Construction Contract Specialist
ABIC Contract Specialists
Specialist construction contract services for ABIC contracts across Australia, from Sydney and Melbourne to Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Darwin, and beyond
Christopher Larcos is a construction contract specialist with a practice built on more than 40 years in the construction industry and nearly 25 years in legal practice.
As a dual-qualified solicitor and architect, he brings a rare combination of legal expertise and practical construction knowledge to ABIC contract work. This dual perspective means his contract specialist services address both the legal requirements and the commercial realities of building projects, whether the project is in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, or Darwin.
His work as a contract specialist is focused on ABIC contracts, the suite of building contracts published by the Australian Institute of Architects and Master Builders Australia for architect-administered residential and commercial building work. While ABIC contracts share a common national framework, each state and territory imposes distinct residential building legislation that demands jurisdiction-specific special conditions.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, an adjudicator under security of payment legislation in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory, and former NSW Editor of the Building & Construction Law Journal, credentials that position him as one of Australia’s leading ABIC contract specialists.
Contract Specialist Services
Specialist ABIC contract services covering the full lifecycle of construction contract work, from initial structuring through to dispute resolution, for projects in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
ABIC Contract Drafting & Special Conditions
Specialist drafting of special conditions for ABIC SW 2018 H and ABIC CP-2014 C contracts, addressing monthly progress payments, force majeure, supply chain cost provisions, and residential building compliance across all Australian jurisdictions.
Contract Risk Assessment
Expert analysis of construction contract risk allocation, identifying gaps in standard-form ABIC contracts and preparing targeted amendments suited to the project, the jurisdiction, and its governing legislation.
Front-End Project Structuring
Contract specialist advisory on procurement strategy, contract selection, and the structuring of contractual arrangements before construction commences, when specialist input delivers the most value.
Residential Building Compliance
Specialist contract work ensuring ABIC contracts comply with state residential building legislation, including the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW), Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 (Vic), Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA), and equivalent Acts in Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania.
Why Use a Construction Contract Specialist?
ABIC contracts are designed for architect-administered building work, with specific roles assigned to the owner, builder, and architect as contract administrator. A contract specialist who understands both the legal framework and the practical administration of these contracts can identify risks that a generalist solicitor may overlook.
Construction contract specialists bring industry-specific knowledge to contract structuring, they understand how progress claims work in practice, how variations interact with the payment regime, and where standard-form contracts leave gaps that expose parties to avoidable disputes.
For residential building work in particular, a contract specialist ensures the contract complies with the applicable state legislation while maintaining a commercially workable structure. Each jurisdiction has its own requirements: the Home Building Act 1989 governs residential work in NSW, the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 applies in Victoria, while Western Australia’s Home Building Contracts Act 1991 and Queensland’s QBCC Act each impose distinct obligations. This is especially important with ABIC contracts, where the commercial cost-plus form (CP-2014 C) requires specific amendments to be used lawfully on residential projects.
Whether a project is based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, or Darwin, the specialist conditions required to make an ABIC contract compliant differ materially from one state to the next. A contract specialist working across multiple jurisdictions understands these differences and can draft conditions that satisfy the local legislation without undermining the ABIC contractual framework.
Who Our Contract Specialist Services Help
Residential builders using ABIC contracts in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, ACT, and NT
Architects administering ABIC building contracts across Australia
Owners entering into residential building contracts in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, or Canberra
Project managers structuring procurement for multi-state projects
International architecture practices working in Australia
Legal practitioners seeking specialist ABIC input on jurisdiction-specific compliance
Need a Construction Contract Specialist?
Whether you need ABIC special conditions for a residential project, contract advice on risk allocation, or specialist input on an architect-administered contract, get in touch to discuss how we can help.
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Specialist Credentials
- Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA)
- Dual-qualified solicitor and registered architect
- Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours (LLB, Hons I)
- 40+ years in the construction industry
- Adjudicator across five Australian jurisdictions
- Former NSW Editor, Building & Construction Law Journal