We resolve building and construction disputes quickly

  • Payment claims and disputes

  • Variations, defects and delays

  • Breach and termination of contract

Call us now on +61 403 050 128

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Legal services for building and construction

Appreciating the real-world trade-offs between quality, time and cost, we help our clients to navigate in practical ways the myriad issues arising on construction projects.

  • Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs); memoranda of understanding (MOUs); exclusivity agreements; non-circumvention agreements; consultancy agreements; joint development agreements (JDAs); joint venture (JV) agreements; agreements for lease land; options to lease land; options to purchase land; leases of land; contracts to purchase land; permits including development applications (DAs) and construction certificates (CCs) and under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act; easements and other land access rights; voluntary planning agreements (VPAs); infrastructure agreements including with electrical, water, gas and road authorities

  • Equity issues; loans and other debt issues; government grants and subsidies; mortgages, general security agreements (GSAs), specific security agreements, director guarantees, personal guarantees and other financial security arrangements; credit applications

  • Requests for tenders (RFTs); requests for proposals (RFPs); requests for quotes (RFQs); expressions of interest (EOIs); tender process; tender strategy; tender review; contract review; contract departures lists; different pricing mechanisms including cost plus, time and materials, schedule of rates, guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and lump sum

  • Letters of intent (LOI); early works contracts; early contractor involvement (ECI) contracts; head contracts; engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts; design and construct (D&C) contracts; construct only contracts; subcontracts; minor works contracts; work orders; purchase orders (POs); construction management contracts; project management agreements; consultancy agreements; operation and maintenance (O&M) agreements; asset management agreements; standard form contracts including AS4902, AS4300, AS4000, AS2124 and other Australian Standards (AS) as well as FIDIC, GC21, Master Builders Association (MBA), Housing Industry Association (HIA) and NSW Fair Trading; upstream contracts; downstream; contract review; contract preparation; contract negotiation

  • Payment; interest; variations; latent conditions; site conditions; force majeure; acts of prevention; delay; extension of time (EOT); liquidated damages (LDs); delay costs; breach; defects; defects liability period (DLP); practical completion; punch lists; return of security including bank guarantees and insurance bonds; default; termination; letters of demand; statutory demands; contract resets; settlement deeds; litigation

  • Security of Payment Act (SOPA) in NSW and equivalent legislation in VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT and ACT; progress claims and payment claims; progress schedules and payment schedules; adjudications; adjudication applications; adjudication responses; adjudication appeals

  • Contract works insurance aka contractors all risk insurance or construction all risks insurance; public liability insurance; professional indemnity (PI) insurance; workers compensation insurance; property insurance; industrial special risks (ISR) insurance

  • ‘How-to’ guides; staff training for contract management and administration

  • Security of Payment Act (SOPA) in NSW and equivalent legislation in VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT and ACT; health, safety and environment (HSE); Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR); contractor licences; industrial relations; insolvency

  • “Aaron and his team understand that strategy comes first. Collaborative regularly employs Schimann's first class legal skillset to solve problems in an industry that is infamously contractual, yet relationship-based. It can be a difficult line to toe, but they do it incredibly well.”

    Andrew Fisher
    Founder & Commercial Manager
    Collaborative (Builder)

  • "From the outset [Schimann] demonstrated a strong practical understanding of residential building matters as well as the relevant legal frameworks. The team was extremely responsive, clearly explaining options and risks, and keeping matters moving without unnecessary delay."

    Michael Hilliar
    Home owner

  • "Aaron and his team were always extremely patient and helpful and ensured we had the legal understanding to make informed decisions at every point of the build. They were also fast to respond which was very important to us. We highly recommend Aaron and his team and would certainly use their services again in the future."

    Melissa Marshall
    Home owner

  • "Aaron is a very experienced lawyer especially in the areas of residential and commercial construction. He delivers exceptional service every time. Nothing is ever rushed and he includes clear detail so that the client receives a thorough understanding of the process from start to finish. I would highly recommend Aaron and the team at Schimann."

    Carly Fifita
    Home owner

  • "Aaron is an incredibly approachable and savvy lawyer. He took the time to carefully understand my commercial and personal circumstances and develop a recommendation that was tailored to give me the best possible outcome. Aaron bent-over backwards to be as timely and helpful as possible and I'm incredibly grateful for his support. I can't recommend him more highly."

    Matty Graham
    Home owner

  • "For more than 15 years, I have worked with Aaron and witnessed a rare quality in today’s rushed, disconnected world: he is fully present, listening with genuine care and intent. He understands each matter thoroughly and provides advice that is thoughtful, clear, and consistently reliable."

    Renee Simpson
    Property & Project Manager

  • "Aaron and Antony are professional, responsive and genuinely care about the outcomes they achieve for their clients. They communicate clearly and were proactive throughout the process. Highly recommend!"

    Brady Robson
    Home owner

  • "Aaron and his team were recommended by another legal firm and proved to be experienced, understanding, and highly responsive to our turnaround requests and questions along the way (which is not so common anymore!). I would be more than happy to recommend Schimman to others."

    Nicholas Saunders
    Founder & CEO
    Asseta (Property Manager)

  • "I’ve worked with Aaron over many years. He has extensive construction law experience, but what really sets him apart, in my opinion, is how approachable he is and how genuinely he wants to help. He listens (really listens) and gives thoughtful, considered advice. Very highly recommend Aaron and his team."

    Peter Aston
    Home owner

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