Ren Niemann
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Australia
Related services and key industries
Biography
Ren Niemann is a projects specialist based in Brisbane that provides strategic advice to government and private sector clients on major projects across construction, infrastructure and procurement. For more than 25 years, he has developed significant experience across a number of industries and sectors including transport, telecommunications, energy and renewables, waste, water, resources, social infrastructure and housing, universities, defence and logistics. He has worked on cross-border transactions across many jurisdictions including Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands (including PNG), Asia (including China, Mongolia and Singapore), US and Europe.
He has advised on all forms of contracting including relationship contracts (e.g. ETI, ECI and alliancing), PFIs/PPPs, all forms of traditional procurement (e.g. D&C, DCM, DCOM, EPC, EPCM) and other related agreements.
Ren has a strong principal and financier focussed practice having advised all levels of government and the private sector including the Queensland Government, major councils, property clients and mining clients.
Ren provides clients with project delivery advice and strategic direction having been involved in all forms of 'back-end' construction matters, including security of payment adjudications, mediations, arbitrations, litigation and other ADR forms (e.g. senior executive appraisal and dispute avoidance boards). To ensure clients have the best possible project outcomes, Ren provides hands-on and practical training on contracts and contract administration issues.
Professional experience
Collapse all- Bachelor of Laws (Hons – 1st Class), Queensland University of Technology (1997)
- Masters of Construction Law, University of Melbourne (2003)
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
- Advising community housing provider, Brisbane Housing Company - on the development of up to 1200 units under the Queensland Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund (Phase 1)
- Queensland Government - on the development of a defence and logistics hub for research and development with Boeing Australia
- Gold Coast City Council - on its delivery partner arrangements for waste and asset renewal delivery services
- Government agencies - on business cases across major transport (eg Bruce Highway Upgrade projects), health, water, arena and stadium, courthouses and prisons projects
- Advised governments (QLD, NSW and WA State Governments and various local councils) and private sector on major transport projects, including new and augmented road, rail and bridge projects such as advising on MetroNet (WA), Sydney Metro (various packages), Gold Coast City Council's Green Bridge, Gateway Upgrade Project, OSARs, Melbourne Metro, Sydney Harbour Bridge alliance O&M package
- Health infrastructure and procurement – advising Queensland Health and Health and Hospital Services - on construction of hospital expansions, procurement of strategic goods/services and long-term operation and maintenance arrangements for health infrastructure
- Queensland University – on its master-planned campus development
- Sunshine Coast Council - on the development of its new city hall project
- Darwin City Council - on the Darwin City Deal with the Federal and NT governments and Charles Darwin University
- Advising property developers – on new and refurbished office, residential and retail buildings and social and affordable housing (including build to rent)
- Advising a contractor as part of its consortium role for a bid for the Tasmanian Government Radio Network PPP
- Advising developer of several solar farms in Australia
- A principal - advising on the development of a new micro power station in Northern Territory on a build, own, operate basis
- Best Lawyers – Construction / Infrastructure Law (2018-2023)
- Recommended Practitioner, Construction, Chambers Asia-Pacific (2018, 2023)
- Leading construction practitioner, Doyle's Guide (2015-2023)
- Recognised Practitioner, Who's Who Legal: Construction (2018, 2022)
- Recommended lawyer, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2016-2020)
- Infrastructure Association of Queensland, Past board member (2009 – 2017)
- Bond University, Construction and Project Management Industry Advisory Committee, Member (2010 - current)
- Queensland Law Society, Construction Law Subcommittee, Member (2014 – current)
- Australian Legal Services Alliance, Director (2016 – 2018)
- Board Member, TIACS Foundation (current including 3 years as advisory board member)