Michael Cochrane SC* has over 25 years’ experience, is dual qualified, and specialises in construction and infrastructure project dispute resolution; litigation; domestic and international arbitration.

Michael Cochrane SC*

BA LLB

*Senior Counsel, South Africa

T: +61 3 9606 3229 E: mcochrane@molinocahill.com.au Download full profile Download contact information

Prior to commencing practice as an Australian lawyer, Michael practised as Senior Counsel (SC) at the Johannesburg Bar, where he practised for more than 25 years, building on his previous experience in a leading South African law firm.

Michael represents contractors, sub-contractors, insurers, and principals in projects ranging from major infrastructure, energy and resources, to commercial, industrial, and residential projects, often representing international entities, and has acted as Arbitrator and contractual dispute Adjudicator in construction and commercial disputes.

Michael’s extensive experience includes advisory work during all project phases and appearing as Counsel, online and in person, in complex high value disputes in litigation and domestic and international arbitration in a variety of projects including power stations (coal; hydro-electric; and solar); petrochemical; mining; tailings and water dams; piling; fibre optic; electrical transmission lines; international sports stadia; process plants; runway extensions; bridges; roads; storm water services.

Michael’s appointment as Special Counsel at Molino Cahill gives our clients the unique benefit of early and ongoing access to his significant international experience and specialist advocacy skill set, further enhancing and distinguishing our top tier end to end construction and projects team.

Recent experience

  • Lead counsel for an engineering company in multiparty litigation concerning specialised plant in a coal fired power station.

  • One of two senior counsel in a team of four counsel representing the contractor in a petrochemical project in a 60-day online arbitration concerning tender sufficiency; constructability; access; delay; loss of productivity; and involving experts from the UK, Australia and South Africa.

  • Lead counsel for a contractor, constructing gold mine tailings and water dams, in arbitration concerning guarantee refunds; extensions of time; loss of productivity; geotechnical; and quantum issues.

  • Advising on an East African mining project on early contract termination under Western Australian law.

  • Part of an international team of barristers representing an international contractor in arbitration proceedings in the IDRC London involving multiple interrelated claims on a coal fired power station and involving experts from Singapore, Australia, the UK, and South Africa.

  • Lead counsel for contractor successfully enforcing dispute adjudication decisions in the South African Supreme Court of Appeal.

  • Lead counsel for a contractor successfully enforcing contractual termination entitlements and advising on multiple claims in arbitration and negotiations.

  • Lead counsel for professional indemnity insurers in multiparty litigation and settlement negotiations between the principal, engineer, and contractor concerning the collapse of structures and disputes on the professional consulting contract; design; supervision; and damages.