Construction

 
Construction is the third largest industry in Australia generating over $360 billion in revenue and producing 9% of Australia’s GDP. Our Construction team guides clients through the challenges of front and back-end construction issues. 

We understand the issues, risks and opportunities across a broad range of sectors including commercial, residential, health care, energy, resources, utilities, transport and social infrastructure, including NDIS projects and PPPs.

We advise a wide range of clients including institutional and private developers, builders, consultants, financiers, state and local governments, hospitals, health and aged care providers, and owners, operators and developers of transport, energy and utility infrastructure. Our clients trust and benefit from our expertise and commercial insight, and can be confident that they’re getting the best advice for the best value.

Insolvency is creating a tough environment for the construction sector. In this video, John O’Kane and Ben Cotter look at the tough environment facing builders and subcontractors.

Our expertise

Front end

Our national Construction team has specialist expertise advising on procurement, risk analysis and project structuring, financing and delivery. We negotiate and prepare the highest quality development and project delivery agreements, design and construct contracts (including Australian Standards), equipment supply (with or without installation), BOOT, DBFM and DBOM contracts, frame agreements, early contractor involvement and alliance contracts.

Residential, commercial and retail developments and health and aged care projects

We provide advice, analysis and all necessary documentation for significant capital and infrastructure works for large scale residential, commercial and retail developments. We are also known for our work in relation to health and aged care projects including the development of new retirement villages, aged care and hospital facilities.

Urban renewal and social and affordable housing projects

We have specialist expertise in this sector, advising on the procurement, development and delivery of social and disability housing and associated social, transport and utilities infrastructure. We also work with state and local governments and other stakeholders to deliver complex precinct and regional redevelopment projects.

Energy, resources and utilities projects

We provide regulatory advice, negotiation and preparation of all documentation for infrastructure procurement, delivery, operation and management including telecommunications, roads, rail, gas pipeline and electricity, battery, solar, wind and hydro projects.

Dispute avoidance and resolution

While risk management and dispute avoidance are always central to our approach, where disputes are unavoidable, we are ready to help. Our team advises and acts in relation to complex, often high value disputes relating to delay, disruption and variation claims, defects, bank guarantee recovery, security of payment claims, liquidated damages, and other contractual and negligence claims in all Australian jurisdictions. We have assisted with urgent injunctive proceedings in relation to multi-million dollar SOPA claims, defects and negligence claims and combustible cladding disputes.

Experience snapshot

Northwest Healthcare

Assisting a leading global healthcare REIT with designing and running the tender process for the engagement of a construction contractor to undertake the design and construction of a hospital.

McLaren Group

Assisting the property developer with the construction of two industrial estates in South East Melbourne.

Ausnet Services

Advising the energy company on the Victorian Government’s large scale battery energy storage program.

Corio Bay Dairy Group

Acting for the dairy nutrition company in relation to the development of an organic milk spray drying facility.

Impact Investment Group

Acting for the leading Australian impact funds manager in relation to real estate, front-end and back-end construction matters Australia wide.

Victorian Pride Centre

Acting as the primary legal advisor to this unique organisation, which was entrusted with the task of building and then operating Australia’s first Pride Centre, working closely with the Victorian Government at various stages of the project.

Awards and recognition

 
 
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021-2024

Construction

Legal 500 - leading-firm-2024
 
 
Chambers 2024

Construction

Chambers Firm logo 2023 - website

Key contact

John advises on the best joint venture and development arrangements and delivery mechanism for construction projects.

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