Lawyer for Architects
A Lawyer for Architects Who Is an Architect
Legal advice for architects and architecture practices from a solicitor who spent more than 30 years as a registered architect, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects
Most lawyers learn architecture from the brief. Christopher Larcos learned it from the drawing board, the site, and three decades of running architectural projects.
He is a dual-qualified solicitor and registered architect with more than 40 years in the construction industry. Before and alongside his legal career he practised as an architect for over 30 years, and he is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA). For an architect looking for a lawyer, that means an adviser who already understands your scope, your fees, your role administering building contracts, and the value of your copyright, before you have to explain any of it.
His career spans work alongside leading and prestige architectural practices, in Australia and internationally, on projects where design quality and contractual precision both had to hold. He brings that same understanding to advising architects on the agreements, appointments and disputes that decide whether a commission protects a practice or exposes it.
Whether you are a sole practitioner setting up, a growing firm standardising your terms, or an overseas practice entering the Australian market, you are dealing with a peer who is embedded in the profession, not an outsider learning it from your file.
Why Christopher is the right lawyer for architects
He has run architectural projects
More than 30 years as a registered architect means Christopher understands scope, fees, coordination, contract administration and design risk from having done the work, not from reading about it.
A Fellow embedded in the profession
As a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, and through teaching and Practice Committee service, Christopher is a peer within the profession, so you are advised by someone who speaks your language.
Experience across leading practices
His career spans work alongside leading and prestige architectural practices, in Australia and internationally, on projects where design quality and contractual precision both mattered.
Agreements that protect your practice
From Client Architect Agreements to copyright, liability and novation, Christopher drafts and reviews the instruments that decide whether a commission protects your practice or exposes it.
Common questions
Why choose a lawyer who is also an architect?
An architect who is also a solicitor understands your work from the inside. Christopher Larcos practised as a registered architect for more than 30 years before and alongside his legal career, so he already understands scope of services, fee structures, the architect's role as contract administrator, copyright in drawings, and how design decisions create or avoid risk. That means advice framed in the language of your practice, not just the language of the law, and fewer things lost in translation between the two.
What legal issues does a lawyer for architects deal with?
The most common are Client Architect Agreements and terms of engagement, scope and fee disputes, limitation of liability set against professional indemnity cover, copyright and moral rights in designs, novation on design and construct projects, the architect's role administering building contracts, and disputes with clients, builders or consultants. Christopher advises architectural practices on each of these, drawing on both his legal qualification and his years in practice.
Do you advise both individual architects and larger practices?
Yes. Christopher advises sole practitioners setting up their first practice, growing firms standardising their agreements and handling sub-consultants and novation, and established and overseas practices entering the Australian market. The right advice differs at each stage, but the value of an adviser who has run architectural projects is constant across all of them.
Are you a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects?
Yes. Christopher is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (FRAIA), a distinction recognising sustained contribution to the profession. He has also contributed through teaching in the Practice of Architecture Learning Series (PALS) and service on the Institute's Practice Committee. For an architect choosing a lawyer, that standing means you are dealing with a peer who is embedded in the profession, not an outsider learning it from the brief.
Can you help review a client's or developer's agreement before I sign?
Yes. Reviewing a client-side or developer consultant agreement before you sign is one of the most valuable things a lawyer for architects can do. These agreements are usually drafted in the client's favour and can shift liability, payment risk and copyright away from your practice. A review identifies the terms worth negotiating and the exposures worth avoiding, before you are bound by them.
Do you work with architects outside your home state?
Yes. Christopher advises architects and practices across Australia. Architect registration and some statutory regimes are administered state by state, so where you practise matters, and that is factored into the advice. He also advises overseas practices adapting their engagement terms to Australian law as they enter the market here.
Keep reading
Client Architect Agreements
Review, tailoring and drafting of the agreements you use with your own clients.
ContinueWhy a dual-qualified architect and lawyer
Why an architect who is also a solicitor delivers better outcomes than a lawyer alone.
ContinueAbout Christopher Larcos
The background behind the dual qualification, from architecture to construction law.
ContinueCredentials
- Registered architect for over 30 years
- 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
- Former NSW & Queensland Editor, Building & Construction Law Journal