The HIA is often asked by members and consumers to recommend a solicitor who practises in the area of building and construction and related areas. Unfortunately, the HIA cannot do this as it is not in a position to warrant the skills of a particular legal firm or lawyer. However, what the HIA can do is set out a list of solicitors or other legal professionals who are sufficiently interested in the area of building and construction to become a member of the HIA.
As the choice of solicitor or professional service provider is a very important one, we strongly recommend that you not only use this list as a guide, but that you contact some or all of the listed solicitors and discuss those issues of importance to you. Many of these solicitors will offer you an initial free consultation.
David Naidoo
P: 03 8787 8900
W: davidnaidoo.com.au
Level 1, Suite 1D & 4
Hampton Park Shopping Square
166 Somerville Rd
Hampton Park VIC 3976
David Naidoo & Associates provide quality cost-effective legal services and relentlessly pursue practical and economical as well as commercial resolutions in the interest of clients.
We are known for our understanding of technical aspects of the construction, engineering and architectural copyright industries and have over 28 years’ experience as building lawyers.
Conveniently located in the South East our clients do not have to travel into the city and benefit from our excellent high standards. We assist in all construction disputes, building contracts and produce periodic newsletters to inform and educate our clients.
Our principal lodged the first appeal in the then Domestic Building Tribunal now known as the Building and Property List of VCAT and we have long standing relations with industry bodies in the building industry. We act in all types of building disputes, architectural copyright disputes, building contracts, development agreements, conveyancing and commercial litigation.
Jim Doyle
P: 1800 888 783
W: doylesconstructionlawyers.com
Level 11, 456 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Established in 1991, we have the expertise to provide leading strategic and tactical advice. We offer legal support for all projects, from residential to major commercial and civil developments with multinational components.
We cover contract review, drafting and structuring, construction law advice, project planning and contract development through to project completion, compliance & management, as well as construction and building disputes resolution & litigation, payment claims, and more.
Savannah Hardingham
P: 03 9612 8231
E: savannah.hardingham@gadens.com
Level 13-Collins Arch
447 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Gadens is a leading Australian law firm with over 100 partners and 850 staff across offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Gadens’ lawyers regularly undertake highly complex and day-to-day legal work for a wide range of clients in the housing industry, including architects, designer builders, residential developers and contractors. We advise on all aspects of building, construction and procurement, including:
Ben Broadhead
Richard Anderson
Natasha Koneska
P: 03 5226 8549
E: benb@ha.legal
W: harwoodandrews.com.au
68-70 Gheringhap Street
Geelong VIC 3220
101 Lydiard Street North
Ballarat VIC 3350
1a, 564 David Street
Albury NSW 2640
Level 5, 707 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Harwood Andrews is a progressive legal firm working to provide positive commercial solutions for our clients. We are Victoria’s largest regional firm with a head office based in a regional centre.
We also offer taxation and employment services.
Rowland Hassall
Michelle Cupples
P: 03 9555 7233
E: admin@hls.net.au
W: hassalls.net.au
1/123 Church Street
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Hassall’s Litigation Services (‘Hassall’s’) concentrates on two aspects of legal process, namely, the formation of the contract (building contract, the terms and conditions of trade in commerce) and the resolution of disputes by negotiation, arbitration and, when necessary, litigation. Hassall’s routinely represents clients at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, County Court and Supreme Court and has extensive experience in conducting and running domestic building disputes, disputes between builders and sub-contractors as well as pursuing claims in accordance with the provisions of Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002 (Vic).
Peter Lettieri
P: 03 8825 4800
E: plettieri@kkilawyers.com.au
W: kkilawyers.com.au
Steven Apostolou
P: 03 8825 4800
E: sapostolou@kkilawyers.com.au
W: kkilawyers.com.au
Level 1, 4 Riverside Quay
Southbank VIC 3006
Building and construction contracts and disputes are unique in their technical complexity and time sensitivity. Our strength is our experience and industry know-how. Whether your interests are as developer or construction professional, our team has the technical know-how and experience to help you identify, manage and minimise your risk through the life of the project. We’re with you from project inception to completion.
Our front-end team provide bespoke advice on all industry standard form contracts and areas of risk such as delay and extension of time, latent conditions and integrating the requirements of off-the-plan contracts of sale and agreements for lease.
Interfacing with our front-end team, our specialist construction dispute lawyers advise developers and construction professionals on matters such as defects claims and assessments, delay and overrun claims, security of payment, wrongful termination, professional negligence claims and building insurance claims.
Our experience in construction litigation spans complex, resource-intensive multi-party litigation through to intra-contractor cash flow recovery along the life of a project.
Chris Round
P: 03 9640 4364
W: klgates.com
Tony Watson
P: 03 9640 4331
W: klgates.com
Level 25, South Tower
525 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
K&L Gates is a full-service commercial law firm. K&L Gates' lawyers have extensive experience in acting for clients in the housing industry (including both large and smaller businesses) in respect of the following matters:
Leonard Warren
P: 03 7067 6680
W: lawarren.com.au
Suite 216, 585 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
L A Warren Lawyers are experts in litigation and commercial disputes resolution. Our principal Leonard Warren is a highly regarded, industry expert who has over 27 years experience and a Masters Degree in Building and Construction Law. He has acted for builders, construction companies, subcontractors, architects, owners and government bodies in Domestic and Commercial Building Disputes, including Primelife Lend Lease, Pearl Hill Pty Ltd, Ashwood Homes Pty Ltd, Gippsland Water, Western Water, City of Boorandara, Landream, Goodwin Village and more.
