Paul Berrill

Paul is a highly experienced construction litigation lawyer. He has had a lot of experience in building disputes over many years acting for owners, owners corporations, developers, builders and government. He has acted for some of Australia’s largest builders, architects and developers on multi-million dollar projects and owners corporations of large residential buildings.

Paul has acted in large and complex disputes between builders and owners/developers and in defects claims. He has experience in defects claims regarding residential buildings, houses, swimming pools, schools and golf courses.

Paul acts in New South Wales and Victoria and has acted in matters in the Federal Court and High Court.

Paul specialises in the following areas:

• Building disputes
• Defects claims
• Home owners warranty insurance claims
• Appeals of determinations issued by insurers
• Security of payment
• Advocacy
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Building contract advice and drafting

Paul also acts in the following areas:

• As a building prosecutor for local governments.
• For building practitioners and building surveyors/private surveyors in disciplinary proceedings.
• For parties to lobby changes to the Building Code of Australia and Australian Standards.

Paul enjoys adventure sports, bike riding and surfing.

Recent Cases:

• Successfully defended a builder in a complex claim for payment and extensions of time against a developer.
• Has made successful Security of Payment Act applications and summary judgment applications under the Security of Payment Act.
• Involved in The Owners – Strata Plan No. 75931 v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd & Anor (unreported) and later in the Chelsea case which upheld a claim by an owners corporation against a builder for negligence.
• Made the first successful application for disclosure of documents under recent Supreme Court Practice Note SC Eq 11.