Architects are frequently faced with legal issues in their day-to-day role, some potentially significant.  Gain your CPD points before 30 June and gain an understanding of where the legal risks lie plus strategies to manage and mitigate these risks. Identify what is misleading conduct, details of professional indemnity claims, and how to manage risks in services contracts. Find out what architects need to know about IP and IP infringement, hear tips for dispute resolution and defect claims. If you are in NSW then you might attend a session on the Design and Building Practitioners Act. 

Presenters

David Bannerman, Principal, Bannermans Lawyers
David Bannerman is the principal of Bannermans Lawyers, Sydney's leading Strata Law firm, providing specialised legal services for the strata industry. David is a qualified lawyer. He is an Accredited Property Law Specialist with the Law Society of New South Wales and has over 15 years extensive experience in all aspects of property law and building litigation.


Charles Thornley, Partner, Lander & Rogers
Charles manages the firm’s Construction and Engineering practice. He is the lead advisor to insurance clients in construction and engineering; professional indemnity; and property sectors. He handles some of Australia's largest and most complex construction and engineering disputes and he is regarded as a policy coverage specialist. Charles has specialised in construction and engineering and property insurance since entering private practice in 1994 in South Africa and maintained his focus after immigrating to Australia in 2003. Charles' extensive experience is complemented by his strong interest in product liability in construction products. He represents and advises a wide range of construction principals, contractors and consultants on risk and insurance. Insurance industry clients trust his policy wording and interpretation. Charles is recognised in The Best Lawyers in Australia and in Chambers Asia Pacific for his expertise in insurance law.


Charles Fortin, Managing Director, Collard Maxwell Architects
Charles earned his architectural degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, in Chicago; an institution known for its technical expertise in the design and engineering of tall buildings and complex construction projects of all types and sizes. He is the Managing Director and owner of Collard Maxwell Architects (CM+A), a practice which has been in business since 1947. CM+A routinely works alongside property developers, and in doing so has gained a profound understanding of the property development process, and of the mitigation of its Legal, Political, Financial, Market, Execution, and Reputational risks.


Victoria Shute, Director, Kelledy Jones
A lifelong passion for design, architecture and the environment, a fondness for problem-solving and the love of a good SA wine (or two) has driven Victoria’s dedication to her specialist fields of practice. She is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading planning and environmental lawyers. This has been recognised by her peers in the prestigious Best Lawyers Australia list and Doyle’s Guide for several years. Victoria is known for her depth of experience, personable nature and ability to provide clear answers to difficult and technical legal questions. In addition to her demonstrated expertise in planning, building and environmental law, Victoria also assists clients with liquor licensing, natural resources, rates sales and summary procedural matters. Her reputation as a trusted advisor means that she is often asked to deliver workshops, briefings and seminars to council officers, assessment panels, Elected Members and professional bodies, and speak at state and national conferences for development professionals. Victoria has taught Urban Management and Law to graduate planning and architecture university students and she is also widely published in a variety of state and national legal and business publications. Away from work, Victoria enjoys spending time with her family, meals out and dinner parties with friends and planning vacations to interesting locations, both within and outside Australia.


Jennifer Tutty, Founder & Managing Principal, Studio Legal
Jennifer is the founder and principal of Studio Legal and recognised as a leading IP lawyer in Victoria by Doyles Guide. Jennifer’s dedication to her legal craft and hard work has seen Studio Legal become a ‘go to’ firm for creative people and businesses in Australia. With 20 years’ legal experience as well as being a business owner and creative herself, Jennifer has a special interest and skill in protecting the intellectual property rights of architecture and interior design firms and other businesses within the design and building industry. When she’s not in the office, you will find Jen out walking, creating mood boards for her ‘forever’ home, listening to her favourite albums on vinyl or hanging with the family.


David Jury, Partner, HWL Ebsworth
David has practised in building and construction industry for 25years and has particular expertise in adjoining land owner issues including proceedings under section 88K of the Conveyancing Act. David’s clients include, Contractors, Developers and specialist subcontractors. David provides advice on tendering, project delivery, contract administration and dispute resolution including processes under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act.


Brian Meyerson, Managing Principal, MHN Design Union
Brian Meyerson founded BMA, now MHN Design Union, in 1997. Now a still-growing team of over fifty, the firm’s philosophy has its roots in Brian’s early architectural inclination towards the distillation and expression of simplicity. Each MHNDU project is pared back in order to discover its essence and meaningfully built to capture this central tenet. In 2020, MHNDU was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Best in Practice Prize. Brian’s interest in architecture was sparked as a child, observing the urban environment on the streets of his native Cape Town as he commuted by train to school. His time studying architecture at the University of Cape Town, its educational platform informed by the philosophy of Le Corbusier, cemented his conceptualisation of purist modern architecture as a way of optimistically heralding the new, rather than dwelling on the old. Brian’s early career experience at the Desert Research Institute for Extreme Climates in Israel has informed his long-held passion for environmentally conscious architecture and MHNDU’s commitment to designing homes for a sustainable future. Having gained a reputation for innovative yet enduring craftsmanship, Brian’s designs have left a defining mark on much of East Sydney and beyond. Most recently, Brian has found particular interest in projects that contribute on an urban interventionist scale, redefining the public domain surrounding sites, such as MHNDU’s concept design for Seven Ways in Bondi and reinvention of the Bondi Hotel and its immediate surrounds for The Beach House.


Elizabeth Gelder, Senior Associate, Lander & Rogers
Elizabeth is a Senior Associate in Lander & Rogers' Insurance Law & Litigation team. She specialises in construction and engineering disputes and provides advice on insurance coverage issues. Elizabeth provides advice to local and international insurers on claims made against building and construction professionals including a range of principals, consultants and contractors. She advises on coverage issues for various types of insurance including professional indemnity, annual design and construct, project-specific and contract works policies. Elizabeth also acts as defence counsel for construction professionals and contractors in a variety of complex, multi-party disputes and has experience pursuing subrogated recoveries.


Matthew Graham, Partner, HWL Ebsworth
Matthew is a Partner in HWL Ebsworth’s Construction and Infrastructure group who specialises in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Matthew regularly assists clients in the Construction, Infrastructure and Property industries.


Sarah Cahill, Senior Associate, Minter Ellison
Sarah is a Senior Associate at MinterEllison specialising in the resolution of complex, large scale and high value construction, infrastructure and mining disputes. Her experience includes Supreme Court litigation, arbitration, expert determination, mediation and security of payment adjudications. Sarah has completed mediation training with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and was recognised with a Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 award in the Construction and Infrastructure category in 2019 and Rising Star for Construction Law by Doyle’s Guide in 2024.