Arbitral Digest

Matter

Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd v Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd

Clough and Elecnor's energy-project joint venture dispute, with Australian appeal proceedings concerning compulsory acquisition, guarantees and arbitration.

  • International commercial arbitration
  • Jurisdiction and arbitration agreements
  • Energy arbitration
Industry type
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

Procedural record

  1. 12 June 2025Australia

    12 June 2025Australia

    Decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the case 2024/467526 dated 12 June 2025

    Supreme Court of New South Wales

    Case no.
    2024/467526
    Citation
    [2025] NSWSC 610
    Decision summary
    The primary judge stayed the call-contribution matter for referral to arbitration but declined to stay the compulsory-acquisition matter concerning the effect of the deed of company arrangement and the Corporations Act.

    Participants

    Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd
    Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd
    the Trustees
    Supreme Court of New South Wales
    Judge
    Stevenson J

    1 year and 3 days later · 368 days

  2. 15 June 2026Australia

    15 June 2026Australia

    Decision of the New South Wales Court of Appeal in the case 2025/273969 dated 15 June 2026

    New South Wales Court of Appeal

    Case no.
    2025/273969
    Citation
    [2026] NSWCA 111
    Decision summary
    The Court granted leave to appeal except on ground 5, granted leave to cross-appeal, and dismissed both the appeal and cross-appeal. It held that the call-contribution matter was capable of settlement by arbitration, the compulsory-acquisition matter involving the deed of company arrangement was not arbitrable, and commencement of the court proceedings had not waived, abandoned, or repudiated the arbitration agreement.

    Participants

    Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd
    Representative
    J Taylor SC (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    T O’Brien (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    D Farinha (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    Arnold Bloch Leibler (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Salvatore Algeri
    Representative
    J Taylor SC (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    T O’Brien (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    D Farinha (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    Arnold Bloch Leibler (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    David Orr
    Representative
    J Taylor SC (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    T O’Brien (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    D Farinha (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Representative
    Arnold Bloch Leibler (For: Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd · Salvatore Algeri · David Orr)
    Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd
    Representative
    J Hutton SC (For: Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd)
    Representative
    J Kennedy (For: Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd)
    Representative
    Gilbert + Tobin (For: Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd)
    New South Wales Court of Appeal
    Judge
    Bell CJ
    Judge
    Ward P
    Judge
    Free JA

