Profile
Megan has extensive experience in infrastructure and construction, guiding clients through complex front end negotiations and litigation. She is best known for her commercial and practical approach and the breadth of her experience and expertise, having acted for contractors, major sub-contractors and suppliers, developers, not for profit organisations and statutory insurers.
Megan focuses on obtaining a deep understanding of the strategic and practical requirements of her clients through all stages of the construction process, from negotiating contracts, to project delivery and ultimately resolution of disputes to ensure the best possible outcomes. Megan has drafted and negotiated contractual documentation and provided project delivery services on large infrastructure and construction projects, including roads and rail upgrades and manufacturing plants.
Her litigation experience has included renewable energy, civil infrastructure including roads, dams, desalination plants, hospitals and marinas, together with processing plants and commercial and residential disputes.
With experience across all jurisdictions, including the High Court of Australia, and dispute resolution forums, including adjudications, expert determinations and arbitrations, Megan has acted on matters ranging from contractual entitlements and termination to recourse to bank guarantees and security of payment claims.
Expertise
Recognition
Megan Calder (who is ‘excellent’) and ‘very thorough’…is praised for ‘providing succinct, timely and accurate advice’. Megan is valued for her ‘prompt turnaround’, is ‘easy to deal with’ and ‘very experienced in litigating a variety of different claims in a variety of forums’.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Infrastructure Projects & Construction, 2022 edition
‘Megan Calder is very practical, hard-working, and really cares about the outcome for her clients. Very responsive and a pleasure to deal with’.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Infrastructure Projects & Construction, 2023 edition
‘Megan Calder is outstanding. She is responsive, intelligent and effective. Megan understands the client’s needs and ensures those needs are meet when providing legal services. She ensures risks are managed and contained. Megan provides legal solutions to commercial issues and understands construction.’
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Infrastructure Projects & Construction, 2023 edition
‘Megan Calder comes up with practical, down-to-earth solutions. Very responsive.’
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia – Infrastructure Projects & Construction, 2024 edition
Accolades
- Client Choice Awards – ‘Best Lawyer’ – 2020 Finalist
- Lexology – Winner, Client Choice Awards for Construction – 2014
- Best Lawyers in Australia – Recognised for Construction/Infrastructure Law (Melbourne, AU) – Since 2019 edition
- The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific – Recommended Lawyer for Construction – 2013 to 2018 editions
- The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific – Recommended Lawyer for Infrastructure Projects & Construction – since 2022 edition
- Doyle’s Guide – Leading Construction & Infrastructure Litigation Lawyers – Victoria, 2017, 2021 & 2023 editions
Memberships
- Law Institute of Victoria
- NAWIC
- Society of Construction Law Australia
- Law of Council of Australia – Construction and Infrastructure subcommittee
- WIDAC
Insights
08 November 2023
IT’S HERE: Unfair Contract Terms – New reforms in effect from 9 November 2023
Read More11 August 2021
Money talks in the business of domestic building: The purpose of profit is key
Read More18 December 2020
2020 Construction Law Year in Review: Legislative Changes, Security of Payment and Insolvency Reforms
Read More05 October 2020
The Cladding Safety Victoria Bill 2020 provides owners relief but set to retrospectively increase the...
Read More05 October 2020
Victorian Building Authority’s enhanced powers to crack down on phoenixing
Read More05 December 2017
High Court confirms that permits are mandatory for union officials attending construction sites
Read More20 July 2017
Determining the date of practical completion: Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd v Fairfield City Council
Read More19 April 2017
Bank Guarantees and Insurance Bonds in Construction Contracts: What’s the difference? Are they as good...
Read More27 May 2016
Security of Payment Update: Mediation clause found not to be a ‘method of resolving disputes’
Read More30 July 2015
Updates on the principles applicable to attempts to restrain recourse to unconditional bank guarantees
Read More12 August 2014