Background
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (UNSW) 1992
Frank Hicks SC specialises in commercial law and is primarily engaged in technology and construction disputes concerning commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects, as well as mining, energy, and renewable energy projects, and large-scale residential developments. He has appeared for a wide variety of parties, from individuals to large national and multinational companies, as well as State and Commonwealth government entities and statutory corporations.
Generally retained to appear in the Supreme Court of NSW, Frank Hicks SC is also regularly briefed for proceedings in the Federal Court and the superior courts of Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and the ACT. He has appeared in the High Court on special leave applications and final hearing.
Frank Hicks SC is also engaged for domestic and international arbitrations, and has advised on and appeared in all other forums of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and expert determination.
Frank Hicks SC has been regularly appointed as an arbitrator by agreement in private arbitral proceedings and as an expert for contractual expert determination of disputes and issues. He has been appointed by the NSW Supreme Court as a referee and facilitator of expert conclaves in litigation proceedings.
Further, Frank Hicks SC enjoys a strong reputation as a mediator for commercial and construction disputes, with an ability to achieve sound and satisfactory settlements of complex matters.
Called to the Bar in 2003, and took silk in 2017. Prior to the call, he was a Senior Associate in the disputes division of Clayton Utz’s Construction & Major Projects Group between 1996 and 2002. From 1993 to 1996, he was a solicitor with Marsdens Lawyers, where he worked in general litigation in Campbelltown and Sydney.
Frank Hicks SC has a deep interest in the law of expert evidence, particularly as it relates to delay, disruption, and programming for construction projects, engineering issues (structural, geotechnical and civil), and architectural/design services. He has given many presentations for Building and Construction Disputes Workshops, NSW Young Lawyers CLE seminars, UNSW Legal Seminars, and local Law Society CLE seminars, as well as CPD seminars for Greenway Chambers.
Outside of the law, he enjoys cricket, rugby (union and league), horse racing, and fine music.
Specialisations
- Construction and infrastructure
- Commercial law and equity
- Commercial arbitration
- Mediation and alternative dispute resolution
- Mining, energy and renewables
- Large residential developments
Professional recognition
- Since 2014, ranked by Doyles Guide as a leading and preeminent junior and senior counsel in construction law, in both NSW and Australia.
- Since 2015, identified in the Chambers and Partners Guide, Asia‑Pacific, as a leading junior barrister and a silk in Australia for construction and infrastructure disputes.
- Since 2018, recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia as a silk for Construction/Infrastructure.
- Since 2023, recognised in Legal 500 in Australia as a silk for Construction, Infrastructure and Property..
Publications
The Building and Construction Law Journal and many other publications. In 2006, completed the updating and editing of Halsbury's Laws of Australia, Building and Construction title.
- Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW)
- The Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act: What to look for following the 2019 amendments
- The 2018 Amendments to the Security of Payment Act 1999
- Have Home Owners Warranty Insurers won a battle, but lost the war?
- Southern Han Breakfast Point Pty Ltd (in liq) v Lewence Construction Pty Ltd [2016] HCA 52
- Delay and Disruption - the Society of Construction Law Protocol
Frank's Notable Cases
Walker Group Constructions ats Tzaneros. NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings concerning issues of structural design and construction in respect of concrete pavements at a trade and transport terminal facility at Molineaux Point, Port Botany.
Practice Area: Betterment, Disputes in contract and statute, Equity, proper measure of damages
AM Darlinghurst Investment Pty Ltd v Growthbuilt Pty Ltd. NSW Supreme Court proceedings concerning breach and termination of contract, misleading and deceptive conduct, estoppel and waiver, and quantification of damages arising from a heritage development project in central Sydney and involving expert and technical issues as to delay, structural engineering and design, programming and project administration.
Practice Area: Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Litigation
One Central Park v Frasers & Watpac. NSW Supreme Court proceedings concerning breach of statutory warranties under the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) and enforcement of Building Works Rectification Order issued under Part 5, Division 1 of the Residential Apartment Buildings (Compliance and Enforcement Powers) Act 2020 (NSW).
