Craig Sawford
Partner
Practice Area
Industry Expertise
Experience
Craig has more than 15 years experience in building and construction and has acted for clients ranging from government departments and authorities, large commercial construction companies to small domestic builders and subcontractors.
Craig’s experience includes acting for top tier builders, the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA). Craig has a close working relationship with the Queensland Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association (HIA). Craig is able to represent clients in all court jurisdictions and QCAT. Craig also has experience and is regularly called upon by client to prepare and review construction contracts.
Craig’s experience includes advising first tier lenders in the reformulation of their policies and procedures for commercial and residential construction lending purposes. He has assisted with the numerous formulation policies implemented by the Queensland Building Services Authority (QBSA). Craig regularly appears in administrative review matters and disciplinary prosecutions involving the QBSA.
Craig has extensive experience in the preparation of payment claims, payment schedules, adjudication applications and adjudication responses under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act. Craig is also a trained Adjudicator under the Builder & Construction Industry Payments Act.
Recent Matters
- Preparation and review of contracts including major commercial development and mining infrastructure projects;
- Representing a contractor in respect of a $5M dispute in respect of work carried at the Port of Gladstone;
- Contesting decisions of the QBSA regarding a body corporate entitlement to an insurance claim under the Statutory Insurance Scheme;
- Acting for the head contractor in a Commercial Building dispute in respect of a Private Hospital.
Professional Background and Education
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Queensland University of Technology
- Bachelor of Business – Accountancy (with Distinction), Queensland University of Technology
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Queensland
- High Court of Australia
- Adjudication Certificate under Building & Construction Industry Payments Act
Professional Memberships
- Queensland Master Builders Association (Associate Member)
- HIA Legal and IR Committee, Queensland Law Society
- Building Disputes Practitioners Society (QLD Committee Member)