western Australia;
• Advising an ANZ Bank led syndicate on construction aspects of the project financing of the Chinguetti oil field offshore in the Republic of Mauritania, the first ever project financing in this country;
• Advising the Egyptian sponsor in the development, financing, design, construction, commissioning, testing, operation and maintenance of a US$350 million ammonia production plant to be located in the Suez Industrial Zone, Gulf of Suez, Egypt;
• Advising a French contractor in relation to contract claims arising in connection with various oil pipeline construction contracts in Nigeria;
• Developing and preparing standard form pipeline EPC contract and ancillary documents for a large South American engineering and EPC contractor;
• Advising the project company in relation to a US$600 million gas fired 1000 MW captive power plant in Oman, negotiating and drafting the engineering, procurement and construction contract and related documents;
• Advising minority sponsors on an estimated US$1.7 billion independent water and power brownfield/greenfield upgrade and extension project in the United Arab Emirates, advising on construction aspects of the EPC and long term service contract;
• Acting for the consortium contractor on the AU$1.5 billion urban tollway in Sydney, Australia, negotiating and drafting several large, key subcontracts;
• Acting for a subsidiary of a US power company on construction and project management a US$450 million gas power generation plant in Australia, drafting a suite of 9 supply, construction, engineering, installation and consultancy contracts; and
• Acting for the special purpose vehicle company responsible for constructing and operating the AUD$1.2 billion, 1600km Adelaide to Darwin railway, drafting substantial portions of the core design & construct, operations and maintenance contracts.