Monday, 29 September 2025
Chair
Charles Fortin, Managing Director, Collard Maxwell Architects
Design Delivery and Construction Phase Services – PC9, PC13, PC14
Contract Management and Administration
- Drafting and managing contracts, including ABIC, cost-plus, and fixed-price contracts
- Key provisions: provisional sums, exclusions, escalation and protecting client interests
- Understanding the roles of architect and contract administrator, including the architect’s retainer to provide contract administration services
- Contract management tips and traps regarding navigating changes: Variations, latent conditions and extensions of time
Presented by Sheldon Garcia, Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers; Recommended Construction & Infrastructure Litigation Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the architect’s role in contract administration and legal obligations under common contract types
- Identify key contract terms and learn strategies for managing project changes such as variations, latent conditions, and extensions of time
Description
Attend and earn 1 Formal CPD point in Design Delivery and Construction Phase Services
Lawyers attending earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
Charles Fortin, Managing Director, Collard Maxwell ArchitectsCharles graduated architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a Chicago institution known for its Bauhaus philosophy and expertise in high-rise design and construction. He is the Managing Director and owner of Collard Maxwell Architects, a practice which has been in business since 1947. His focus is on the design and delivery of complex projects of all types, including: Mixed-Use Residential, Data Centers, Education, and Lifestyle Retirement projects. As the Nominated Executive Architect for CM+A, Charles has reviewed and improved hundreds of designs for builders and developers. He has also, as a result, developed a keen eye for value management opportunities and for identifying design risks and challenges.
Sheldon Garcia, Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Sheldon Garcia is Partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers. Sheldon joined the Projects & Government Commercial team as a partner in April 2024. Sheldon has been a litigator for 20 years and is known for his fact driven approach and high technical skillset. His many years of experience working with local and state government and large multi-national organisations across infrastructure, manufacturing, commercial and residential projects means that he understands the technical and commercial aspects of construction work and ‘speaks the same language’ as his clients. Sheldon specialises in construction dispute resolution, security of payment and contract drafting and review. He advises a broad range of clients beyond the traditional construction industry companies. He also has a niche practice in residential developments and strata in NSW, NSW Government operations (including construction, goods, services and ICT procurements) and advising and managing contract claims on live projects.
