Construction Adjudicator

Construction Adjudication

Registered adjudicator and adjudication advisory services for construction payment disputes in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and the ACT

Construction adjudication is a rapid, statutory process for resolving payment disputes on building projects. Under the applicable security of payment legislation, an independent adjudicator determines an amount payable on an interim basis, typically within 10 to 15 business days of appointment.

Christopher Larcos is a registered adjudicator under security of payment legislation in five Australian jurisdictions: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. He determines payment disputes between builders, subcontractors, owners, and head contractors, providing binding interim determinations on the value of construction work.

Christopher’s dual qualification as a solicitor and registered architect shapes how he adjudicates: he assesses the value of the building work as well as the contractual entitlement to it, whether the dispute involves progress claims in Sydney, variations in Melbourne, defective work in Perth, or delay costs in Adelaide or Canberra.

Beyond his role as adjudicator, Christopher also provides strategic advisory services for parties involved in adjudication, whether preparing an application or a response. His experience on the decision-making side informs practical, outcome-focused advice for parties on either side of a construction payment dispute.

Discuss an Adjudication MatterSecurity of Payment Advice

Adjudicating significant matters

Christopher’s adjudication work can be read through three concise facts about determinations and public registrations.

180+

Determinations made

Construction payment adjudications determined across a range of contract, valuation and payment issues.

5

Adjudicator registrations

Registered in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

WA

Review adjudicator

Also registered as a review adjudicator under Western Australia’s security of payment framework.

Judicial-review matters

The following fact-focused citations identify judicial-review proceedings concerning determinations Christopher made. They record the matter and court, not the outcome.

Adjudication Services

Adjudicator appointments and strategic advisory for construction payment disputes across five Australian jurisdictions.

Adjudicator Appointments

Christopher accepts appointments as adjudicator under security of payment legislation in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. He determines payment disputes between parties to construction contracts.

Adjudication Application Strategy

Strategic advice for claimants preparing adjudication applications, structuring submissions, identifying the strongest grounds, and presenting valuations in a manner that adjudicators find persuasive. Available for projects in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.

Adjudication Response Preparation

Advisory for respondents preparing adjudication responses, identifying jurisdictional challenges, raising effective withholding reasons, and meeting strict time limits that vary from state to state across Australia.

Pre-Adjudication Assessment

Assessment of prospects before committing to adjudication, evaluating the strength of the claim or defence, the likely costs, and whether adjudication is the most effective remedy given the circumstances in the relevant jurisdiction.

When Is Adjudication the Right Choice?

Adjudication is an interim statutory payment remedy, not a universal substitute for every contractual dispute. Its fit depends on the claim, the available documents, the governing Act and what the party needs the process to achieve.

Often well suited

  • A disputed or unpaid statutory payment claim where cash flow is the immediate issue
  • A valuation, progress payment or variation issue that can be presented principally through the contract and project records
  • A party able to prepare a focused case within the governing Act’s procedural timetable

Consider another route

  • The dispute is not within the statutory payment regime or a required procedural step has been missed
  • The case depends heavily on oral evidence, extensive factual investigation or numerous interlocking counterclaims
  • The principal objective is a final determination of broader contractual rights, damages or non-payment issues

Four questions to test before proceeding

Payment and cash flow

Is there an eligible payment claim, and would an interim payment determination address the immediate commercial problem?

Documents and evidence

Can the entitlement, valuation and response be demonstrated through the contract, claim material, programmes, site records and correspondence?

Statutory timing

Which Act applies, what events have occurred, and are the available notice, application and response periods still open?

Dispute complexity

Can the payment issue be separated and decided on the papers, or does it depend on a broader final dispute that another process is better equipped to resolve?

For the jurisdiction-specific claim, schedule and adjudication sequence, see security of payment advice. If the documents and current stage are known, Christopher can assess whether adjudication is available and proportionate before an application is prepared.

Assess the adjudication pathway

Who Benefits from Adjudication Services?

Builders and subcontractors owed money for work completed in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, or Canberra

Head contractors facing payment claims from subcontractors

Owners disputing the value of progress claims under ABIC or other contracts

Parties needing a rapid interim determination without court proceedings

Legal practitioners seeking an experienced adjudicator for appointment

Parties requiring pre-adjudication strategic advice in NSW, VIC, WA, SA, or ACT

Need Adjudication Advice or an Adjudicator?

Whether you need strategic advice on an adjudication matter or are seeking to appoint an experienced adjudicator, get in touch to discuss your construction payment dispute.

Contact Christopher LarcosSecurity of Payment Advice

Common questions

How does construction adjudication work?

A claimant refers a disputed or unpaid construction payment claim for a paper-based determination by an independent adjudicator under the applicable security of payment legislation.

Security of payment process

How long does adjudication take, and is the result final?

A determination is typically made within 10 to 15 business days of appointment and is binding on an interim basis, while the parties' final contractual rights remain available for later resolution.

The adjudication timetable

Where is Christopher Larcos registered as an adjudicator?

Christopher is registered in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and is also a review adjudicator in Western Australia.

Discuss an appointment

What adjudication advisory services are available?

Claimants and respondents can obtain advice on pre-adjudication strategy and the preparation of applications or responses, informed by Christopher's experience determining construction payment disputes.

Discuss adjudication advice

More on adjudication and the payment process

Adjudication in Construction

How the process runs, the timetable, what an adjudicator can decide, and why a determination is interim.

How construction adjudication works

Independent Adjudicator (WA)

Appointment as the adjudicator named in a Western Australian construction contract.

Name an independent adjudicator in WA

Dispute Resolution

The other routes available where adjudication does not fit, or a final answer is needed.

Construction dispute resolution

Specialist Credentials

  • Registered adjudicator in NSW, VIC, SA, WA, and ACT
  • Registered review adjudicator in Western Australia
  • 180+ adjudications determined
  • Dual-qualified solicitor and registered architect
  • 40+ years in the construction industry
  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA)
  • Former NSW & Queensland Editor, Building & Construction Law Journal