Construction Lawyer · Western Australia
Construction Lawyer in Western Australia
ABIC and building contract advice for WA projects, legal and construction expertise in one adviser
A construction lawyer in Western Australia needs to understand a residential building regime that differs in important ways from the eastern states. Christopher Larcos is a dual-qualified solicitor and registered architect who advises WA owners, builders and architects on ABIC and other construction contracts.
Residential building work in WA is governed by the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA), which regulates matters such as deposits, progress payments and home indemnity insurance for work above the prescribed threshold. ABIC contracts provide a strong national base, but WA-specific special conditions are needed to align them with the Act.
Perth’s western suburbs, the riverside and coastal enclaves, hold some of the country’s most valuable land, and the custom homes built there justify contracts drafted with real care.
Areas We Serve in Western Australia
Advice is available for building projects across Western Australia, including the state’s premium residential markets:
Perth’s western suburbs, Peppermint Grove, Dalkeith, Nedlands
The coast, Cottesloe, Swanbourne, City Beach, Mosman Park
Riverside, Applecross and Mount Pleasant
Claremont and the inner west
Margaret River and the South West
Construction Law for Western Australia Projects
The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) sets the rules for residential building contracts in the state, including home indemnity insurance obligations and controls on deposits and progress payments. ABIC special conditions for WA must be drafted to work with that Act so the contract is compliant and enforceable.
Perth’s prestige builds, riverfront homes in Dalkeith, coastal residences in Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove, are typically high-spec, architect-designed projects. The contractual risk lives in variations, provisional sums and the way progress is certified, all of which are best managed by someone who understands construction as well as the law.
Christopher’s experience as a registered architect and as an adjudicator under WA’s security of payment legislation gives him a direct, practical view of how payment and contract disputes are actually assessed in the state, insight that informs every review and every set of special conditions he drafts.
An architect and a solicitor
Most construction problems begin with how a building was procured and built, not just how the contract was drafted. Christopher Larcos is both a registered architect and an admitted solicitor, so his advice is grounded in the law and in the practical reality of the build, a combination that is rare and especially valuable on architect-administered ABIC contracts.
Front-end value
The greatest value comes before anyone signs, reviewing and amending the contract, setting the right special conditions, and getting the variation and progress-payment mechanisms right. Early advice is far cheaper than resolving a dispute once the build is underway. Get in touch to discuss your Western Australia project.
Common Questions, Construction Lawyer, WA
Do you provide construction law advice for projects in Western Australia?
Yes. Christopher Larcos advises on ABIC and other construction contracts for projects across Western Australia, Perth, the western suburbs, the South West and regional WA. He is also an adjudicator under WA security of payment legislation. Advice is provided remotely, so clients anywhere in the state can engage.
How does the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) affect my contract?
The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) regulates residential building contracts in Western Australia, including home indemnity insurance, deposits and progress payments. ABIC contracts need WA-specific special conditions to align with the Act. A construction lawyer with construction experience makes sure those amendments are both compliant and workable.
Why use a construction lawyer who is also an architect in WA?
Perth’s prestige homes in Dalkeith, Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove are high-spec, architect-designed builds where variations and progress certification drive risk. A dual-qualified architect and solicitor, who is also a WA adjudicator, understands both the construction and the law, producing contracts that reflect how the project will actually be delivered.
Related areas
Building in Western Australia? Get advice that understands the build.
Whether you need an ABIC contract drafted, reviewed or amended, or advice on a dispute, get in touch to discuss your Western Australia project with a construction lawyer who is also a registered architect.
Why Christopher Larcos
- Dual-qualified solicitor and registered architect
- Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours (LLB, Hons I)
- Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA)
- 40+ years in the construction industry
- Adjudicator across five Australian jurisdictions
- Former NSW Editor, Building & Construction Law Journal