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Project Assurance
- Lawbrook’s Project Assurance practice provides clients, boards, governments, and investors with confidence that major projects are being delivered effectively, efficiently, and transparently. We design and deliver assurance frameworks, conduct independent reviews, and provide practical recommendations that keep projects aligned with their objectives and risk appetite. Our approach is grounded in decades of experience across mining, infrastructure, and energy megaprojects, where cost blowouts, schedule delays, and stakeholder pressures are ever-present. We combine global best practice with practical, industry-specific insights to deliver assurance that is independent, transparent, and actionable. Our offering includes;
- Assurance Frameworks & Governance - we design and implement structured assurance frameworks that provide clear oversight, accountability, and governance across the entire project lifecycle. Stage-Gate & Investment Decision Reviews - we conduct independent reviews at key decision points to confirm project readiness, validate business cases, and support confident investment approvals. Project Health Checks & Deep-Dives - we deliver targeted, independent health checks and investigations to identify emerging risks, validate performance, and recommend corrective actions before issues escalate. Independent Cost & Schedule Reviews - we provide rigorous, evidence-based reviews of project estimates and schedules to ensure accuracy, realism, and alignment with industry benchmarks. Contracting & Procurement Assurance - we deliver independent oversight of procurement strategies and contracting processes to ensure probity, fairness, and optimal risk allocation. Risk, Safety & ESG Assurance - we validate that risk, safety, and ESG obligations are not only documented but actively embedded and measured throughout project delivery. Operational Readiness & Transition Assurance - we independently assess operational readiness to ensure new assets (whether mines, infrastructure, or energy facilities) are safe, reliable, and productive from day one.
- Post-Investment & Benefits Realisation Reviews - we independently evaluate completed projects to assess whether expected benefits, outcomes, and value for money have been achieved, and to capture lessons for future investments.
- Example offerings include; - Independent reviews
- - Post-investment reviews
- - Stage-gate reviews
- - Peer reviews
- - Project health checks
- - Forensic schedule reviews
- - Benchmarking and value-for-money reviews
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What are some example Project Assurance assignments that Lawbrook has completed?
- Tier 1 mining company - Independent review of mining megastudy in Europe
- Large government organisation - Project management review of $100m water project portfolio
- Tier 1 mining company - Independent review of site sustaining capital project
- Tier 1 mining company - peer review of contracts and procurement processes for mining megastudy in USA
- Large government organisation - independent project management review of marine upgrade project
- Tier 1 mining company - project controls and reporting review of mining megaproject
- Tier 2 mining company - independent review of mining megaproject at 70% completion
- Large government organisation - independent review of all-of-government procurement operations
- Tier 1 mining company - independent review of mining megaprojects in Western Australia
Assurance frameworks and governance
We design and implement structured assurance frameworks that provide clear oversight, accountability, and governance across the entire project lifecycle.
What is involved in the offering?
- Design and implementation of project and program assurance frameworks (aligned with best practice and government treasury models).- Definition of assurance lines (first, second, third line of defence).- Development of review schedules, reporting protocols, and escalation pathways.- Independent chairing or secretariat services for project control groups, steering committees, and oversight bodies.
Stage-gate and investment decision reviews
We conduct independent reviews at key decision points to confirm project readiness, validate business cases, and support confident investment approvals.
What is involved in the offering?
- Independent reviews at Concept, Pre-Feasibility, Feasibility, and Execution stages for mining, energy, and infrastructure projects.- Investment assurance reviews for government business cases, treasury submissions, and mining capital allocation boards.- Validation of scope definition, constructability, environmental approvals, and stakeholder readiness prior to progressing.
- Feasibility Study Development & Reviews - Independent input on study quality, scope definition, constructability, cost/schedule realism, and risk completeness across both mine expansions and public infrastructure programs.
Project health checks and deep-dives
We deliver targeted, independent health checks and investigations to identify emerging risks, validate performance, and recommend corrective actions before issues escalate.
What is involved in the offering?
- Independent health checks of cost, schedule, contracts, risk, and governance at critical project milestones.- Thematic reviews into specific areas (e.g., procurement strategy, schedule realism, risk registers, HSEC compliance).- “Deep dive” investigations following emerging risks, delays, or cost growth.
Independent cost and schedule reviews
We provide rigorous, evidence-based reviews of project estimates and schedules to ensure accuracy, realism, and alignment with industry benchmarks.
What is involved in the offering?
- Forensic reviews of baseline cost estimates and schedules to validate accuracy and realism.- Benchmarking against global mining, infrastructure, and energy sector data.- Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA) and Monte Carlo modelling for major timelines.- Independent cost risk modelling and escalation analysis.
Contracting and procurement assurance
We deliver independent oversight of procurement strategies and contracting processes to ensure probity, fairness, and optimal risk allocation.
What is involved in the offering?
- Probity assurance for public infrastructure and energy projects (particularly PPPs, alliances, and large-scale procurement).- Independent oversight of tender evaluation processes.- Contract risk allocation reviews (EPC, EPCM, alliance, PPP).- Post-award contract administration assurance, including claims and variations management.
- Benchmarking & Value-for-Money Reviews - comparing project set-up, costs, and productivity against global mining benchmarks and major infrastructure peer projects.
Risk, safety and ESG assurance
We validate that risk, safety, and ESG obligations are not only documented but actively embedded and measured throughout project delivery.
What is involved in the offering?
- Independent validation of risk management frameworks and processes.- HSEC assurance reviews - ensuring health, safety, environmental, and community obligations are met.- ESG and decarbonisation assurance - verifying climate and sustainability pathways are credible, measurable, and aligned with investor or government expectations.- Indigenous and community engagement assurance reviews to support social licence.
Operational readiness and transition assurance
We independently assess operational readiness to ensure new assets (whether mines, infrastructure, or energy facilities) are safe, reliable, and productive from day one.
What is involved in the offering?
- Independent readiness reviews for mine start-ups, infrastructure commissioning, and energy project transitions.- Validation of workforce training, asset management, and digital readiness.- Handover and ramp-up reviews - ensuring operational teams are fully prepared to receive and manage new assets.
Post-investment and benefits realisation reviews
We independently evaluate completed projects to assess whether expected benefits, outcomes, and value for money have been achieved, and to capture lessons for future investments.
What is involved in the offering?
- Benefits Realisation Reviews – Assessing whether financial, operational, and social benefits outlined in the business case have been delivered.- Post-Completion Audits – Independent evaluation of cost, schedule, and risk outcomes versus baseline commitments.- Lessons Learned Reviews – Identifying systemic issues, best practices, and improvement opportunities for future projects.- Stakeholder Outcome Assessments – Measuring delivery against community, environmental, or regulatory expectations.- Portfolio Feedback Loops – Feeding insights from completed projects into organisational capital allocation and governance frameworks.