Construction Lawyers in Brisbane
Expert construction law services. Contract disputes, adjudication, claims & litigation. Free consultation.
(07) 3054 7122Enquiry - Confidential Consultation Request
Contract Review & Drafting
HIA QLD, MBA QLD, AS4000 & bespoke agreements.
Domestic Building Contracts
Schedule 1B QBCC Act 1991 advice & disputes.
Commercial Contract Drafting
Bespoke head contracts, subcontracts & consultancy agreements.
Building Dispute Resolution
Defects, variations, progress payments & practical completion.
Payment Claims
Security of Payments claims & adjudication under the BIF Act 2017 (Qld).
Adjudication
BIF Act adjudication applications & responses.
Claims Preparation
Variation, EOT, delay & disruption claims with CPM analysis.
CPM Delay Analysis
Critical path method forensic delay analysis.
Debt Recovery
Recovery of unpaid progress claims, invoices & retentions.
Construction Litigation
Supreme Court, District Court & appellate matters.
Expert Witness
Independent engineering, delay & quantum evidence.
QCAT Representation
Domestic building disputes, defect claims & termination matters.
QBCC Matters
Licence issues, disciplinary proceedings, show cause & appeals.
Brisbane's Construction Market
Brisbane and South East Queensland form one of Australia's fastest-growing construction markets, underpinned by major infrastructure investment, population growth, and preparation for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Cross River Rail project is transforming the city's transport network, while the Brisbane Metro will deliver high-frequency public transport across the inner suburbs. The Queen's Wharf integrated resort development and the Brisbane Airport expansion are reshaping the CBD and northern gateway.
Queensland's construction industry is characterised by a high proportion of residential and townhouse projects, a strong subcontractor market, and significant civil infrastructure work. The state also has a well-developed security of payment regime and an active regulator in the QBCC, making specialist legal support essential for contractors, developers, and homeowners alike.
Queensland Legislation We Work With
The Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (BIF Act) is the cornerstone of Queensland's payment security framework, providing statutory rights to progress payments, payment schedules, adjudication, and suspension of work. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 establishes the QBCC and regulates licensing, disciplinary proceedings, and statutory insurance.
Queensland domestic building contracts are regulated principally by Schedule 1B of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld), including mandatory terms, progress payments, and dispute resolution. The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 provides the framework for QCAT, which hears many domestic building disputes.
Recent Case Studies: Brisbane
Cross River Rail: BIF Act Adjudication for Subcontractor
A specialist civil subcontractor engaged on the Cross River Rail project was owed $2.4 million in unpaid progress claims, with the head contractor asserting set-offs for alleged defects and delay.
We prepared a payment claim under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017, responded to the payment schedule, and lodged an adjudication application with a supporting expert report on the cause of the alleged defects.
The adjudicator found the set-offs were not supported by the contract and awarded our client the full $2.4 million plus interest and adjudicator fees, preserving cash flow for the remainder of the project.
Brisbane Homeowner: QCAT Defect Claim Defence
A Brisbane builder was the respondent in a QCAT proceeding brought by a homeowner alleging defective construction of a townhouse development, with the homeowner claiming $650,000 in rectification costs.
We reviewed the alleged defects against the contract documents, the National Construction Code, and the relevant Australian Standards, and engaged an independent building inspector to provide expert evidence. We demonstrated that many of the alleged defects were within acceptable tolerances or attributable to the homeowner's design changes.
QCAT awarded only $42,000 in rectification, a 93% reduction from the claim.
Regional Queensland Contractor: Delay Claim Settlement
A civil contractor working on a regional Queensland highway upgrade faced a principal's refusal to grant an extension of time for wet weather delays and utility relocations, with liquidated damages of $18,000 per day being threatened.
We analysed the contract's extension of time clause, the rainfall records, and the project programme, and prepared a detailed CPM-based delay analysis demonstrating that the qualifying delays were on the critical path.
The matter resolved through commercial negotiation with the principal agreeing to a 55-day extension of time and reimbursement of $380,000 in delay-related costs.
Office Details
Address
Suite 140, 167 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Phone
(07) 3054 7122Hours
Mon–Fri 8:30am – 5:00pm
Areas We Serve Across Queensland
Brisbane CBD & Inner Suburbs
High-rise commercial, residential towers, and mixed-use developments in the CBD, Fortitude Valley, and South Brisbane.
South East Queensland
Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, and Toowoomba: growing residential and infrastructure corridors.
Regional Queensland
Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, and Gladstone: resources, mining, and civil construction.
2032 Olympics Infrastructure
Venue, transport, and village projects across Brisbane and the surrounding regions.
More Construction Law Services in Brisbane
Specialist services from our Brisbane engineer-lawyers, tailored to the Queensland market.
Delay & Disruption
Prolongation, acceleration & productivity loss quantification.
ABIC Contracts
ABIC major works & simple works contract advice.
Arbitration
Commercial & domestic construction arbitration.
BESS & Energy Storage
Battery energy storage project contracts & disputes.
Builder Insolvency
Insolvency risk, security & recovery strategies.
BIF Act Payment Claims
Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld).
Construction Negotiation
Without-prejudice negotiation & settlement strategy.
Contract Administration
Notices, payment schedules, EOTs & superintendent liaison.
Cross-Border Disputes
Multi-jurisdiction & international project disputes.
Defects Claims
Defect liability, rectification scope & expert evidence.
District Court Proceedings
District Court of Queensland construction claims.
Expert Determination
Binding expert resolution of technical disputes.
Federal Court Matters
Federal Court & cross-vested construction disputes.
HIA Contracts
HIA contract review, negotiation & disputes.
Home Warranty Insurance
QBCC home warranty scheme claims & disputes.
Insurance Claims
Construction, PI & contract works insurance disputes.
International Arbitration
ICC, SIAC & UNCITRAL construction arbitration.
Liquidated Damages
LD exposure, penalty arguments & set-off defence.
Mediation
Structured mediation of construction disputes.
Practical Completion
PC certification, defect lists & handover disputes.
Project Recovery
Distressed project turnaround & completion strategy.
Renewables & Energy Law
Solar, wind & storage project legal services.
Solar Farm Law
Solar EPC, land tenure & grid connection agreements.
Subcontractor Payment Security
Statutory charges & subcontractor payment protection.
Supreme Court Litigation
Supreme Court of Queensland construction disputes.
Termination
Termination validity, repudiation & consequences.
Training & Mentoring
Contract & claims training for project teams.
Variations
Variation scope, valuation & notice disputes.
Wind Farm Law
Wind farm EPC, land access & grid connection disputes.