Brisbane Construction Lawyer - QLD

Construction disputes in Queensland are resolved variously through negotiation, mediation, adjudication, expert determination, arbitration, tribunal proceedings, direct dealings with regulators and, where necessary, litigation. We act on building disputes, defective building work, delay and disruption, contested variations, and extension-of-time disputes. Many domestic building disputes and some commercial matters are heard in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), while larger disputes proceed through the courts. Common matters include defective and incomplete work, disputed variations, delay and extension-of-time claims, liquidated damages, and retention and security disputes.

A well-drafted construction contract is the best protection against a later dispute. We prepare, review and administer commercial, consultant, insurance, peak industry, and residential building contracts, including standard-form contracts such as the AS 2124 and AS 4000 suites and bespoke agreements. Our work covers scope and pricing, payment regimes, variation and extension-of-time mechanisms, defects liability, and security and retention. We also advise on contract administration during a project — issuing and responding to notices, claiming and assessing variations, and documenting delay — so your contractual rights are preserved if a dispute arises.

Defective building work is one of the most common sources of construction dispute. We advise owners and contractors on defective work claims, rectification, and the standards and warranties that apply to residential and commercial building in Queensland, and on how to preserve evidence and meet the relevant time limits.

Why choose a Brisbane construction lawyer? Where a dispute cannot be resolved commercially, we act in construction litigation in the Supreme Court of Queensland, the District Court of Queensland and the Magistrates Court of Queensland, and QCAT according to the value and complexity of the matter. We litigate strategically, with a clear view of the commercial outcome and the cost of achieving it, and pursue settlement in parallel wherever it serves your interests.

​Construction work in Queensland is governed by a specific statutory landscape, including the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (QLD), which underpins licensing, the role of the QBCC, and (through Schedule 1B) the regulation of residential building contracts; and the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (QLD), which governs project trust accounts, progress payments adjudication and subcontractors charges. Conduct in the industry can also engage the Australian Consumer Law. We advise on how these regimes apply to your project and how they interact when a dispute involves more than one.