Fiona joined Watson Millican & Co. in July 2016. She has over 30 years of manufacturing, operating and commercial experience in the oil and gas industry. Fiona’s experience ranges from construction, commissioning and troubleshooting refinery and chemical plants, providing technical support for clients through negotiating large natural gas supply contracts, tendering, negotiating and managing framework agreements for engineering services and selling technical consulting services for the refining industry.

Fiona has testified several times in construction disputes in international arbitrations involving commissioning, claims and procurement.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Chemical Engineering – University of Edinburgh
• M.B.A., Distinction – University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
• APAEWE

Designations

• Chartered Engineer (IChemE)
• Member of Academy of Experts (MAE)

Expertise

• Construction disputes, Incident investigation, Contract review. Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Operations, Performance testing, Procurement, Contractor management, Claims, EPC and natural gas contracts

Industries

• Refining and petrochemicals, Natural gas

Example Engagements

• ICC Petrochemical Construction Arbitration – Analysed issues related to punch listing and close out of contractor and sub-contractor scope. The EPC contractor worked on behalf of the owner to design and construct a 9 billion petrochemical plant in SE Asia. Assessed the allegations and the performance of the works with reference to the industry standards, contractual specifications & procedures, and common industry practice. Prepared several expert reports on different topics detailing the basis of opinions and findings and testified.
• ICC Arbitration Greenfield Petrochemicals Facility – Acted as technical expert in sub-contract dispute in ICC Arbitration over claims made by the electromechanical subcontractor against the managing contractor related to the construction of a greenfield petrochemical facility in Australia. Analysed numerous claims brought by the subcontractor against the managing contractor associated with delays, quality of construction and supply chain issues during the construction of the unit. Prepared expert reports detailing the basis of opinions and findings. Analysed opposing expert witness report and prepared responses. Case settled before hearing started.
• ICC Refinery Construction Arbitration – Analysed issues related to FEED and detailed design completion and procurement. The EPC contractor worked on behalf of the owner to design and construct a €6 billion refinery expansion project in South America. Assessed the allegations and the performance of the works with reference to the industry standards, contractual specifications & procedures, and common industry practice. Prepared an expert report detailing the basis of opinions and findings.
• ICC Refinery Construction Arbitration – Analysed issues related to detailed design completion, quality assurance and control, subcontractor management and reporting, and the handover of hundreds of newly constructed and revamped unit systems on behalf of the EPC contractor. The EPC contractor worked on behalf of the owner to design and construct a €1.1 billion refinery expansion project in Portugal. Assessed the allegations and the performance of the works with reference to the industry standards, contractual specifications & procedures, and common industry practice. Contributed to the expert report detailing the basis of opinions and findings
• Asian Process Facility Dispute – Analysed the engineering and fabrication to assess the responsibility for the failure of a vessel which had failed twice within a short time of initial start-up and assisted in the preparation of an expert report, on behalf of insurers.

Senior Consulting Associate

fiona.rutherford@WatsonMillican.com

(972) 578-7980

700 Central Expressway South

Suite 425

Allen, TX 75013