Dr Donald Charrett
BE(Hons), LLB(Hons), MConstLaw, PhD
Dr Charrett is a barrister at the Victorian Bar, practising in building and engineering disputes, and is an accredited Arbitrator and Mediator.
His career in construction law has included litigation, mediation, expert assisted determination, facilitation of an experts' conference, arbitration of construction disputes and membership of Dispute Boards. He is an accredited FIDIC trainer, a Founding Member of the Society of Construction Law in Australia, and is the first chairman of Melbourne TEC Chambers.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, he worked as an engineer for over 30 years, commencing with three years on the staff of Monash University. His consulting engineering career included 12 years as a director of a medium size firm. Engineering experience included computer applications, structural design, managing engineering projects, acting as an expert witness, and management roles in contract negotiation and administration, insurance, international joint ventures and corporate restructuring. In 2010 he was appointed a Non Executive Director of the Australian consulting company of AMOG, and became Chairman in 2012.
Dr Charrett has published widely on legal and engineering subjects, and presented papers at engineering and legal conferences and seminars in Australia and internationally. His legal publications include articles in Australian and international journals on FIDIC contracts, Dispute Boards, the avoidance of disputes, scope and risk in contracts, forensic engineering, contractual lessons from past projects, design and construct contracts, quantum meruit, solidary liability, professional indemnity insurance and reinsurance. He is a joint author, with Philip Loots, of Practical Guide to Engineering and Construction Contracts, published in 2009.
Speaking Engagements
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October 2012: International Bar Association Conference, Dublin: The use of the Unidroit Principles in international construction contracts.
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September 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2008: Melbourne University Master of Construction Law course on construction risk: The contractual risks of time, cost and quality,
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June 2012: FIDIC Asia-Pacific Contract Users' Conference, Singapore: Pursuing claims under FIDIC contracts in Asia Pacific and internationally; Arbitration and alternative dispute resolution in Asia.
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May 2012: International Construction Projects Committee of the IBA: Dispute Boards in Australia.
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May 2012: Monash University Bachelor of Laws course on construction law: Arbitration and litigation.
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May 2012: Dispute Resolution Board Foundation Workshop, Sydney: Routine DRB Operations.
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October 2011: Lexis Nexis Construction Law conference: Resolving construction disputes — mediate, arbitrate or litigate?
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July 2011: FIDIC Asia-Pacific Contract Users' Conference, Singapore: Introduction to FIDIC contracts; MDB Harmonised Construction Contract.
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May 2011: Dispute Resolution Board Foundation Workshop, Sâo Paulo — Common areas of dispute on construction projects; The role of the Engineer in determining claims.
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February 2011: FIDIC Middle East Contract Users' Conference, Abu Dhabi: MDB Harmonised Construction Contract.
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December 2010: International Construction Law Conference, Hong Kong: Panel member — procurement and conditions of contract.
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December 2010: FIDIC Contract Users' Conference London: MDB Harmonised Construction Contract.
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November 2010: Korean Engineers Consulting Association, Seoul: Module 1 Training Course — Practical Use of FIDIC Conditions of Contract.
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October 2010: Society of Construction Law Australia, Brisbane: Dispute avoidance and resolution: novel techniques for an age old problem.
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June 2010: FIDIC Asia Pacific Contract Users' Conference, Beijing, China: MDB Harmonised Construction Contract.
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June 2010: Society of Construction Law Hong Kong: The Engineer is dead. Long live the engineer!
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June 2010: Society of Construction Law Australia Inaugural Conference, Perth, Australia: Is contractual risk a zero-sum game?
Memberships
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Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia
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Member of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia
Recent Writing Show All