    Authorities cited

    60
    • Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW)
      statute
    • Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
      statute
    • International Arbitration Act 1974 (Cth)
      statute
    • A Best Floor Sanding Pty Ltd v Skyer Australia Pty Ltd ([1999] VSC 170)
      case
    • ACD Tridon Inc v Tridon Australia Pty Ltd ([2002] NSWSC 896)
      case
    • Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Limited v Gardiner ((2008) 238 CLR 570; [2008] HCA 57)
      case
    • Ahad v Uddin ([2005] EWCA Civ 883)
      case
    • Airservices Australia v Civil Air Operations Officers’ Association of Australia ((2022) 295 FCR 36; [2022] FCAFC 172)
      case
    • Armada Balnaves Pte Ltd v Woodside Energy Julimar Pty Ltd ([2022] WASCA 69)
      case
    • Bahr v Nicolay (No 2) ((1988) 164 CLR 604; [1988] HCA 16)
      case
    • Bakri Navigation Company Ltd v Owners of the ship ‘Golden Glory’ Glorious Shipping SA ((1991) 217 ALR 152)
      case
    • BEA Hotels NV v Bellway LLC ([2007] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 493; [2007] EWHC 1363 (Comm))
      case
    • BHPB Freight Pty Ltd v Cosco Oceania Chartering Pty Ltd ((2008) 168 FCR 169; [2008] FCA 551)
      case
    • Boensch v Pascoe ((2019) 268 CLR 593; [2019] HCA 49)
      case
    • Bremer Vulkan Schiffbau und Maschinenfabrik v South India Shipping Corp Ltd ([1981] AC 909; [1979] 3 WLR 471)
      case
    • Cape Lambert Resources Ltd v MCC Australia Sanjin Mining Pty Ltd ([2013] WASCA 66; (2013) 298 ALR 666)
      case
    • Carmichael Rail Network Pty Ltd v BBC Chartering Carriers GmbH & Co. KG (The BBC Nile) ((2022) 295 FCR 81; [2022] FCAFC 171)
      case
    • CLQ v CLR ([2021] SGHC(I) 15; (2022) 3 SLR 145)
      case
    • Comandate Marine Corp v Pan Australia Shipping Pty Ltd ((2006) 157 FCR 45; [2006] FCAFC 192)
      case
    • Commonwealth v Verwayen ((1990) 170 CLR 394; [1990] HCA 39)
      case
    • DFD Rhodes Pty Ltd v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd ((2022) 59 WAR 316; [2022] WASCA 97)
      case
    • Dnata Airport Services Pty Ltd v Polar Air Cargo Worldwide Inc ([2026] NSWCA 105)
      case
    • Elders CED Ltd v Dravo Corporation ((1984) 59 ALR 206; (1984) 2 BCL 68)
      case
    • Ferris v Plaister ((1994) 34 NSWLR; (1994) 11 BCL 417)
      case
    • Flakt Australia Ltd v Wilkins & Davies Construction Co Ltd ([1979] 2 NSWLR 243; (1979) 25 ALR 605)
      case
    • Flint Ink NZ Ltd v Huhtamaki Australia Pty Ltd ((2014) 44 VR 64; [2014] VSCA 166)
      case
    • Goldus Pty Ltd (Subject to a Deed of Company Arrangement) v Cummins (No 4) ([2021] FCA 1095; (2021) 157 ACSR 118)
      case
    • Green v Sommerville ((1979) 141 CLR 594; [1979] HCA 60)
      case
    • Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd v DFD Rhodes Pty Ltd ((2020) 55 WAR 435; [2020] WASCA 77)
      case
    • Hi-Fert Pty Ltd v Kiukiang Maritime Carriers Inc (No 5) ((1998) 90 FCR 1; [1998] FCA 1485)
      case
    • House v The King ((1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40)
      case
    • In the matter of Infinite Plus Pty Ltd ((2017) 95 NSWLR 282; [2017] NSWSC 470)
      case
    • Incitec Ltd v Alkimos Shipping Corporation ((2004) 138 FCR 496; [2004] FCA 698)
      case
    • Inghams Enterprises Pty Ltd v Hannigan ([2020] NSWCA 82; (2020) 379 ALR 196)
      case
    • John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd ([2015] NSWSC 451)
      case
    • Koompahtoo Local Aboriginal Land Council v Sanpine Pty Ltd ((2007) 233 CLR 115; [2007] HCA 61)
      case
    • Kuru v State of New South Wales ((2008) 236 CLR 1; [2008] HCA 26)
      case
    • Larkden Pty Ltd v Lloyd Energy Systems Pty Ltd ([2011] NSWSC 268; (2011) 279 ALR 772)
      case
    • Marty Ltd v Hualon Corp (Malaysia) (rec and mgr apptd) ([2018] 2 SLR 1207; [2018] SGCA 63)
      case
    • Mehmet v Benson ((1965) 113 CLR 295; [1965] HCA 18)
      case
    • Mighty River International Ltd v Hughes ((2018) 265 CLR 480; [2018] HCA 38)
      case
    • MYT Engineering Pty Ltd v Mulcon Pty Ltd ((1999) 195 CLR 636; [1999] HCA 24)
      case
    • PPK Willoughby Pty Ltd v Baird ([2019] NSWCA 48)
      case
    • Progressive Mailing House Pty Ltd v Tabali Pty Ltd ((1985) 157 CLR 17; [1985] HCA 14)
      case
    • Rawson v Hobbs ((1961) 107 CLR 466; [1961] HCA 72)
      case
    • Recyclers of Australia Pty Ltd v Hettinga Equipment Inc ((2000) 100 FCR 420; [2000] FCA 547)
      case
    • Rederi Kommanditselskaabet Merc-Scandia IV v Couniniotis SA ([1980] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 183)
      case
    • Reed Constructions Australia Ltd v DM Fabrications Pty Ltd ([2007] NSWSC 1190)
      case
    • Rinehart v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd ((2019) 267 CLR 514; [2019] HCA 13)
      case
    • Rinehart v Welker ((2012) 95 NSWLR 221; [2012] NSWCA 95)
      case
    • Sargent v ASL Developments Ltd ((1974) 131 CLR 634; [1974] HCA 40)
      case
    • Siemens Ltd v Origin Energy Uranquinty Power Pty Ltd ((2011) 80 NSWLR 398; [2011] NSWSC 195)
      case
    • Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale v Lee Kui Jak ([1987] AC 871; [1987] 3 WLR 59)
      case
    • Tanning Research Laboratories Inc v O’Brien ((1990) 169 CLR 332; [1990] HCA 8)
      case
    • Tesseract International Pty Ltd v Pascale Construction Pty Ltd ([2024] HCA 24; (2024) 98 ALJR 880)
      case
    • WDR Delaware Corporation v Hydrox Holdings Pty Ltd ((2016) 245 FCR 452; [2016] FCA 1164)
      case
    • Woolworths Group Ltd v Gazcorp Pty Ltd ([2022] NSWCA 19)
      case
    • Zhang v Shanghai Wool and Jute Textile Co Ltd ([2006] VSCA 133; (2006) 201 FLR 178)
      case
    • M Davies et al, Nygh’s Conflict of Laws in Australia (11th ed, 2026, LexisNexis)
      academic
    • M Mustill and S Boyd, The Law and Practice of Commercial Arbitration in England (2nd ed, 1989, Butterworths)
      academic

Matter record

Report a correction

Clough Projects Australia Pty Ltd v Elecnor Australia Pty Ltd · Matter