INSIGHTS

As the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (“SOPA”) continues in its infancy alongside the Constructions Contracts Act 2004, there remains questions as to how effective SOPA is in resolving payment disputes in a quick manner.

While the vast majority of cases settle before trial, even the most well-prepared cases can face an intransigent opponent. This blog post explores a recent Supreme Court of Western Australia case where Solomon Brothers successfully navigated a complex insurance dispute. The case highlights the importance of strategic litigation and expert representation in achieving a successful outcome.

We are pleased to share that our Doug Solomon has once again been recognised by Best Lawyers and, together with the firm Solomon Brothers, included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™ for Real Property Law, with a specific focus on Property Development. We are extremely proud of Doug, who is known for his passion and dedication towards supporting his clients on an international, national, governmental, and local level. The peer-reviewed accolade also stands as a testament to Doug’s continued recognition throughout the legal industry, and we are grateful to have him on our team.

As the dust slowly settles post the August 2022 introduction of WA’s new SOP Act, we’ve taken a bit of a dive into one of the most significant changes introduced by that Act – the ability of decision-makers to override notice based time bar provisions.

If you're involved in drawing up contracts but not an expert in Contract Law, our article below will assist you. We briefly set out the reasons why it’s important for you and anyone you contract with to have a clear understanding of exactly what are the terms of your agreement, and in fact, whose terms apply, so that you: get the terms you wanted get paid – or get what you paid for, and...

Unfortunately, building and defects go hand in hand. Whether you are the owner of the building built or a subsequent purchaser – you will face defects. So how do you deal with them, what are your options and what are the barriers to recovery?

In this article, we explain what a statutory demand is, the legal consequences of receiving one, and how you can respond to one to receive the best outcome for your company.

Following recent amendments to the WA Building and Construction Act, claimants and respondents alike may be left asking how these changes will impact the Security of Payments Act ('SOPA') claim process. Building and construction law is a complex branch of law with numerous courts and tribunals. Consequently, Solomon Brothers advocate for adapting the approach to different claim types to best pr...

Over the last 12 months, there have been numerous reports of a skills shortage in the Western Australian building and construction industry – in both blue and white-collar sectors. While the current boom is nowhere near that of 2012, there are a number of factors making it more difficult to top up the Western Australian building and construction industry from outside sources.

This week (on 22 June 2021), amendments to the WA regime as set out in the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Bill 2021 were passed by both houses of WA Parliament and is currently awaiting formal assent by Governor. With a Western Australian security of payment regime set to undergo a root and branch overhaul, it is time to ask yourself: Am I SOPA ready?