Arm yourself and your practice with the insights and practical strategies needed to navigate the vulnerabilities in Victoria's construction sector. Benefit from an in-depth discussion on recent recommendations to reform the Security of Payment Act 2002 and prepare yourself to spot potential weaknesses in your projects. Examine the ongoing review of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 and its impacts. As insolvency rates climb, you’ll acquire practical strategies to manage counter-party insolvency and explore innovative dispute resolution techniques that can bolster the integrity and viability of your construction matters and projects.

Presenters

Alexandra Golding, Barrister, NMAS Accredited Mediator, Chancery Chambers
Alex practises in the commercial sphere, particularly in construction, insurance, professional liability/discipline and environment. Alex appears in courts and tribunals, and undertakes advisory work. She has been listed in Doyles Guide for Construction and Insurance. Alex has held/is currently: past President of the Victorian Chapter of APIG and National Board Member; member of the Bar’s Ethics Committee; member of AILA and BDPS; Board Member of the Victorian Legal Admissions Board; A member of the Victorian Admission Committee; and A member of the Victorian Practical Legal Training Committee.  Alex is an accredited mediator.


Hon Michael Whitten KC, Barrister, Arbitrator, Mediator, List G Barristers
The Hon Michael Whitten KC practises in civil and commercial litigation. He is the former Lord Chief Justice of Tonga. For more than 30 years, he has appeared in courts, tribunals and arbitrations throughout Australia and overseas. Between September 2019 and August 2023, Michael served in country as the Lord Chief Justice of the Kingdom of Tonga and President of the Tongan Court of Appeal. During that term, he heard and determined over 1,300 cases across all areas of law with over 300 judgments published and/or cited on PACLII.  In 2024, Michael was appointed an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Samoa. Prior to moving to Tonga, Michael specialised in all aspects of building and construction disputes including associated insurance actions. He is a co-editor of the 4th, 5th and 6th editions of ‘Brooking on Building Contracts’. Alternate dispute resolution remains an important part of Michael's practice.


Donna Abu-Elias, Director and Principal Lawyer, Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants
Having worked in private practice at Clayton Utz and as an in-house general counsel for both commercial builders and residential builders, Donna Abu-Elias founded Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants as she was passionate about the building and construction industry. Donna was admitted as a lawyer in April 2004. Donna has worked from some of the major volume builders in Australia including Burbank Group, Carlisle Homes and Simonds Group. Donna has been a member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA) IR & Legal Committee from 2013 and was appointed as the Deputy Chair in 2020. Donna completed her Diploma in Construction Law in 2013. Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants specialises in building and construction advice and dispute, and represents owners and/or builders in Courts, VCAT and before the Building Appeals Board.


St John Frawley, Partner, Thomson Geer Lawyers
St John has over 30 years' experience as a construction, engineering and infrastructure lawyer. He acts for a range of institutional and private commercial clients advising on tenders, project delivery models, project contractual documentation, insurance policy and indemnity issues, project administration and risk management. St John also acts extensively in relation to the strategic management and resolution of complex technical and legal disputes. He regularly presents at industry forums and conducts regular in-house training and education workshops for clients. He is also a regular guest lecturer in the faculties of Law and Architecture, Building & Planning for the University of Melbourne.


Fabian Brimfield, Barrister, Owen Dixon Chambers West
Fabian is a barrister practicing in Victoria (Svenson Barristers) and Tasmania (Old Mercury Chambers) who specialises in building and construction disputes, commercial disputes, property and leasing disputes and insurance disputes, particularly in trial work involving expert evidence. Fabian has appeared unled in a number of significant decisions in the building and construction space Fabian sits as a sessional member of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) and hears building and planning disputes.


Dr Donald Charrett, Barrister, Arbitrator, Mediator and Dispute Board Member, Foley’s List
Donald Charrett is a Barrister, Arbitrator, Mediator and Dispute Board Member practising in building and engineering disputes, arbitration/mediation/expert determination, construction law, commercial law, contract law and professional negligence. He was named as Best Construction Law Practitioner, Australia - 2016 by Business Worldwide magazine and a Who's Who Legal Thought Leader - Construction 2019-21, 23, 24. His prior experience as a consulting engineer for over 20 years included 12 years as a director of a highly respected consulting practice. In addition to managing engineering projects, he had management roles in contract negotiation and administration, professional indemnity insurance, international joint ventures, overseas projects, and corporate restructuring. He has acted as an expert witness because of his specialised knowledge of structural engineering. Since admission to the Supreme Court of Victoria, Donald has been engaged in a range of complex construction disputes including Supreme and County Court litigation, mediation, expert determination and arbitration, as well as domestic building disputes in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. These disputes involved contractual issues, professional negligence, defects, variations, time and programming issues, quantum of claims, security of payment and professional indemnity and contract works insurance.

VIC Construction Law Bundle

Receive 11 points at the price of 10! Featuring three of our most popular construction law programs, start by joining us live online for the Construction Regulation webinar, where you’ll unpack key reforms to the Security of Payment Act 2002 and the ongoing review of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995, helping you spot risks before they impact your projects. Then, earn your core competency points with the Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management for Construction Lawyers webinar. Wrap up the bundle with a post-seminar recording of the Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Domestic Building Contracts, where you’ll master drafting watertight clauses, handling contract amendments, and ensuring every agreement protects your clients.