About Robert Fenwick Elliott
Construction and energy lawyer now practising as a barrister
I am Robert Fenwick Elliott, a construction and energy lawyer now practising as a barrister. I now live near Adelaide, South Australia, but since November 2014 I have been an International Member of Keating Chambers in London.
One of the most experienced construction and energy lawyers in the common law world, I was the founder of Fenwick Elliott LLP in London in 1980 and senior partner of that firm for 22 years. Having moved to Australia in a failed attempt to retire, I was a founding partner at Fenwick Elliott Grace in Adelaide until 2013, when I went to the independent bar.
I am presently admitted in South Australia, New South Wales, the Federal Court of Australia.
I have been involved – typically as lead lawyer – in the resolution of many disputes involving in aggregate many hundreds of millions of dollars. Most of these have been in the field of construction or engineering disputes.
The projects have involved the construction of mining facilities, process plants, power stations, pipe lines and pumping stations, marine terminals, ships, FPSOs, harbours, dams, reservoirs, hospitals, factories, office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, housing developments, libraries, sports facilities, roads, rail, bridges, tunnels, security facilities and other types of structures. They have involved work in many jurisdictions, including Argentina, Brazil, Christmas Island, Egypt, England, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jersey, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, New South Wales, Queensland, Pakistan, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, South Australia, Spain, Syria, Ukraine, USA, Victoria, Wales, West Indies and Western Australia.
I am a former chairman, then now vice president of TeCSA. I am presently a board member of the Society of Construction Law Australia.
I was accredited a mediator by CEDR many years ago and by the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia in 2006. I was accredited as an adjudicator many years ago by TeCSA, CIC, CIoB and more recently the government of the Northern Territory. As such, I have successfully mediated or adjudicated many disputes in several jurisdictions.
A member of the DRBF, I presently chair the Dispute Avoidance Board for the substantial Sydney Light Rail project.
Articles on Designing Buildings Wiki by Robert Fenwick Elliott include:
- Pendulum arbitration. January 2016.
- Pay now argue later. January 2016.
- 2015 appointments to the Irish Construction Contracts Adjudication Panel. January 2016.
- The distinction between liquidated damages clauses and penalty clauses. November 2015.
- Privy Council in NH International (Caribbean) Limited v National Insurance Property Development Company Limited (Trinidad and Tobago). September 2015.
- Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) v Higgins Construction 2015. August 2015
Featured articles and news
ECA support for Gate Safe’s Safe School Gates Campaign.
Core construction skills explained
Preparing for a career in construction.
Retrofitting for resilience with the Leicester Resilience Hub
Community-serving facilities, enhanced as support and essential services for climate-related disruptions.
Some of the articles relating to water, here to browse. Any missing?
Recognisable Gothic characters, designed to dramatically spout water away from buildings.
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.


























