Andrew Blyth
Andrew Blyth is an experienced litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution lawyer capable of handling a broad range of commercial matters. He has particular expertise in building and construction disputes.
Andrew has acted in complex commercial disputes for a diverse range of clients, ranging from small to medium-sized private companies to large multi-national corporate groups. He has assisted clients with legal issues including breaches of contract, shareholder and corporate governance issues, tortious claims, statutory claims, property and leasing disputes and cross-border disputes. He represents clients in first instance and appellate proceedings in Federal and State jurisdictions and is experienced in alternative dispute resolution forums such as arbitrations and mediations.
Andrew’s specialty construction experience has seen him act for a range of project participants on energy, commercial, residential and other types of projects. He regularly advises on payment claims, variations, delay, defects, recourse to performance security, termination of contract and other common project-related issues. Andrew is intimately familiar with the security of payment legislation in different jurisdictions across Australia, having acted in a number of adjudications, judicial review applications, appeals and statutory claims under that legislation.
Andrew prides himself on taking a strategic and solutions-focussed approach, tailored towards his clients’ individual needs. He combines his technical ability and pragmatic mindset to maximise value for his clients.
Andrew is commonly engaged at an early stage to consider his clients’ legal position, advise on strategy and attempt to negotiate an outcome. Andrew will also act as a dedicated advocate for his clients in any legal proceedings that may ensue, through from commencement to a final hearing.
Andrew holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Prior to establishing Blyth Legal, Andrew worked in disputes practices with premium international and national firms, as well as boutique specialist practices, in Perth and Melbourne.
Commercial Disputes Experience
- Acting for a major supplier of goods and services in a dispute with a national government corporation litigated in the Federal Court of Australia
- Acting for a national governing sports body in a dispute with a major television broadcaster litigated in the Federal Court of Australia
- Acting for an international manufacturer in the locomotive industry in a dispute concerning a supply and manufacture contract
- Acting for a gas producer in an international dispute against a state-owned entity concerning a gas supply agreement
- Acting in a shareholder dispute concerning a real estate business
- Acting in proceedings against an insurer concerning coverage for damage to a property caused by a major flooding event
- Advising a media editing company in an international intellectual property and contractual dispute against a major software provider
- Acting for a commercial lessee in Supreme Court proceedings involving the termination of a lease and injunctive relief
- Advising an ASX-listed company on an ASIC investigation involving allegations of market misrepresentation
- Advising on an internal investigation for a service company
- Advising a health industry client on issues concerning private health insurers and providers
- Involvement in an investor-state dispute acting for a major manufacturer against a South-East Asian nation
- Acting in an application to set aside a Deed of Company Arrangement following administrators being appointed to a gold mining operator
- Acting in a jurisdiction dispute including appeal between two international clothing companies
- Acting for a financial advisor in a litigated dispute with a Financial Services License holder involving alleged negligent advice
- Acting in a shareholder dispute involving a spa treatment company with operations nationally and internationally
- Acting in defamation proceedings for a health industry client
- Acting in a trans-tasman dispute involving opposed enforcement proceedings in the High Court of New Zealand
- Acting for various creditors in debt recovery, winding up and bankruptcy proceedings
- Involvement in a major set of class action proceedings following the collapse of a large agricultural managed investment scheme
Building and Construction Experience
- Acting for a global construction company in a series of adjudications and related judicial review application concerning a major wind farm project
- Acting for a head contractor in adjudications against subcontractors in relation to the construction of a major wind and solar complex
- Advising a head contractor on complex contractual issues and claims relating to a rail project
- Acting for a head contractor in a dispute with subcontractors concerning a major solar farm project
- Acting in court proceedings against a subcontractor involving defective works and issues of proportionate liability and alleged design defects
- Acting for a developer in a dispute with a head contractor concerning a mixed-use development
- Working on a large ICC international commercial arbitration concerning the construction of an onshore LNG processing facility
- Acting for a property fund in proceedings against a joint venture partner and related construction company with respect to the construction of a major office development in Melbourne CBD
- Acting for a manufacturer in proceedings regarding the design and development of a cogeneration plant used as part of a paper milling operation
- Acting for a joint venture owner against a contractor engaged for the redevelopment of an iconic Melbourne CBD office building
- Acting for a developer in adjudications concerning three residential projects and subsequent judicial review proceedings and appeal
- Acting for a developer against a trans-tasman construction company in an adjudication and subsequent judicial review proceeding and appeal
- Acting for a joinery subcontractor against a head contractor in an adjudication, legal proceedings and subsequent winding up proceeding
- Advising owners corporations on claims concerning defective building works
- Acting in proceedings concerning statutory debts under the security of payment legislation in different states
- Acting for owners and builders in litigated home building disputes
- Advising various project owners and contractors on contract administration issues and claims