Practice Area: Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Litigation
Tesseract International Pty Ltd v Pascale Construction Pty Ltd..
South Australia Court of Appeal and High Court proceedings (leading Bill McManus), which concerned a question of law as to the application of State and Commonwealth statutory schemes for proportionate liability in commercial arbitration. The question was determined by the South Australian Court of Appeal in the negative ([2022] SASCA 107). Special leave was granted,… READ MORE
Tesseract International Pty Ltd v Pascale Construction Pty Ltd.
South Australia Court of Appeal and High Court proceedings (leading Bill McManus), which concerned a question of law as to the application of State and Commonwealth statutory schemes for proportionate liability in commercial arbitration. The question was determined by the South Australian Court of Appeal in the negative ([2022] SASCA 107). Special leave was granted, and the matter heard by the High Court in November 2023. Judgment delivered on 7 August 2024, [2024] HCA 24. Led Bill McManus in the SA Court of Appeal and High Court.
Tesseract International Pty Ltd v Pascale Construction Pty Ltd.
South Australia Court of Appeal and High Court proceedings (leading Bill McManus), which concerned a question of law as to the application of State and Commonwealth statutory schemes for proportionate liability in commercial arbitration. The question was determined by the South Australian Court of Appeal in the negative ([2022] SASCA 107). Special leave was granted, and the matter heard by the High Court in November 2023. Judgment delivered on 7 August 2024, [2024] HCA 24. Led Bill McManus in the SA Court of Appeal and High Court.
Practice Area: Appellate, Arbitration, Questions of Law, Statutory Interpretation and Common Law
Read More
Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd.
NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings concerning the interpretation and application of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and issues of jurisdictional error. Related proceedings (A‑Civil v Ceerose [2023] NSWCA 144) concerned the risk of insolvency and the extent to which a respondent can seek production of documents… READ MORE
Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd
NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings concerning the interpretation and application of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and issues of jurisdictional error. Related proceedings (A‑Civil v Ceerose [2023] NSWCA 144) concerned the risk of insolvency and the extent to which a respondent can seek production of documents in an endeavour to prove that a claimant in impecunious so as to seek a stay of any judgment under the Security of Payment Act pending final hearing of the substantive disputes.
Ceerose Pty Ltd v A-Civil Aust Pty Ltd
NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings concerning the interpretation and application of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and issues of jurisdictional error. Related proceedings (A‑Civil v Ceerose [2023] NSWCA 144) concerned the risk of insolvency and the extent to which a respondent can seek production of documents in an endeavour to prove that a claimant in impecunious so as to seek a stay of any judgment under the Security of Payment Act pending final hearing of the substantive disputes.
Practice Area: Administrative Law, Appellate, statutory construction
Demex Pty Ltd v McNab Building Services Pty Ltd. NSW Court of Appeal proceedings concerned the issue of jurisdictional error in the context of an adjudication determination under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW).
Practice Area: Administrative Law, Appellate, statutory construction
JK Williams v Sydney Water. Land & Environment Court proceedings concerning the performance of works to address erosion in Boundary Creek found to be due to flows from the Penrith Sewage Treatment Plant that was constructed as part of the Replacement Flows Project for the the Greater Western Sydney Area.
Practice Area: Assessment of works, Expert evidence, infrastructure project, Litigation, specific performance
China Railway Construction Engineering (PNG) Limited ats OPH Limited. Proceedings in the Papua New Guinea National Court of Justice for claims and cross claims arising from a construction in Port Moresby. Amount in issue: approximately $A25M.
Practice Area: Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Litigation
Duffy Kennedy Pty Ltd v Galileo Miranda Nominee Pty Ltd. NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings concerning breach of contract, the validity of a ‘show cause notice’, the obligation of good faith and adequate and proper consideration to the issues, and the use of information provided in the course of ‘without prejudice’ meetings for purposes other than settlement.
