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Office Building Hall

Publications

A bronze scales of justice balancing construction site elements—including a building, financing documents, and construction workers—against a gold coin labeled "Builder Profit," sitting atop a contract with "Exclusion Clause" highlighted in red. Construction cranes and a city skyline appear in the background under dramatic storm clouds, symbolizing the risk imbalance between developers and builders in construction contracts.

A bronze scales of justice balancing construction site elements—including a building, financing documents, and construction workers—against a gold coin labeled "Builder Profit," sitting atop a contract with "Exclusion Clause" highlighted in red. Construction cranes and a city skyline appear in the background under dramatic storm clouds, symbolizing the risk imbalance between developers and builders in construction contracts.

Why Mutual Consequential Loss Clauses Are a One-Sided Risk

John Merlo

Dec 19, 202515 min read

Modern glass apartment building with hourglass in foreground showing time running out, rising property value chart with upward trend arrow and 'Alert: Limited Time Property Value Rise' warning, calendar pages flipping from October to January, and translucent silhouette labeled 'Silent Purchaser' representing anonymous buyer in competitive real estate market

Modern glass apartment building with hourglass in foreground showing time running out, rising property value chart with upward trend arrow and 'Alert: Limited Time Property Value Rise' warning, calendar pages flipping from October to January, and translucent silhouette labeled 'Silent Purchaser' representing anonymous buyer in competitive real estate market

The Speculator's Block: Using the Doctrine of Laches to Defend Against Delayed Settlements in QLD

John Merlo

Dec 17, 202512 min read

An office with panoramic view and a Christmas tree, plus a clock anf laptop and calendar on the desk

An office with panoramic view and a Christmas tree, plus a clock anf laptop and calendar on the desk

The Christmas Shutdown Trap: How the BIF Act's "Business Day" Definition Puts Respondents at Risk

John Merlo

Dec 16, 202515 min read

Man in dark suit with achievement badges and certificates on his back stands facing the entrance of Queensland Courts (QCAT) building, with large chains blocking access and a crossed-out shield symbol above the entrance under dramatic cloudy sky

Man in dark suit with achievement badges and certificates on his back stands facing the entrance of Queensland Courts (QCAT) building, with large chains blocking access and a crossed-out shield symbol above the entrance under dramatic cloudy sky

How QLD Courts Use Your Experience to Deny a Builder's Duty of Care

John Merlo

Dec 15, 202516 min read

Illustration of Queensland map with construction cranes and Parliament House, displaying three key 2025 legislative reforms: BIF Act (Building Industry Fairness), Housing Code, and WHS (Work Health and Safety) with digital document icons and "Legislative Reforms Effective" banner

Illustration of Queensland map with construction cranes and Parliament House, displaying three key 2025 legislative reforms: BIF Act (Building Industry Fairness), Housing Code, and WHS (Work Health and Safety) with digital document icons and "Legislative Reforms Effective" banner

Queensland's 2025 Construction Law Overhaul: A Legal Guide to the BIF Act, Housing Code & WHS Changes

John Merlo

Dec 12, 202514 min read

Illustration of ostensible authority in commercial real estate: leasing agent in center with raised hands between property developer and tenant, surrounded by floating contract, lease, and authorization documents with warning symbol and question mark above modern office buildings

Illustration of ostensible authority in commercial real estate: leasing agent in center with raised hands between property developer and tenant, surrounded by floating contract, lease, and authorization documents with warning symbol and question mark above modern office buildings

How to Defeat Ostensible Authority Claims in Commercial Leasing

John Merlo

Dec 10, 202515 min read

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