Construction Contract Review
Building Contract Review
Expert review of construction contracts before you sign, identifying risks, gaps, and compliance issues across all Australian jurisdictions
A building contract review before signing is the single most cost-effective step any owner, builder, or architect can take to prevent construction disputes. Most contract disputes arise from issues that were visible in the contract, if someone with the right expertise had read it carefully.
Christopher Larcos provides specialist construction contract review services, with a particular focus on ABIC contracts and residential building contracts across Australia. His dual qualification as a solicitor and architect means his reviews address both the legal implications and the practical construction consequences of contract terms, whether the project is in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, or Darwin.
A contract review by a construction contract specialist differs from a general legal review. Where a generalist solicitor might identify legal issues, a specialist who has administered contracts, adjudicated payment disputes, and drafted hundreds of special conditions understands how contract terms play out in practice, which clauses cause problems during construction, not just in theory.
His reviews cover ABIC contracts (SW 2018 H, CP-2014 C), Master Builders contracts, HIA contracts, and bespoke construction agreements. For residential building projects, he also checks compliance with the applicable state legislation: the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic), Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA), or the equivalent Act in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, or the Northern Territory.
What a Contract Review Covers
A thorough construction contract review examining the terms that matter most to the outcome of the project, for contracts in any Australian state or territory.
ABIC Contract Review
Specialist review of ABIC SW 2018 H and ABIC CP-2014 C contracts, identifying gaps in the standard form, assessing proposed special conditions, and ensuring compliance with the applicable state residential building legislation in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, or Tasmania.
Risk Allocation Assessment
Analysis of how the contract allocates risk between the parties, identifying clauses that create disproportionate exposure, assessing whether the risk allocation matches the commercial intent, and recommending targeted amendments.
Payment Regime Review
Detailed review of the contract's payment provisions: progress claim procedures, payment certification timelines, retention mechanisms, and interaction with security of payment legislation in the relevant Australian jurisdiction.
Compliance & Legislation Check
Verification that the building contract satisfies the mandatory requirements of the governing legislation: Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic), Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA), and equivalent Acts across Australia.
Common Issues Found in Building Contract Reviews
From hundreds of contract reviews across ABIC, Master Builders, HIA, and bespoke contracts, the most common issues include:
- Payment provisions that don't comply with security of payment legislation in the relevant state
- Special conditions that conflict with the standard-form terms they purport to amend
- Missing or inadequate variation procedures that leave parties exposed to scope disputes
- Extension of time provisions that are unworkable in practice or that create unintended bar dates
- Non-compliance with the Home Building Act (NSW), Domestic Building Contracts Act (Vic), or equivalent legislation
- Ambiguous contract administration provisions in ABIC contracts that blur the architect's role
These issues are identifiable before signing, and fixable through properly drafted special conditions or contract amendments. The cost of addressing them pre-contract is trivial compared to the cost of resolving them mid-construction through adjudication or litigation.
Who Should Get a Building Contract Review?
Owners about to sign an ABIC, Master Builders, or HIA building contract
Builders reviewing contract terms proposed by an owner or architect
Architects preparing ABIC contracts for projects in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide
Subcontractors reviewing head contract flow-down provisions
Parties concerned about compliance with state residential building legislation
Legal practitioners seeking specialist construction contract input for their clients
Need a Building Contract Reviewed?
Whether you’re about to sign an ABIC contract, a Master Builders contract, or a bespoke agreement, get in touch for a specialist review that identifies the issues that matter, before construction begins.
Specialist Credentials
- Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA)
- Dual-qualified solicitor and registered architect
- 40+ years in the construction industry
- Adjudicator across five Australian jurisdictions
- Former NSW Editor, Building & Construction Law Journal