Our construction and engineering expertise covers the entire construction lifecycle – from inception and the identification of the most appropriate project delivery methodology, to the drafting and negotiation of contracts, through to the day-to-day contract administration of complex construction projects.

Construction project procurement

We work collaboratively with our clients and their advisors to identify delivery methodologies that will achieve their project goals. We are experienced in preparing and negotiating project documentation of all types, including both the traditional design and construct contract suite and the more innovative alliance models.

We emphasise the importance of an integrated approach to each project, ensuring early identification of objectives and uniformity of documentation, from the engagement of design and planning consultants, through the tender process to contract execution.

The procurement and drafting advice we give is informed not only by our years of experience in acting for contractors, principals and consultants of all sizes, but by our extensive dispute resolution work. This enables us to integrate the most up-to-date judicial approaches to construction law and contract interpretation into our legal advice and contract drafting.

Risk assessment, allocation and management

The touchstone of contract negotiation and drafting is the early identification and effective allocation of risk. We provide clients with direct, commercial advice in keeping with this principle.

In particular, we recognise that each project carries a unique risk profile and challenges that cannot be adequately managed by the adoption of boilerplate clauses. We view the contract negotiation process as an opportunity to identify risk and determine how best to allocate it in a way which satisfies the goals of the project and achieves our clients' commercial objectives.
We regularly provide cost-effective reviews of client contract suites and advice on the consolidation and standardisation of documentation in keeping with legislative requirements and recent case law across all states and territories. We work with clients to develop clear and practical documentation which is tailored to their specific business needs.

Contract administration

All too often parties see the negotiation and execution of a contract as marking the end of a process rather than the beginning of a relationship. Our expert practitioners provide strategic whole-of-lifecycle advice on contract management and administration, never losing sight of the practicalities of the construction industry, the importance of client relationships and the unique characteristics of each project.

Our team also takes every opportunity to empower clients and their frontline employees with sufficient knowledge to identify and manage the challenges that typically arise in contract administration.

We offer a range of services, including regular newsletters, in-house workshops at client premises and topical presentations, and networking opportunities which are held at our offices and are open to all industry participants.

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