Construction is where Michael's two careers meet. As a qualified engineer who worked on infrastructure projects before practising law, he brings genuine, hands-on understanding to construction contracts, claims and disputes.
That rare combination means practical advice grounded in how projects actually run — for builders, subcontractors, owners and developers alike.
Much of that work happens close to home. The Hills District is building at pace — new homes and duplexes in Castle Hill, Kellyville and Rouse Hill, and commercial fit-outs around Norwest and Bella Vista — and with that growth come payment disputes, defect claims and contracts signed under pressure. Michael acts for local builders and trades as readily as for the owners engaging them, so he understands the pressures on both sides of a project. Wherever you sit on the contract, the aim is the same: sort the issue out early, protect your position, and keep the job moving.
Tell Michael what is happening on your project — an unpaid claim, a disputed variation, a contract you have been asked to sign. He listens first, asks the practical questions, and gives you an honest read on where you stand.
If we can assist, the next step is an initial consultation working through your contract, your timeframes and the strength of your position — followed by plain-English advice and a written costs agreement, so you can weigh the cost against what is at stake.
From preparing a payment claim or adjudication response to negotiating a defects outcome or running the dispute, Michael handles the matter himself from first call to resolution — one point of contact, no handovers.
The Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) gives builders, subcontractors and suppliers a fast, low-cost way to recover payment without waiting for a court case. It runs on strict, short timeframes — payment claims, payment schedules and adjudication applications are all measured in days and weeks, not months. If you have been underpaid or a payment claim has landed on your desk, act early: missing a deadline can mean losing the right altogether.
In NSW, the Home Building Act gives home owners statutory warranties on residential building work — that it will be done with due care and skill, comply with the plans and the law, and be reasonably fit to live in. Those warranties last six years for major defects and two years for everything else, counted from completion of the work. If defects are appearing, it is worth getting advice promptly rather than waiting.
Yes — it is far cheaper to fix a contract before you sign it than to argue about it afterwards. Michael reviews the clauses that cause the most disputes on site: variations, delay and extensions of time, progress payments, defects liability and termination. Because he has administered contracts on real projects, he can tell you what a clause will actually mean once work starts, not just what it says on paper.
Before turning to law, Michael worked as a civil engineer on infrastructure projects, so he reads drawings, construction programs and variation claims first-hand rather than relying on someone else to translate them. He gets to the technical heart of a dispute quickly, asks the right questions of builders and experts, and gives advice grounded in how projects are actually priced, programmed and built.
Four protections pushed back in June 2026, and two headline Bills that are still not law.
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Read article →NSW Security of Payment rules for subcontractors, updated for the recent changes.
Read article →Home Building Compensation cover and next steps for owners and subbies.
Read article →The first conversation is a free 15-minute phone call — no cost, no obligation.