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Mark van Brakel

Partner

Perth

Image of Mark Van Brakel
Mark van Brakel

Partner

Perth

Mark is the head of the Asia-Pacific and Australian litigation practice and has extensive experience in complex and strategically significant litigation, international arbitration and contentious regulatory work. He has acted for leading corporations in the energy and resources sector in Australia on matters ranging from major engineering and project disputes, joint venture disputes and arbitrations, through to responding to regulatory investigations and associated civil penalty proceedings. He also acts regularly in director and shareholder disputes.

Mark has been voted by his peers as one of Australia’s Best Lawyers for Litigation since its inception in 2009, and across multiple categories including Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Arbitration, Regulatory, and ‘Bet the Company’ litigation. He has been voted as Western Australia's Alternative Dispute Resolution ""Lawyer of the Year"" for 2014, the International Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year” for 2015 and 2018, ""Lawyer of the Year"" for 2019 - Regulatory Practice.

He maintains rankings in all prominent directories including Chambers, Legal 500, and Doyles Guide where he ranks as “pre-eminent” for commercial litigation in Western Australia. He is also recognised as a National Leader for Arbitration and ranked for Commercial Litigation by Who's Who Legal: Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Related articles

Publications: 20 April 2023

Q&A: Managing risk in cutting-edge Net Zero projects

The shift to Net Zero will require the transition to cutting-edge technologies. In this environment, traditional contracting models – for example engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) – may…

Read more Q&A: Managing risk in cutting-edge Net Zero projects

News: 13 February 2023

A&O further bolsters Asia-Pacific Litigation practice with the hire of Melody Chan

Read more A&O further bolsters Asia-Pacific Litigation practice with the hire of Melody Chan

News: 04 October 2021

Arbitration partner Christopher Mainwaring-Taylor relocates to our Singapore office

Read more Arbitration partner Christopher Mainwaring-Taylor relocates to our Singapore office

Publications: 05 July 2021

Country and sustainability risk mitigation: a briefing for energy and mining investors

Read more Country and sustainability risk mitigation: a briefing for energy and mining investors

Experience highlights

Office

Perth

Level 12, Exchange Tower, 2 The Esplanade
Perth
WA 6000

View office →

Qualifications

Professional

Admitted to practice in Western Australia, 1992

Admitted to practice in Federal and High Courts, 1994

Academic

Bachelor of Jurisprudence (1989) University of Western Australia

Bachelor of Laws (1990) University of Western Australia

Other noteworthy experience

Advising:

  • An international upstream oil and gas company, on a USD50 million dispute in relation to separate contracts for the front end engineering and design and procurement, construction, installation, hook-up and testing of, a production processing platform, two pipes and one pipeline end manifold for a field off the Gulf of Thailand. The matter involved SIAC arbitration proceedings.
  • A global financial institution in relation to Supreme Court proceedings pertaining to allegedly misleading and deceptive conduct regarding the sale of a Lehman Brothers investment product.
  • Oilex in defence of Federal Court proceedings instituted by Zeta claiming misleading and deceptive conduct and breach of the continuous disclosure obligation by Oilex in connection with share placement and convertible loan note agreements.
  • Tanami Gold on a dispute involving over a joint venture agreement between Tanami and Metals X.
  • A subsidiary of RCR Tomlinson in a major contractual dispute concerning electrical and installation works undertaken at the Argyle Diamonds underground expansion project, involving delay, acceleration and disruption claims.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group of the Year

2018 Australian Disputes Centre

Arbitration Practitioner of the Year

2018 Australian Disputes Centre