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Institute of Construction Claims PractitionersConstruction Lawyers Brisbane-QBCC Registered Adjudicator

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QBCC Engineer & Strategic Lawyer Advice: Best of both worlds

Construction Lawyers Mackay

Baker Merz Construction Lawyers (T/As Construction Lawyers Brisbane) offers tailored legal expertise, proudly accredited by both the Law Society and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Why engage a Law Firm that needs to be assisted by a "team of experts" when you have access to our Construction Experts that develop 100s of projects before coming into the law.

Our team brings a wealth of practical experience from the fields of project development, including design engineering, cost estimation, and construction management. With qualifications like MCIBSE, MRICS, C.Eng, MAIPM, and CIARB, our lawyers are equipped to fully understand the complexities you encounter.

We handle claims related to cost or delays directly, developing customised strategies for effective solutions. As QBCC Adjudicators, we work on cases under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act, and represent clients in QBCC-related disputes, including those involving defects, costs, and licensing. We also appear before tribunals and courts at various levels to advocate for your rights.

Our legal team's unique project development background in design engineering, estimating and construction management (our lawyers hold current MCIBSE, C.Eng, MRICS, MAIPM and CIARB certifications) gives us the first-hand on-site construction expertise that earns our client's immediate trust.  These credentials guarantee that we will fully understand your situation, develop your cost or delay claim in-house, and select the most appropriate legal approach and strategy to deliver results quickly and efficiently. As QBCC Adjudicators, we are well-versed in the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act. and provide representation in QBCC defects, cost and licensing disputes. We also actively represent clients across various courts, including tribunals, magistrates, district, and supreme courts.

We Are Qualified Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and Lawyers

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RICS
CIBSE
Construction Lawyers Brisbane-QBCC Registered Adjudicator

Our Key Offerings

As specialists in both construction and law, we offer:
Drafting, reviewing, and managing construction contracts, such as EPC, PMCM, GMP, EPCM, PMC, PO, TK, and JVs.
Clarification of your rights and obligations under existing agreements.
Assessment of your claim's strengths, preparation, and support for delay or cost compensation claims.
Certification of claim value as quantity surveyors (QS) and evaluation of impacts on critical paths and extension of time (EoT).
Handling of force majeure situations, insurance disputes, warranty issues, liquidated damages, and liabilities.
Assistance with international contracts, including navigating cross-border permits and disputes.

We offer straightforward, concise advice, drawing from our extensive experience within the construction industry.

CCPM Delay Analysis

Selecting the right construction lawyer is crucial to the success of your project.

Consider the Following Factors When Choosing Legal Representation

  • Construction Experience: Our team consists of quantity surveyors (QSs) and engineers who have years of practical experience as commercial managers on-site. This allows us to interpret the nuances of construction contracts, guiding our clients through the complexities of the construction industry.

  • Knowledge of Local Regulations: We are well-versed in the building approval processes, compliance requirements, Australian standards, and building codes specific to Mackay, ensuring you meet all necessary guidelines.

  • Expertise in Construction Contracts: Whether you require assistance with HIA, EPC, PMC, MB, EPCM, TA, RCA, or JV contracts, our team is dedicated to safeguarding your interests throughout the entire process.

  • Industry Insights: We have worked alongside CEOs and boards of prominent construction firms, offering strategic and practical advice grounded in our deep understanding of construction activities in Mackay and nearby regions.

  • Dispute Resolution Focus: When conflicts arise, we focus on resolving them through adjudication, tribunals, or court proceedings, ensuring your case is presented clearly for an efficient resolution.

Our commitment to service, responsiveness, and cost management means you receive expert guidance with a focus on building lasting partnerships.

What we do

Contract Reviews and Contract Analysis

Contract Analysis and Recommendations

Drawing from our engineering background and on-site expertise, we offer thorough contract reviews, covering rights, liabilities, duties, and scope.

We are proficient in Australian Standard Contracts (AS4000, AS2124), Master Builders Association (MBA) agreements, Australian Building Industry Contracts (ABIC), Security of Payments Act compliance, FIDIC, NEC4, and JCT contracts. Our pre-contract audits provide suggestions to minimise risk and ensure contracts serve your interests.

BIFA, QBCC Adjudication  Dispute Management

Dispute Resolution and Adjudication Support

We assess contracts, drawings, and site records to evaluate claims. We prepare concise claims using critical path method (CPM) delay analysis. Before QBCC adjudication, we verify affidavits and expert reports, representing clients through both formal and informal proceedings for efficient resolutions.

