Patrick Leader-Elliott

Expertise and Practice

Patrick has extensive experience in large scale disputes involving major infrastructure projects, complex commercial and insolvency claims, and the investigation of corporate fraud. His work has included matters before the High Court of Australia.

Patrick has represented the South Australian Government in proceedings arising from the construction of health and infrastructure assets and for contractors in disputes concerning major projects. He also works with liquidators on claims arising from corporate collapses and clients in the industrial and manufacturing sectors on a range of corporate matters.

Patrick joined LK in 2013. He has a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide. Prior to commencing practice at LK, Patrick was a lecturer at the University of South Australia School of Law for four years. He is admitted in the Supreme Court of South Australia, Federal Court of Australia, and High Court of Australia.

Recent Experience

new Royal Adelaide Hospital

Representing the South Australian State Government on various strategic and legal issues, including acting in arbitral and Federal Court proceedings. Issues included major defaults, delays and disruption arising out of the AU$2.5 billion public-private partnership for the design, construction and operation of the State’s major health facility, with a focus on integration of an electronic patient administration system.

Kangaroo Island Port Redevelopment

Representing the South Australian State Government in a dispute concerning the upgrade of ferry terminals at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw, including representation in Supreme Court proceedings brought by the contractor.

Bell Group Limited

Represented the Australian and Curacao liquidators of Bell Group NV, a Netherlands Antilles incorporated company within the Bell Group, which collapsed with a deficit of more than AU$1 billion.

Bell Group NV’s appeal in the Western Australia Court of Appeal increased the compensation payable to the Bell Group from AU$1.7 billion to AU$2.8 billion. A High Court appeal was discontinued following a multi-party mediation to settle the claims against the banks.

Patrick also represented the liquidators of Bell Group NV in relation to subsequent proceedings in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia pursuing Bell Group NV’s entitlements in the distribution of the settlement proceeds. Those proceedings were settled in 2020 on terms which returned in excess of AU$650 million to Bell Group NV.

Adelaide Brighton Cement Limited

Represented Adelaide Brighton Cement Limited and Adelaide Brighton Limited in the investigation of an employee’s fraud. LK led the subsequent recovery proceedings against the impugned customer and the employee, resulting in recoveries of more than AU$8 million. LK also liaised with SA Police and its Serious and Organised Financial Crime Branch investigation in connection with related criminal proceedings.

Concrete Supply Pty Ltd

Represented the liquidator of Concrete Supply Pty Ltd in connection with the liquidation of the company, including proceedings against the company’s former directors and accountant, resulting in favourable dividends to creditors in the order of 75 cents per dollar.

Road Construction Dispute

Advising an ASX listed contractor in a confidential civil construction dispute regarding construction works on a major national highway.

Publications

Chain Reactions: Contractual Risk on Nuclear Projects

Society of Construction Law Australian National Conference 2026, Patrick Leader-Elliott, Allie Umoff and Liam McInerney, awarded first prize for best paper (May 2026)

Drawing the Line: State Immunity and the Limits of Waiver under the New York Convention

LK Insights, Patrick Leader-Elliott and Grace Dodson (May 2026)

Maximising Recovery in Construction Disputes Through Litigation Funding

Published at the Society of Construction Law Australia National Conference 2025, Patrick Leader-Elliott and Liam McInerney (May 2025)

Recovery of Third Party Funding Costs in Litigation and Arbitration

LK Insights, Patrick Leader-Elliott and Liam McInerney (January 2025)

Reporting Employee Theft or Fraud

LK Insights (February 2023)

Remote Witnessing of Documents

LK Insights (March 2022)

Consultation Draft Mandatory Non-Parole Periods for the Sentencing Advisory Council of South Australia

Primary author (2016)

Caruso et al ‘South Australian Criminal Law: Review and Critique’

Contributing author (LexisNexis, 2013 and 2nd ed. 2016)