Commercial, contract, claims and quantum advice for contractors, subcontractors, principals and their lawyers on Australian infrastructure and building projects.
Led by Malachy Mullin MRICS ACIArb, Director, formerly National Commercial Manager at Lahey Constructions. Regulated by RICS.
Facing a deadline? Call Malachy on 0452 549 257.
Fig. 1One job, start to finish · IllustrativeSheets 01 to 06
Follow one job from concept to post-completion. At each phase, the question clients ask us and the service that answers it.
Sheet 01Concept and procurement
We read the tender or contract, rate each departure for risk and give you the answer on page one.
Sheet 02Contract award
Every obligation, time bar and condition precedent in your contract, in one register, with a draft notice for each on your letterhead.
Sheet 03Delivery
We confirm entitlement, draft the notice that protects the time bar, then value the variation or the extension of time from the records.
Sheet 04Payment
We prepare and answer payment claims, payment schedules and adjudication applications under the NSW and Queensland security of payment Acts.
Sheet 05Completion and final account
We agree subcontract final accounts and prepare the head contract final account, with every item traced to its basis.
Sheet 06Post-completion
Alongside your lawyers, we prepare the entitlement and quantum position (Advisory). Or, on a matter where we have not acted, we give independent quantum evidence to the court or tribunal (Independent).
One capacity at a time on any matter.
Fig. 1 · Illustrative. Clause references are to AS 4000-1997; sections to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW).
Every engagement is led by a director and resourced to its scope.
As at October 2026. Professional indemnity and public liability insurance held. Certificates of currency on request.
Waterloo, Sydney NSW, 2021 to 2022. Advisory.
Sydney, NSW, 2025. Advisory.
South East Queensland, 2026. Advisory.
Case note
The NSW Supreme Court held a subcontractor that never claimed an extension of time was bound by its "Estimated" completion dates, despite late site access. Liquidated damages ran to a cap measured portion by portion.
Guidance
What practical completion requires, how disputes over the certificate run, and how both sides should run the defects liability period through to the final certificate and the release of security.
Guidance
Subcontracts described as 'back-to-back' often incorporate documents the subcontractor has not seen, compress notice periods below workability and let head-contract milestones control subcontract money. The five recurring traps, and the one-page audit that catches them.
BSc (Hons) MRICS ACIArb. Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Director.
Malachy Mullin BSc (Hons) MRICS ACIArb is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Director of SUMIT, a RICS-regulated firm in Sydney. He has over 20 years' commercial, contract and claims experience in Australia and the UK. He advises contractors, subcontractors, principals and their lawyers on energy, rail, water, defence and building projects, from contract award to final account.
Advisory
Facing a notice, a claim or a payment deadline? Call Malachy on 0452 549 257.
