Russell Thirgood

Russell is an expert arbitrator and dispute resolution lawyer and leads the firm’s arbitration practice.

Russell is recognised for his work in major and complex disputes, having advised some of the world’s largest mining and construction companies, ASX-listed companies and Australian government entities.

“Russell is uncompromising in his approach to work and in the pursuit of successful outcomes for clients.”

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On the panel of arbitrators for both international and domestic arbitral institutes, Russell has also chaired the Regional Arbitral Institutes Forum (RAIF).

Russell authors and updates the Arbitration Rules of the Resolution Institute (the most regularly used rules for arbitrations in Australia), the Alternative Dispute Resolution Chapter for the Australian Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents, and edits Australia’s pre-eminent alternative dispute resolution journal, The Arbitrator & Mediator. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer in Advanced Construction Law at The University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Lecturer in Alternative Dispute Resolution at The University of Queensland.
Experience
Arbitration
Arbitrator of commercial disputes involving millions of dollars in claims, including matters relating to infrastructure and resource projects.
Expert determination
Expert determiner of commercial disputes, including real estate, commercial leasing and partnership matters.
Negotiation
Negotiator of resolutions to commercial conflict in resources, infrastructure and technology industries.
Litigation and counsel
Litigator and counsel in relation to hundreds of millions of dollars of claims in superior courts and arbitral tribunals.
Mediation
Mediator of sensitive and confidential claims.
Trusted adviser
Trusted adviser in relation to the supervision and management of international litigation including in the US Supreme Court and Supreme Court of Indonesia.