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The law is complex and ever changing. Small amendments to legislation can have serious impact throughout the industry and broader economy. Seemingly minor details can make or break a business.

That’s why our team are constantly researching, writing and documenting the latest changes to the law. By placing focus on writing and commentary we ensure our team and our clients stay one step ahead of the competition.

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Our Writers Guild are some of the most prolific drafters in the industry. Our Senior Associates meet once a week to research, debate and write about the major issues facing our clients and the broader sector. We believe that by researching these matters it helps to inform our team and our clients, ensuring every move we make is deeply researched and considered. These deep insights form part of our winning formula at Vincent Young.

Contact us if you would like us to present to your organisation on any of the matters in our papers.

Latest articles

CommercialLaw
28 June, 2022

Electronic execution of documents by companies

The Corporations Amendment (Meetings and Documents) Bill 2021 (Cth) (Amendment Act) was given royal assent on 22 February 2022 and has now come into force. The Amendment Act has amended the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act) and builds on the temporary measures introduced last year by the Treasury Laws…
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BuildingConstructionLaw
23 June, 2022

Queensland project trust accounts

Since its introduction in 2020, the Queensland construction industry has been adapting to the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (Qld) (‘BIFOLA’). One of the most significant amendments made by BIFOLA is the introduction of the new trust account framework to replace the previous…
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Strata
10 June, 2022

Execution by Strata Bodies

Different strata bodies are formed in different ways under the NSW strata law and have different powers and functions under the relevant instruments. This article aims to set out the various considerations in relation to execution by strata bodies and also highlights the best practice in achieving validly executed documents…
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CommercialLaw
26 May, 2022

SOPA & statutory demands

There has been some confusion about whether debts which arise under Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (the SOPA) can be enforced using a statutory demand. In Grandview Ausbuilder Pty Ltd v Budget Demolitions Pty Ltd NSWCA 60 (Grandview v Budget), the NSW Court of Appeal…
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ConstructionContractsLaw
5 May, 2022

Rise and Fall Clauses in Construction Contracts

Rise and fall clauses have been largely overlooked in the Australian construction industry for over two decades. Interest has picked up in recent months due to rapid increases in materials prices. As we re-enter an inflationary environment, legal practitioners and Contractors should learn about or refresh their knowledge of rise…
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Law
20 April, 2022

Modern slavery obligations: a Commonwealth and NSW perspective

Background On 1 January 2019, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (“Commonwealth Act”) came into effect and established a national modern slavery reporting requirement. However, this Commonwealth Act had two key inconsistencies in the reporting requirements with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW) (“NSW Act”) as follows: the NSW Act…
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Construction
14 March, 2022

Tranche II Building Reform Proposals

The NSW Government has tabled proposed amendments to key construction laws, including the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (SOPA) and the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) (DBPA), which it refers to as the Tranche II building reforms. On Wednesday 23 February 2022, a…
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BuildingConstructionContractsSecurity of Payments
11 March, 2022

The addition of absolute discretion in EOT clauses – No notices – no extensions of time

The New South Wales Supreme Court’s decision in Growthbuilt Pty Ltd v Modern Touch Marble & Granite Pty Ltd NSWSC 290 (Growthbuilt) has extremely significant implications regarding extension of time (EOT) clauses. Contractors and legal practitioners must take note of this momentous decision. Implications for contractors The key takeaway from…
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ContractsEmploymentLaw
7 March, 2022

Employee or Contractor?: the High Court decides

The High Court of Australia (HCA) handed down two major decisions that highlight the importance of getting contractual terms correct and how those terms can determine the nature of the relationship. In the two decisions, the HCA makes clear that where the terms of the parties' relationship are comprehensively committed…
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EmploymentHR
25 January, 2022

I can manage myself – A lesson in bullying and performance management

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has rejected an employee’s application for anti-bullying orders, after finding the employee had, on occasions, been “blatantly misogynistic”. The employee, who began reporting to his female supervisor last year, was put on a performance improvement plan (PIP) by the supervisor, following concerns about his performance,…
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DevelopmentLawProjectsProperty
20 January, 2022

New changes to community land laws

The Community Land Development Act 2021 (NSW) (Development Act) and Community Land Management Act 2021 (NSW) (Management Act) reforms have commenced on 1 December 2021. The new laws are aimed to modernise the development, management and operation of community schemes in NSW. See below brief introduction on community schemes and…
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BuildingConstructionLaw
14 January, 2022

Decennial Liability Insurance

After a spate of issues plaguing the building and construction industry in recent years, the NSW government is proposing the introduction of a decennial liability insurance scheme (DLI) with the view of increasing protections for owners and purchasers of residential apartments. What is DLI? DLI is a mandatory defects insurance…
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EmploymentHRLaw
8 November, 2021

Webinar: Key themes for workplaces as 2021 comes to an end

In this recent webinar, Erin Lynch, Employment Partner, discussed the key themes for workplaces as we return back to "normal" and 2021 comes to an end. Erin addressed the following topics: vaccinations; returning to the "workplace"; key workplace decisions; changes to sexual harassment laws; casual conversion terms in modern awards;…
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