Legal Solutions Across the Development Lifecycle
Whether you’re delivering a multi-stage residential community or a bespoke commercial asset, the success of your project depends on more than just planning approvals and builder timelines. Poorly structured contracts, unclear consultant obligations or non-compliant disclosure can derail your outcomes and erode your profits.
At Enterprise Legal, we help developers manage their legal risk from acquisition through to sale, leasing or handover. We assist with documentation and structuring before the project begins, provide legal support while the work is underway, and step in quickly if a dispute arises.
We are highly experienced in drafting and reviewing contracts based on Australian Standards (e.g. AS 4000, AS 4902), Master Builders contracts, and custom consultant and builder agreements. We also work closely with your external consultants, agents and project managers to ensure legal solutions are aligned with commercial goals.
Before the Project Commences
Getting the right legal structures and documents in place from the outset is critical. We assist developers with:
- Advising on project structuring, including SPVs, joint ventures and risk allocation, see Structuring & Entity Advice
- Drafting and negotiating head building contracts (AS formats, HIA, MBA or bespoke)
- Preparing and reviewing consultant agreements (architects, planners, engineers, etc.)
- Drafting or reviewing off-the-plan contracts and preparing compliant disclosure documentation, see Off-the-Plan Conveyancing
- Ensuring contract documentation is consistent across builder, purchaser and financier expectations
- Assisting with early access licences, site arrangements and pre-DA agreements
- Developing contractor, supplier and sales agent frameworks, see Business Documents
A robust legal foundation at this stage helps reduce risk, avoid duplication, and streamline your path to pre-sales or project funding.
While the Project is Underway
Once works are underway, legal input can be essential in managing contracts, stakeholders and compliance, especially where timelines are tight or variations emerge. We assist with:
- Advising on contract administration, milestones and EOT claims
- Managing builder performance issues and variation processes
- Intervening early on coordination or sequencing problems between contractors and consultants
- Reviewing or preparing purchaser correspondence and variation notices
- Ensuring off-the-plan buyer communications align with contract and disclosure obligations
- Assisting with pre-leasing, early tenancy documentation or staged sale processes, see Leasing & Sub-Leasing
We’re proactive, commercially minded, and quick to spot and solve legal issues that could affect project delivery or profitability.
When a Dispute Arises
Despite strong planning, construction projects occasionally run into disputes. When they do, we move fast to protect your position and preserve your commercial outcomes.
We represent developers in matters including:
- Builder disputes over delay, variations or scope interpretation
- Subcontractor performance issues
- Purchaser contract disputes (e.g. failed settlements, disclosure disputes)
- Defective work or practical completion disputes
- Consultant negligence or breach of obligations
- Termination of contracts or claim management under security instruments
Our team is experienced in resolving complex multi-party disputes and works strategically to contain legal exposure and keep your project on track.
See our Building & Construction Disputes and Property Disputes pages for more detail.
Speak With Our Construction Team
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