Biography

Franco acts for major domestic and international construction contractors, infrastructure investors, multinational technology suppliers, and joint venture entities. His clients include large-scale EPC contractors, rail and transport system manufacturers, and companies operating across public-private partnership structures. He advises on projects across New South Wales, Victoria and nationally.

Franco advises on procurement strategy, bid participation, contract negotiation, project delivery structures and risk allocation for major capital works programs. He advises on alliance agreements, PPP frameworks, subcontract arrangements, and maintenance contracts, acting for both contractors and non-owner participants in delivery consortia. He also assists clients with contract administration, claims management and stakeholder negotiations during construction.

Franco’s matters routinely involve multi-billion-dollar infrastructure programs. He has led advice on projects valued at A$6.5 billion and A$30–40 billion. His work spans complex cross-border joint venture structures, multi-party delivery consortia, PPP documentation, and government-facing contract negotiations on state-significant and nationally critical infrastructure.

Franco is consistently recognised by clients for his commercial acuity and understanding of project economics. He translates technical and legal complexity into practical positions, identifies commercially workable solutions and navigates multi-party negotiations with precision.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

• Bachelor of Building and Construction Management (First Class Honours) / Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) (University of New South Wales)
  

Franco's experience

Marinus Link, A$6.5 billion

Advised Samsung C&T Corporation and DT Infrastructure (a Gamuda subsidiary) on their bid for the balance of works contract for Marinus Link, the A$6.5 billion undersea and underground electricity interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania. Tasmania’s largest-ever energy infrastructure project and one of Australia’s most significant energy assets, critical to the national transition away from coal-fired generation.

Suburban Rail Loop, Victoria, A$30–40 billion

Advising Alstom on its participation as a Non-Owner Participant in a delivery consortium with John Holland and RATP Dev bidding for the Suburban Rail Loop, Victoria’s largest-ever infrastructure project. Franco advises on the project documentation and Alstom’s role as a maintenance contractor to the franchisee under the operations and maintenance arrangements for the fully-tunnelled 26km metro corridor.

Awards, recognition and ranking

• Chambers Asia Pacific — Band 5, Construction