Practice Area: Appellate, Commercial project, Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Litigation
The Owners Strata Plan 89074 v Ceerose Pty Ltd. NSW Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings concerning breach of statutory warranties under the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) in respect of a large scale residential project and the defence of failure to mitigate.
Practice Area: Claims in Contract and Statute, Defences, Onus and Evidence as to alleged failure to mitigate
Downer Constructions (PNG) v The State of Papua New Guinea. International arbitration involving claims for additional monies for delay and variations in constructing PNG’s Ramu Highway. The proceedings were heard before an international arbitral tribunal in Brisbane. Amount in issue: approximately $A40M.
Practice Area: Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, infrastructure project, International Arbitration - Infrastructure Disputes
Dematic v Nedcon Magazijninrichting. International arbitration concerning the design, fabrication, supply and construction of a regional Queensland storage and distribution facility. The proceedings were heard before an international arbitral tribunal in Sydney. Amount in issue: approximately $20M.
Practice Area: Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Industrial project, International Arbitration - Infrastructure Disputes
AE&E Australia Pty Ltd v Sino Iron Pty Ltd. Domestic arbitration proceedings concerning claims and counterclaims over the design, construction, and commissioning of a combined cycle power plant for mining activities in WA’s Pilbara region. The proceedings were heard before an arbitral tribunal in Perth. Amount in issue: approximately $225M.
Practice Area: Arbitration, Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Industrial project
Redpath Australia Pty Limited v Copper Mines of Tasmania Pty Limited. These NSW Supreme Court proceedings concerned claims and counterclaims for monies and damages arising out of underground or sub-level cave mining operations at Mt Lyell, Tasmania. Amount in issue: approximately $40M.
Practice Area: Commercial and retail project, Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Litigation
Stockland Trust Management Ltd v Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction. NSW Supreme Court proceedings concerning disputes and claims arising out of a contract for the refurbishment and expansion of Townsville Shopping Centre, Queensland.
Practice Area: Commercial and retail project, Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Litigation
Brookfield Multiplex ats The Owners of Strata Plan 74602 & Anor [2015] NSWSC 1916. These NSW Supreme Court proceedings concerned claims for defects and associated loss in a North Sydney high rise residential development known as the Beau Monde, comprising 241 strata apartments. Amount in issue: approximately $45M.
Practice Area: Disputes in contract, statue, and equity, Large scale residential project, Litigation
In addition to the cases noted above, Hicks SC has also appeared in many proceedings concerning the operation and effect of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and the validity of adjudication determinations in the NSW Supreme Court and the NSW Court of Appeal, including Minister for Commerce v Contrax… READ MORE
In addition to the cases noted above, Hicks SC has also appeared in many proceedings concerning the operation and effect of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and the validity of adjudication determinations in the NSW Supreme Court and the NSW Court of Appeal, including Minister for Commerce v Contrax Plumbing (NSW) Pty Ltd & Ors, Dualcorp Pty Ltd v Remo Constructions Pty Ltd, MTR Corporation (Sydney) NRT Pty Ltd v Thales Australia Ltd, CPB Contractors Pty Ltd v Heyday5 Pty Ltd, and Lipman Pty Ltd v A-Civil Australia Pty Ltd.
In addition to the cases noted above, Hicks SC has also appeared in many proceedings concerning the operation and effect of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and the validity of adjudication determinations in the NSW Supreme Court and the NSW Court of Appeal, including Minister for Commerce v Contrax Plumbing (NSW) Pty Ltd & Ors, Dualcorp Pty Ltd v Remo Constructions Pty Ltd, MTR Corporation (Sydney) NRT Pty Ltd v Thales Australia Ltd, CPB Contractors Pty Ltd v Heyday5 Pty Ltd, and Lipman Pty Ltd v A-Civil Australia Pty Ltd.
Enquiries
We accept briefs in all areas of commercial practice and in our barristers’ other areas of practice. For further information or advice on our barristers and their availability, fees and areas of practice please contact our Clerk of Chambers.
