Wondering about the changes to strata schemes legislation following the 5-Year Review? The consequences of updates to the Design and Building Practitioners Act on the strata industry? How to formulate the best strategy when faced with building defect matters? Get the answers you need to these crucial issues and beyond at the upcoming Strata Law Intensive. Plus, elevate your skills in negotiation and termination of building management contracts and give your practice the upper hand. 

Presenters

Ms. Helen Kowal, Partner, Swaab
With a legal career spanning over 25 years in general practice, for the past 12 years Helen Kowal has specialised in building, construction, strata and property. She has worked for many owners corporations, developers and builders in all facets of building and construction law in all jurisdictions. Negotiation and drafting of building contracts, project management and superintendent agreements. Acting in building defect claims under the Home Building Act 1989 in NCAT and Supreme Court of NSW. Acting for developers, owners corporations and lot owners at the forefront of strata renewal legislation introduced in November 2016 including all steps required under Part 10 of the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015. Acting for owners corporations and owners in all aspects of strata law and strata disputes arising under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 including s237 applications and s106 claims. Preparation of call option deeds. Acting in boundary and development matters including easements, crane and ground anchor licence deeds and boundary disputes.


Mr. David Baker, Consulting Principal, Keypoint Law
David brings a wealth of experience gained over 30 years of legal work focused on the construction & building sector and commercial litigation. Since 2002, David has been an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation – Building and Construction; one of only 10 Accredited Specialists in Building and Construction in NSW. He is a former partner of Makinson & d’Apice and, prior to that, practised as a barrister. David advises in relation to all forms of building and construction contracts. In addition, he advises on, and represents clients in litigation of, building defect claims, home warranty insurance claims and security of payment claims. David also has wide ranging experience in the law of torts, personal injury, workers compensation, consumer law, industrial law and contracts. His depth of experience and valuable industry insight enables him to deliver commercially relevant and effective legal advice. From 1995 to 2002, David was a Member of the Fair-Trading Tribunal (now NCAT) adjudicating in major building cases. In 1993, and again in 1995, he was respectively Corporation Solicitor and Legal Manager of the NSW Government’s Building Services Corporation. David has also established a strong record in alternative dispute resolution, having successfully resolved hundreds of building disputes.


Ms. Allison Benson, Principal, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Allison is a strata & community titles lawyer who has provided general advice, acted in disputes, including building defect disputes, and worked with clients in preparing and enforcing by-laws and strata management statements since 2008. From 2012, Allison has acted exclusively on behalf of owners corporations, associations and lot owners in respect of providing advice and acting in strata and community association disputes and also in respect of building and construction disputes.


Mr. Richard Gration, Barrister, Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers
Richard Gration is an experienced junior counsel who also has considerable previous experience and expertise outside the law. He is a former RAAF pilot and continues to serve in the RAAF as a senior Specialist Reserve Legal Officer. Richard also has significant information technology technical expertise as a former head of IT services in a Commonwealth Department. He appears regularly in the NSW Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of NSW, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in a range of commercial and property matters.


Mr. Matthew McGirr, Barrister, 8 Wentworth Chambers
Matthew is a highly regarded junior counsel, with a wide-ranging practice primarily focussed on commercial law, common law (including intentional torts), superannuation, property law, construction, strata, and general equity. Matthew regularly appears in all Federal and State courts and tribunals. Matthew will accept briefs in all areas of law. Prior to being called to the bar, Matthew was a solicitor for over 7 years. Immediately prior to the bar, Matthew was a Senior Solicitor at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), where he advised APRA in relation to several high profile contentious and non-contentious matters. Prior to APRA, Matthew practised at law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Gilbert + Tobin. During this period, Matthew acted for some of Australia’s leading companies, including Westpac, CBA, Bupa, Telstra, JP Morgan Australia. Matthew also worked on a number of class actions and commissions of inquiry. Matthew has also worked as a policy adviser and lawyer at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, where he worked closely with governments, directors, and stakeholders important legal policy issues, including the insolvency safe harbour reforms. Matthew graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in history. Matthew then graduated from the University of NSW with a Juris Doctor with Honours.