We advise on disputes and claims regarding:
We are experienced with representation in:
Litigation is our expertise and we have the know how to follow a case through until the end, whether it be in the:
We offer free initial legal consultations (via video or telephone) to all clients. You can book a consultation via our website. We also offer an exclusive 5% discount on our professional legal fees to members of HIA.
Call 03 7067 6680 and quote your HIA member number to redeem this offer.
Kim Lovegrove
Justin Cotton
P: 03 9600 4077
W: lclawyers.com.au
Level 1, 61 Spring Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Principals Kim Lovegrove and Justin Cotton are building law experts practicing at the oldest construction law firm in Victoria est. in 1993. Combined they have 70 years’ experience in building law. Kim Lovegrove, past conjoint professor in building regulation, author of Lovegrove on Building Control and Disciplinary Hearings & Advocacy was the principal legal adviser on the Victorian Building Act and is a past Chairman of the BPB and a past Vic president of the AIB.
Justin Cotton is the leading defence advocate in defending building practitioners in licensing and disciplinary matters.
Experts in construction law, dispute resolution, contractual advice, Building Act, the VCAT, the Domestic Building Contracts Act, Land and Environment Court representation, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act advice, practitioner advocacy, representation in builder misconduct matters, planning law and commercial law.
John Perry
P: 0403 817 102
E: jperry@ptlawyers.com.au
W: ptlawyers.com.au
David Thomas
P: 03 8375 9638
M: 0400 046 186
E: dthomas@ptlawyers.coom.au
W: ptlawyers.com.au
Emirates House
Level 3, 257 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Perry Thomas Lawyers is a boutique Building and Construction law firm which prides itself on accessibility and providing fast, pragmatic and commercially astute advice. We regularly act for construction companies, subcontractors, engineers, architects, builders and owners and have many years of experience advising on residential, commercial and industrial projects. We often assist clients with:
Donna Abu-Elias
P: 0428 545 688
E: donna@spectrumlaw.net.au
W: www.spectrumlaw.net.au
PO Box 527
Altona VIC 3018
Having worked in private practice and as an in-house general counsel for both commercial builders and residential builders, Donna Abu-Elias founded Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants as she was passionate about the building and construction industry, but as a mother of a child on the Spectrum she needed to design a practice that was flexible for busy builders and Owners. Flexibility allows all parties to think outside the normal restrictions, and ensure that the primary focus is on completing the building works as efficiently and without defect, but still having the flexibility to work remotely, over the internet, or in your office/home.
Donna was admitted as a lawyer in April 2004, and before that time was working as a paralegal since 1999. Donna has worked for some of the major volume builders in Australia including Burbank Group, Carlisle Homes and Simonds Group. Donna was also a member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA) IR & Legal Committee from 2013 to 2018. Donna has completed her Bachelor of Law\Commerce (with Honours) (LaTrobe University), Diploma in Construction Law (Melbourne University) and Foundations of Directorship course (AICD).
Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants focuses on Building and construction law – to protect Owners when constructing or maintaining their homes; to assist Builders and/or Owners efficiently resolve building disputes, and work with Builders to develop streamline documented procedures and training to better manage the spectrum of challenges in today’s market.
Jeannette Eid
P: 03 9009 5800
E: wre@wrelawyers.com.au
W: wrelawyers.com.au
Level 4, 530 Londsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
The Construction team at Wainwright Ryan Eid advises on the full range of legal issues impacting on Construction and Infrastructure Projects including due diligence, tender preparation and review, risk management and strategic advice, construction disputes, employment and workforce issues, project finance and ongoing operational matters.
We act on behalf of Developers, Contractors, Builders, Subcontractors, Building Practitioners, major property owners, owners corporations and strata communities, retirement village developers and operators, financiers, insurers and industry organisations including MBA, HIA, REIV, ASBC, AIBS, IAQ, PIA, and ACIF (to name a few), Architects, Surveyors, Planners as well as professionals engaged in the construction industry.
We represent and assist our clients in every phase of construction projects from ‘front end’ initial contract negotiation (contract drafting, reviews, negotiations and tender advice) to the ‘back end’ of projects (dispute negotiation and litigation).
Our team is experienced in a wide range of construction and infrastructure issues, and can advise on contract drafting and administration, joint ventures and consortium arrangements, project finance, facilities and project management, tender preparation, security of payment, PPPs, dispute resolution, health and safety and industrial relations and EBA preparation and negotiations.
Wainwright Ryan Eid Lawyers is a full service law firm and a proud, longstanding member of the HIA since 1 July 1979.
In addition to Construction and Infrastructure matters, we can assist with all your legal requirements.
Andrew Whitelaw
Director
P: 1300 77 80 90
E: awhitelaw@wflawyers.com.au
W: wflawyers.com.au
Level 12, 533 Little Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Andrew Whitelaw is a Director of Whitelaw Flynn Lawyers and leads the Building and Construction Team. Andrew has practiced in all areas of building and construction law for 20 years. Andrew and his team provide advice and representation for builders in the DBDRV, VCAT and all Victorian and Federal Courts.
His Building and Construction Team comprising Special Counsel Meri Siracusa and Louisa Huang, Solicitor have extensive experience in domestic and commercial construction law. The Team acts on behalf of builders, developers, owners, Owners Corporations, managers, subcontractors and construction industry professionals.
Andrew and his team provide expert guidance on:
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