Paul Buetow

Paul is a specialist construction lawyer with over 25 years’ experience and co-leads the largest specialist Major Projects and Construction team in New Zealand.

Paul helps clients procure, draft and negotiate large infrastructure projects. These include road and rail projects, social infrastructure projects such as schools, prisons and housing developments, and water and energy projects. He also helps resolve issues and disputes that arise during construction.

Paul advises the key decision makers in the infrastructure sector from government agencies, local authorities and large principals to major international and domestic contractors and consultants, and leading industry organisations. Paul can advise on all forms of procurement from design bid build contracts using standard forms such as NZS 3910, FIDIC and NEC3, to design and build contracts, early contractor involvement contracts, EPC contracts, alliances and PPPs. Paul has advised on all but one of the New Zealand PPP projects. He can also advise on disputes if they arise, whether by way of mediation, adjudication under the Construction Contracts Act, arbitration or court proceedings.

Paul is on the Executive Council of the New Zealand Contractor’s Federation and on the PrefabNZ Board. He was also on the Board of Infrastructure New Zealand for seven years.

Paul has been recognised as an infrastructure specialist and Band 1 lawyer in Asia Pacific Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for the last five years.