Delay, Disruption, Acceleration  Critical Path Delay Analysis

Delay, Disruption, Acceleration, and Critical Path Delay Analysis

We analyse schedules, identify delay causes, quantify disruptions using earned value or measured mile methods, and present data in an auditable format. We also prepare acceleration claims and provide third-party independent reports.

Contract Management and Financial Recovery

Strategic Contract Management

We assist in procurement and contracting strategies to mitigate risks, maintain cash flow, and reduce administrative costs.

Project Development Strategies International Experience

Project Development Assistance

We help secure project finance, joint ventures, ECI phases, partnerships, and draft contracts, supporting projects from feasibility studies through to final execution.

Insurance claims

Insurance Claim Handling and Guidance

Our services include advice on defects, insurance policies, indemnities, subrogation, and representing clients with insurers.

What our clients say about us

“I am extremely grateful
for your professional assistance in this matter. Four different law firms and no one has taught us about these procedures before, thank you.”

Jessica Dale,
Superior Kerb & Concreting

“They had a building full of lawyers against the two of us. We would not have prevailed without your technical and construction knowledge.”

Dr Armond Habibi
General Counsel

“I thought I was losing my business... thank you.”

Ben Hunter,
Bear Claw Civil

Why engage us?

Some 50% of our clients settle their disputes even before legal action commences. This is because we prepare fully substantiated cost and delay claims that deal with defects, variations, valuation, disruption, and payment disputes on their projects with a solid contractual/legal argument that leads to commercial negotiations and early settlement.

With 30 years of experience participating in design engineering teams and on-site construction (for leading companies CPB, CIMIC, Lend Lease, AECOM, Fluor, Nova, Parsons, WSP, High Commission for KSA), we guarantee our complete understanding of the issues that arise on construction sites and understand the perspectives of all participants and stakeholders involved in a building dispute - we likely already dealt with a dispute involving similar circumstances to what brought you to this website.

Why Choose us?

  1. Fast results at low cost: Our team possesses a unique combination of legal expertise, engineering, planning, delay analysis and project costing knowledge.  This multidisciplinary knowledge base sets us apart and allows us to offer comprehensive solutions that align with the technical intricacies of construction projects, reducing the time we need to spend on your case, your legal costs and the time it takes to resolve your dispute.
  2. Regulated by RICS: We do not need to engage construction experts; we are the experts. We are the only law firm in Australia regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). This prestigious accreditation demonstrates our contracts/planning/ costing knowledge and commitment to upholding the construction industry's highest professional and ethical standards.
  3. Tailored Solutions:  Whether you are a contractor, developer, supplier, or consultant, we have the technical and commercial expertise to navigate the legal challenges you may encounter. We understand that every construction project is unique and pride ourselves on delivering tailored legal solutions that meet your needs.
  4. Proactive Approach:  We strive to identify and defuse potential issues before they escalate. Our attention to detail and thorough understanding of industry regulations ensure you receive comprehensive legal guidance at every stage of your project.
  5. Client-Centred Service: Our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We prioritize open communication, responsiveness, and a collaborative approach to ensure that we fully understand your goals and concerns. Our team is dedicated to providing you with personalized attention and guidance so that you can confidently make informed decisions.
  6. Industry Connections: Over the years, we have built strong relationships with key stakeholders in the construction industry, including contractors, developers, architects, and engineers on every discipline. Our extensive network allows us to connect you with trusted professionals who can support your success.
Our specialised offering consists of:
Contract review and formation services, PD strategy and administration 
Planning, Scheduling, EoT, Prolongation, Disruption and Acceleration Claims
Payment Claims and Schedules - QBCC Adjudication Applications & Responses
Dispute management: Expert determination, arbitration and litigation
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION
Ask Us Any Question, It Costs Nothing To Know Where You Stand

Contact us today for exceptional legal solutions backed by practical construction knowledge.

About Us

Our aim is to bring clarity to Construction Disputes for Developer Builders, Contractors, and Corporations by using our 30-years plus of experience in the construction industry working as Design Engineers, Estimators, Schedulers, Contract Administrators, and Project Managers.

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Head Office

74B Union St, 
Spring Hill QLD 4000
Australia
07 3054 7105

Email: info@clb.net.au
Fax: 07 3839 5393
Mail: PO Box 200 Spring Hill, 4000

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