Strategic advisors

GMG Associates provides targeted strategic advice on innovative contracting alternatives for major projects and transactions worldwide. With sought-after expertise in project alliancing, collaborative dispute resolution and best practice documentation solutions, GMG Associates is a trusted advisor and valued partner.

Graham Thomson, Principal

Graham Thomson, Principal of GMG Associates, has over 30 years experience in construction and innovative project structures for major projects. Graham was a partner of two international law firms; Mallesons Stephen Jaques, based in Hong Kong, and Masons, based in London. With pre-eminent expertise in the field of project alliancing, high-value document solutions, and a reputation for facilitating resolution of complex legal and commercial disputes, Graham has advised on major projects worldwide.

Graham has had extensive involvement in project alliances since their introduction into Australia in the early 1990's. Since then, Graham has been at the forefront of the development of alliancing in Australia, as well as advising on alliances in Canada, Germany, the Philippines, England and the North Sea. Graham developed the ‘single contract' model which is widely used today and advised on the first government alliances. Graham developed, with Steve Knisely of JMJ Associates, the alliance selection process which is now commonly accepted and used as best practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Alliancing requires a unique combination of people skills, legal skills and commercial acumen, and Graham exhibits all three. For example, in recognition of Graham's strong commercial skills, the largest independent power producer in Asia (at that time) seconded Graham as its Chief Operating Officer.

Graham's international reputation for facilitating resolution of complex legal and commercial issues without resorting to litigation or costly third-party arbitration lead to Graham being named by Euromoney as a Leading Lawyer in Arbitration.

Graham is also a Principal of Affinitext, a world-leading provider of solutions that help to find and understand vital information buried in high-value project documents.

Prior to his legal career, Graham qualified as an engineer and spent 10 years in large scale international project management.

Graham's major alliance transaction experience includes:

		Australian Government Acton Peninsula Development (includes the National Museum and was the Australian Government’s flagship project for the centenary celebrations) (Australian Capital Territory, $150m)
		Sydney Water’s Northside Tunnel Project (NSW Australia, $350m)
		Metronet Rail Alliance (London UK, £1.3 billion)
		Alstom Power Project Grain Alliance (UK, £300 million)
		Tenix’s bid for the Department of Defence’s AWD Project (Australia, $5 billion)
		Suncor’s Project Millennium (Canada, $2 billion)
		WMC’s East Spar Project (Western Australia, $350m)
		Amerada Hess’ Perth Field Development (North Sea)
		Meridien Energy Limited’s Project Aqua (New Zealand, $1.2 billion)
		Department of Infrastructure (Victoria, Australia) Craigieburn Rail Alliance (Australia, $100m)
		Department of Infrastructure (Victoria) Channel Deepening Alliance (Australia, $300m)
		Gladstone Water Board’s Awoonga Alliance (Queensland Australia, $80m)
		BHP’s Direct Reduced Iron Project, Port Hedland (Western Australia, $550m)
		BHP’s Structural Steel Alliance (Western Australia, $48m)
		BHP’s Gas Modularisation Alliance (Philippines, $20m)
		Veba Auto Eol Project (Germany)
		Worsley Alumina’s 3.1mt Expansion Project: (Western Australia, $800m)
		Electranet SA Alliance (South Australia)
		Hazelwood Power Precipitator Refurbishment Project (Victoria, $80m)
		AGL Mid West Pipeline (Western Australia, $80m)
		AGL Compressor Upgrade (Victoria, Australia)
		Queensland Rail Tilt Train Project: (Queensland, Australia)
		Cobar Mine: (NSW Australia)
		Department of Defence Lightweight Torpedo Project (Australian Capital Territory)

Graham has advised on major projects around the world including:

		Shajiao “C” Power Station (China)
		Zhuhai Power Station (China)
		Hefei Power Station (China)
		Sual Power Station (Philippines)
		Manjung Power Station (Malaysia)
		Sydney Olympic 2000 Multi-Use Arena (Australia)
		Woodside Petroleum’s Laminaria development (Western Australia)
		Woodside Petroleum’s Wannea Cossack development (Western Australia)
		Gas & Fuel Corporation’s Capital Plaza Project (Victoria, Australia)
		Telstra’s FMO Project (Australia)
		Museum of the Moving Image (London UK)
		West Yorkshire Playhouse (Leeds UK)
		The Channel Tunnel (England - France)

Engineering and project management experience:

		State Electricity Commission of Victoria (Australia)
		Melbourne Water (Australia)
		Thames Water Authority (London UK)
		Loy Yang B Power Station (Australia)
		Loy Yang A Power Station (Australia)
		Winneke Reservoir and Treatment Plant (Australia)
		Thomson Dam Project (Australia)

Graham holds a Diploma of Electrical Engineering from Monash University and a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University.