AI and the future of construction law, with James Macdonald
James Macdonald is a Senior Associate for Dispute Resolution at Ashurst. Ashurst is a global law firm built and run on the primary motivation of staying ahead and driving innovation. In this episode, James talks about his paper, From Blueprints to Bytes: The Legal Implications of AI in Construction. You’ll hear him discuss the current state of AI within the Australian construction industry, the struggle of shifting traditional legal clauses to keep pace with AI, and the risks that misuse of AI tools will pose to the industry. Resources and links: Ashurst Website James Macdonald on LinkedIn Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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Building the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with Jane Hider, Nicole Whitby, and Colin Fraser
Jane Hider is a Partner at King & Wood Mallesons, specialising in construction law and infrastructure project delivery. Nicole Whitby is a construction and engineering lawyer and a Partner at Pinsent Masons. She specialises in minimising risk within public-private partnership projects. Colin Fraser is a lawyer and a Partner at Pinsent Masons, with over 30 years of experience in infrastructure projects. In this episode, Jane unpacks the underlying legal nuances in procurement and delivery for the 2032 Olympics. In addition, Nicole and Colin draw their comparisons from similar infrastructure projects. They discuss why this one is so different and explain the risks they may face along the way. Resources and links: Jane Hider on Linkedin Nicole Whitby on Linkedin Colin Fraser on Linkedin Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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Does the culture of the construction industry need to change?
Kevin Porter is an Anthropologist and Culture Change Consultant who has extensively studied the Australian construction industry. Kevin has spent his career studying human behaviour and providing leaders with the information they need to make choices, grow their businesses, and improve workplace culture. In this episode, Kevin explains the concept of culture from an anthropological perspective and describes his observations from his time embedded in the construction industry. He outlines how companies often have contradictory stated principles and practices, which can lead to significant physical and psychological harm for the employees, as well as major issues for the business. Kevin also emphasises that any industry can change its culture, but it has to put in the work. Mental health support: This episode contains discussions about suicide and mental health. In the event of an emergency, dial 000. For other mental health support, please visit your local hospital emergency department or contact the following support services: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Resources and links: Kevin Porter on LinkedIn Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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Why dispute resolution is becoming more complex
Dado Hrustanpasic is a Partner at Holding Redlich and an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School, where he lectures in construction dispute resolution. Dado has over a decade of experience in major projects and infrastructure disputes and is dual-qualified in law and civil engineering. In this episode, Dado explains the evolution of major project delivery in Australia and highlights the common triggers, resolution strategies and preventative measures for project disputes. He also discusses the impact of proper liability, the rise in complex, multi-party disputes, and why a flexible, multi-disciplinary approach is essential for resolving conflicts and disputes. Resources and links: Dado Hrustanpasic on LinkedIn Connect: The Society of Construction Law Australia website The Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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Conference collection: Michael Bleby, Harris Ashton, and Mia Timpano
Earlier this year at the annual Society of Construction Law Australia conference in Brisbane, we caught up with panellists and moderators from around Australia to discuss the biggest issues in the industry today. Mia Timpano is a former journalist and final-year law student who describes herself as a “construction law enthusiast”.Harris Ashton is a Legal Research Officer at VCAT and the winner of the 2024 student Brooking Prize for his paper ‘Illegality and Quantum Meruit in Residential Construction Law.’ Michael Bleby is the Deputy Property Editor at The Australian Financial Review and has written extensively about property and construction for more than a decade. In this episode, Mia discusses how lawyers can incorporate AI into their workflows to work smarter without compromising the fundamental skills necessary for success. Harris explains how illegal contracts leave homeowners vulnerable in the event of problems and what needs to be done to prevent people from agreeing to dodgy deals. Finally, Michael shares his thoughts about how to deliver the necessary infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Resources and links: Michael Bleby on LinkedIn Harris Ashton on LinkedIn Mia Timpano website Connect: Society of Construction Law Australia website Society of Construction Law Australia on LinkedIn Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the individual contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA). The content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, professional, or other advice. Listeners should consider their own circumstances and seek appropriate advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information contained in this podcast. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
Building Tomorrow is a show exploring the biggest issues in the Australian construction landscape by having real conversations with the people behind the scenes shaping the industry.
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