Mark Grasso is a Partner in Quinn Emanuel’s London office advising on disputes arising out of large engineering and construction and energy projects around the world. He has acted for owners/employers, contractors, designers and insurers on a range of high-profile projects, including rail, social infrastructure, oil and gas, petrochemicals and mining. He has conducted litigation in the courts in England and Wales and Australia and arbitrations under all of the major international arbitration rules.
Mr. Grasso has particular expertise in disputes involving construction and oil and gas projects in the Middle East. He has a detailed knowledge of the laws and legal systems of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and has spent substantial time in both Doha and Dubai.
- Advised a leading international engineering consulting firm on claims arising out of a series of design contracts for a high-profile transportation project in the Gulf.
- Represented a Qatari government entity in an ICC arbitration against two international construction contractors concerning the design and construction of a USD 6 billion high-profile public works project in the Middle East (claims and counterclaims totaling over USD 2 billion).
- Acted as counsel for the contractor responsible for the design and construction of an oil and gas processing facility in the Middle East claiming approximately USD 250 million for variations and additional work and defending counterclaims from the owner for the same amount.
- Represented Transport for London and related entitles on several disputes arising out of high-profile construction projects relating to the London Underground, including the East London Line Extension and the radio communications system used throughout the Underground.
- Represented a member of an international consortium of construction contractors in an ICC arbitration arising out of the termination of a contract for the design and construction of a railway in south-eastern Europe.
- Advised a leading Russian mining company on claims against the contractor responsible for the design and construction of a prototype mineral processing plant in the Ural region.
- Advised a major international energy company on claims and counterclaims arising from the termination of its contracts to design and build a number of power plants in South America.
- University of Melbourne
(LL.B., 1st Class Honors, 2000) - University of Melbourne
(B.Sc., 2000)
- Solicitor, England & Wales
- Solicitor, Victoria, Australia
- Simmons & Simmons:
- Of Counsel, February 2016-August 2016
- Of Counsel, February 2016-August 2016
- Herbert Smith Freehills:
- Senior Associate, 2007-2016
- Senior Associate, 2007-2016
- Allens Arthur Robinson:
- Associate/Senior Associate, 2002-2007
- Articled Clerk, 2001-2002
- Legal 500 UK, Recommended Individual for International Arbitration and Public International Law, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators Guide, International Arbitration, esp. Construction Disputes, 2023-2024