Leading national law firm Lander & Rogers is pleased to announce that Michael O’Callaghan will join its Real Estate and Projects practice group as a partner, on 13 January 2025. Michael brings a wealth of experience in construction, engineering, resources, and infrastructure projects, strengthening the firm’s capabilities in these critical sectors.
With 15 years of experience in both private practice and senior in-house legal roles, Michael specialises in contract negotiations, strategic legal advisory, project delivery services, and dispute resolution, including adjudication, litigation, arbitration, mediation, and expert determination. His deep understanding of complex infrastructure projects and practical approach to legal problem-solving have made him a trusted advisor to executive leadership teams and project stakeholders.
Previously, Michael held senior legal roles at Seymour Whyte and Lendlease Engineering. As Assistant General Counsel at Seymour Whyte, Michael provided strategic leadership and management of the legal function across a wide variety of complex infrastructure procurement models and projects. At Lendlease Engineering, Michael managed material disputes and claims and led legal teams through high-stakes project negotiations. His ability to navigate complex legal frameworks and deliver commercially sound outcomes has earned him a reputation as a dynamic and results-driven legal professional. Michael will be based in Sydney.
Tim McDonald, partner in the Real Estate and Projects practice group, welcomed Michael to the Lander & Rogers national team, commenting “Michael’s breadth of experience and proven leadership in high-profile construction and infrastructure projects make him an exceptional addition to our team. His pragmatic legal approach and track record of success will be invaluable as we continue to deliver innovative solutions to our clients and expand our practice nationally. Michael’s dual offering as both a front end and back end advisor allows him to assist a variety of clients from project inception to dispute resolution.”
Commenting on his new role, Michael O’Callaghan said “I am excited to join Lander & Rogers and collaborate with a team renowned for its commitment to client service and legal excellence. My extensive in-house experience in both front end and back end matters allows me to understand the challenges, issues and risks in the construction and infrastructure markets for all stages of the project lifecycle. I look forward to applying my experience in construction and infrastructure to help clients navigate complex projects and achieve outstanding outcomes.”
The appointment follows other lateral hires to the Real Estate and Projects team in 2024, including partners Tom White and Natasha Hood, offering specialist advice across Environment & Planning and commercial and retail capital and leasing transactions.
