December 2014 – Construction Law

Changes to Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (Qld) Have Now Come into Force

Dec 22 2014

By Sandra Steele and Marcel Marquardt, K&L Gates, Sydney

The amendments to the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (Qld) (BCIPA) came into force yesterday. Last minute further amendments to the BCIPA were passed on 26 November 2014, relating to the transitional provisions of the amending Act. Existing contracts are now subject to the new recovery of progress payments procedures, subject to a few exceptions. Industry participants will need to be aware of these recent amendments, particularly coming into the Christmas and New Year holiday shut down period, as the timing of all payment claims, payment schedules and adjudications will be impacted.

To read the full alert, click here.

General Contract Law Update

Dec 15 2014

As part of K&L Gates’ commitment to continuing professional development, the lawyers in our London office’s Energy, Infrastructure and Resources group regularly provide presentations and seminars on a wide range of legal issues.

The attached slides are taken from a presentation by Matthew Smith, Inga Hall and Daniel Lopez de Arroyabe on the subject of recent developments in contract law. The presentation looked at cases on general commercial and contractual issues, as well as focussing more particularly on those relating specifically to construction law matters.

To view the presentation, click here.

Federal Government Issues Advanced Release of Revised Building and Construction Code

Dec 09 2014

By Duncan Fletcher, K&L Gates, Perth and Matthew Parker, K&L Gates, Sydney

The Federal Government has issued an advance release of its revised Building and Construction Industry (Fair and Lawful Building Sites) Code 2014 (Revised Code), which will come into effect when the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2014 (Bill) commences as an Act. Once enacted, the Bill will also reestablish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

To read the full alert, click here.

Here’s a Tip: There are several ways contracts can help you avoid delays in design approval.

Dec 04 2014

By Ryan D. DeMotte and Richard F. Paciaroni, K&L Gates, Pittsburgh

The design/build delivery model offers owners and contractors the potential for greater efficiencies in the construction process, but if the parties do not carefully manage the design review process, the project can experience unnecessary delays to procurement and construction that can cascade throughout the project.

To read more in an article published in the November/December 2014 issue of Construction Today, please click here.

Reposted with permission.

Archive:December 2014