Construction Law

Our construction team is involved in a wide range of projects, both in New Zealand and overseas. These include major infrastructure projects, roading contracts, energy projects, hospitals, prisons, shopping centres, and commercial, industrial and residential developments including leaky homes.

Our team advises clients at every stage of the project from procurement, contract structures and risk management through contract administration, claims and dispute resolution. We act for large international construction companies as well as small and medium-sized contractors, owners and consultants, local authorities, and Government and industry organisations. Being members of several industry-related organisations including the New Zealand Contractors’ Federation and the New Zealand Council of Infrastructure Development enables us to keep up with trends and best practice.

Contract Structures

We work daily with the main standard contract forms in New Zealand, such as NZS 3910, FIDIC and NZIA forms. Our team is also familiar with the alternative contract structures such as design and construct; design, construct and maintain; BOT; BOOT; EPC; Alliancing; Collaborative Working and PPPs.

Other specialist teams within the firm (such as resource management, financing and tax) are also involved in preparing the complex documentation required for these project structures.

Most construction disputes that cannot otherwise be resolved are referred to arbitration, and we are experts on the law relating to arbitration and in handling major arbitrations.  

Building Act

The Building Act is complex and potentially high-risk. The licensing regime which will be mandatory from 2010 is also likely to be problematic. Our construction team has several lawyers who are experts on the Act.  

We are experts on the Construction Contracts Act and we advise our clients on the stringent requirements for payment claims and payment schedules. Our large team also means that we have the resources to handle major claims under the Act, often at very short notice. We have represented clients in multi-million dollar adjudications.

Our team has handled numerous leaky building claims, both in the Courts and in mediations and adjudications under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service. We have acted for both plaintiffs/claimants and defendants/respondents, including bodies corporate, building companies, consultants and a major Government body.