Comprehensive legal solutions for infrastructure, construction, commercial, government and beyond

Paul Muscat and Craig Tanzer were engaged to provide legal, procurement and probity services for the joint procurement of waste management and resource recovery services involving three local governments in South East Queensland, being Logan, Ipswich and Redland City Councils. From the project inception in 2018, their services included procurement planning, ACCC notification, advice on recommended joint governance vehicles, project delivery models, expression of interest, early tenderer involvement and tender processes, probity oversight, evaluation and probity planning, evaluation methodology and report preparation. They also prepared the project contracts, including the design, build, operate and maintain contract. Paul and Craig delivered timely and high-quality advice and services throughout the procurement process and joint governance establishment, facilitating the execution of the DBOM contract for a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in 2024, marking the first joint local government waste infrastructure project in South East Queensland.

Muscat Tanzer Lawyers provided legal services throughout each stage of our company’s establishment and growth. From ensuring compliance with complex funding and legislative requirements to assisting in the development of a robust governance framework, their expertise was invaluable. Their guidance in establishing and managing our relationship with our council shareholder, including drafting and negotiating service and funding agreements, was thorough. They also played a pivotal role in the appointment and onboarding of directors, offering tailored training to help the board navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of operating as a council-owned corporation (beneficial enterprise). Muscat Tanzer Lawyers excelled in designing comprehensive policies and procedures and provided critical support for procurement processes, with a clear understanding of political considerations, city investment priorities, and ratepayer-funded projects. Their expertise extended to the operational and strategic aspects of our business, including property development, the establishment of subsidiaries and Special Purpose Vehicles, and contracting and contract management. The firm’s corporate and board advice was insightful and practical, ensuring that we maintained a strong relationship with our council shareholder while achieving our strategic objectives. Muscat Tanzer Lawyers’ professionalism and expertise have been integral to investLogan’s growth.

We have been instructing Paul and his team for over 7 years to represent Cardno, now Stantec in relation to our litigation, contracting and general commercial requirements. Paul has taken the time to understand our business and commercial goals, becoming an incredible strategic partner. He has a tremendous breadth of experience and knowledge, is strategic, responsive, and always available and adding value. Paul’s team are smart and talented trial lawyers, handling our most complex and significant litigations. They are strategic, tactical and pragmatic, with an extraordinary ability to learn the intricacies of the scientific subject matters involved. The team’s skill, knowledge and experience with contract drafting and advice is also second to none. Paul’s team is easy to work with and have achieved outstanding results.

I have worked with Paul for almost 20 years and with Craig in the last few years. I’m delighted to work with them as Directors of Muscat Tanzer, together with their whole team. They are not only talented lawyers, but are also able to communicate the issues in a straightforward way and most importantly, apply them with a commercial mindset. We consider them a true partner of our business and have no hesitation in recommending them.

The advice and work provided by Paul Muscat and his team throughout the procurement, contracting and negotiation of our solar generation project has been vital. Paul’s team advised on the project and contract delivery method, drafted the contract documentation, and assisted with the negotiation to ensure finalisation of the contract within an ambitious timetable. Paul’s team’s expertise and experience was obvious and invaluable for Council undertaking its first renewable energy project and entering a BOOT contract with the necessary collaborative contracting concepts. During this procurement process, Paul identified potential risks and contract administration issues and provided pragmatic and commercial solutions to all issues, whilst conscious of realising Council’s objectives for the project.

The experience and expertise provided by Paul Muscat and his team throughout the whole procurement, project delivery and contracting of our solar farm project has been invaluable. Paul has advised on our procurement plan, project delivery method, and drafted our expression of interest, early tender involvement and tender documents, through to the drafting and negotiation of the project contracts. Paul proactively assisted Council from the preparation of the procurement plan to undertaking Council’s first ever early tenderer involvement process, and subsequent tender. Paul and his team then drafted all of the post tender Design & Build and Operate & Maintain contract documentation and has advised and assisted Council in relation to the administration of the Design & Build Contract during the current construction phase of the project. We will continue to instruct Paul in relation to the ongoing administration of the Design & Build Contract and the subsequent Operate & Maintain Contract. During this procurement process, Paul identified contract administration issues and areas of potential risk and has provided pragmatic and commercial solutions to all issues all the while keeping Council’s overall objectives for the project at the forefront.

Paul and his construction, infrastructure and procurement team have been instrumental in the delivery of our solar farm project. The procurement and construction of a solar farm is not core business to Council, so the procurement, project delivery and contracting method required much bespoke advice and documentation. We have works with Paul Muscat and his team on other projects and for this project [they] provided practical, innovative and commercial solutions to Council. He and his team’s depth of experience and expertise in the procurement, project delivery and construction space made this project happen. They ensured that Council’s interests were protected whilst achieving best value for money from our project, with bespoke procurement and contract documentation, and acting for us during the contract negotiations. Paul and his team possess the specialist experience and industry knowledge, and [they have] been an invaluable partner throughout the delivery of this significant project and in the administration of the project contracts.