Publications

 In Queensland's construction industry, winning a lawsuit against an insolvent builder can be a hollow victory, leaving you with a massive legal bill. A security for costs order is a powerful legal shield that forces a plaintiff to prove they can cover your costs if they lose. This guide explains how developers can use this tool to protect their projects and avoid financially ruinous litigation.

A statutory demand can trigger the liquidation of your development company. Learn the three most common and fatal flaws developers make when using an offsetting claim as a defence, from weak evidence and miscalculations to procedural errors, and discover the strategy needed to protect your business.

A statutory demand is a legal ambush that can put your company out of business in 21 days. Learn how to fight back using a genuine offsetting claim for defects, delays, and other back-charges. This emergency guide for Queensland subcontractors explains the critical steps you must take to gather evidence, file a court application, and defeat the demand before the unforgiving deadline expires.

A head contractor has filed a QCAT application against you. Before you start defending your work, learn about the "jurisdictional knockout"—a powerful legal strategy to get the case dismissed on a technicality, saving you time and money. This guide covers the fatal errors head contractors make and how you can use them to your advantage.

For Queensland property developers, a QCAT building dispute can be a significant threat. This guide outlines a proactive strategy, the "Contractual Shield," showing how to use your project's contractual framework to defend against claims and legally transfer liability to the responsible parties, protecting your finances and reputation.

Ditch the risky, one-off preliminary agreements. This guide shows Queensland property developers how to build a scalable PWA system to standardise builder engagement, manage risk across their project pipeline, and ensure compliance with QBCC and BIF Act regulations from day one.

A notice from the QBCC demands a rapid, calculated response. This guide is your legal triage plan—a set of non-negotiable actions to take within the first 48 hours to assess the claim, mitigate exposure, and establish a strong defensive position.

A guide for head contractors on how to legally qualify a statutory declaration when a payment dispute with a subcontractor arises. Learn the "carve-out" strategy to ensure you get paid by the principal without committing perjury, and understand the steps to take when escalating the dispute through the QBCC or QCAT.

When a principal contractor hits you with a lowball payment schedule, your first 24 hours are critical. This playbook provides a time-critical guide for Queensland subcontractors to fight back using the BIF Act adjudication process, from gathering evidence to filing a claim and enforcing a decision.

In the rush to secure work, it's easy to sign a subcontractor agreement that looks standard but is loaded with "hidden costs"—clauses that can decimate your profit margin, delay payments, and expose your business to catastrophic risk. This guide dissects these contractual traps and explains your rights under Queensland law.

Expert insight into how Queensland courts assess and quantify 'loss of opportunity' damages for property developers. Learn about the evidence required, the role of expert witnesses, and the strategic choice between QCAT and the Supreme Court for high-value construction disputes.

A comprehensive guide for Queensland subcontractors on how to strategically use their subcontract, insurance policies, and the BIF Act to challenge and defeat unfair back-charges and set-off claims from head contractors. Learn the step-by-step defensive playbook to protect your payments and your business.

A builder's post-project quantum meruit claim can be a significant financial threat. Learn the key strategies developers in Queensland can use to dismantle these ambushes, from leveraging watertight contracts and meticulous documentation to challenging the "reasonable value" of the work performed.

Discover the "Claim Triangulation" strategy, a playbook for Queensland developers to maximise insurance recovery after a major site incident. Learn how to strategically manage Contract Works, Public Liability, and Professional Indemnity policies to prevent claim denials and protect your project's financial viability.

Planning a build or facing issues in Queensland? Our comprehensive guide to the QBCC explains its role, your rights, and how to navigate the system successfully.

A guide for Queensland subcontractors on how to challenge a QBCC Direction to Rectify. Learn to gather evidence and build a case that proves the head contractor's poor instructions or site mismanagement were the true cause of the defect, protecting your licence and finances.

A QBCC notice triggers a critical 48-hour window for directors. Learn the essential first steps, from engaging a lawyer and preserving documents to understanding the risks of personal liability, to effectively manage a QBCC investigation and protect your company.

Builder unresponsive? Learn to issue a formal QBCC 'Direction to Rectify' and build the essential legal paper trail to escalate your QLD home warranty claim.

Master Queensland's BIF Act 2017 with our complete guide covering trust accounts, payment claims, adjudication, and enforcement. Essential reading for contractors and subcontractors seeking payment protection in the building industry. Expert legal insights, practical templates, and compliance strategies included.

When an unforeseen event makes a construction project impossible, your contract might be frustrated. This guide explains what a frustrated contract means under Queensland law, the remedies available when there's no fault, and how it differs from a breach. Understand your rights and protect your business when the unexpected happens.