Ben Nicholls

Ben primarily practises in procurement, contracting and negotiations for government agencies in relation to information technology, platforms and services. During the last five years, he has been involved in a number of significant projects.

What he does

Ben provides pragmatic and commercial advice on major projects. He recognises that major projects are successful only where the legal aspects are integrated with the project operational requirements and financial constraints to ensure the project outcome is delivered. He therefore considers legal risk part of the overall project risk and works collaboratively with the project team to deliver the best overall outcome for his clients.

A significant part of Ben’s work involves establishing innovative financial arrangements (such as target cost incentive mechanisms) and appropriate governance mechanisms—in contract and in procurement processes—to ensure speedy and transparent decision-making.

Who he works with

Ben works with Government clients primarily providing strategic advice on project and contract structures and models, including developing and market-testing models. He also participates in evaluation and negotiation activities, and manages contractors' performance problems as well as disputes. The projects he advises on are typically high in value, involve complex issues and receive significant public scrutiny.