CONSTRUCT LAW GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Legal Practice Director
Aleisha MacKenzie is Construct Law Group's legal practice director and commenced the firm in 2014. Aleisha is a building and construction lawyer with 16 years' post qualification experience largely in the area of building and construction and commercial litigation. She has a broad range of experience in a number of jurisdictions, including Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.
Aleisha has acted for developers, principals, homeowners, builders, banks, liquidators, contractors and subcontractors. Her current practice primarily involves construction litigation, dispute resolution, contract drafting and risk management.
Aleisha has acted for and against the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (when it was the Queensland Building Services Authority) in administrative review matters and disciplinary prosecutions.
Aleisha is a qualified adjudicator registered under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (formally Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004) which gives her a unique insight when assisting clients in preparing of adjudication applications or responses.
Aleisha is admitted to practice in the courts of Queensland and Victoria and the High Court of Australia.
Aleisha MacKenzie was the winner of the 2021 HIA Professional Services Award, a Finalist in the 2021 HIA Business Woman Of The Award, a Finalist in the 2019 Lawyers Weekly, Partner of the year SME and the Winner of the 2018 HIA Professional Services Small Business Award.
MEMBERSHIPS
Queensland Law Society
Founding member of the Building Dispute Practitioners' Society (Queensland Chapter).
Women Lawyers' Association Queensland
National Association of Women in Construction
Associate Member of Master Builders' Queensland
Housing Industry Association
Society of Construction Law Australia
Swimming Pool and Spa Association
QUALIFICATIONS
Aleisha holds the following degrees from the Queensland University of Technology:
Aleisha MacKenzie is a building and construction lawyer with 16 years' post qualification experience in building and construction and commercial litigation. Her current practice primarily involves construction litigation, dispute resolution, contract drafting and risk management.
Craig Sawford has almost 25 years' experience in building and construction and has acted for a wide range of clients, including government departments and authorities, large commercial construction companies and small domestic builders and subcontractors.
Craig has worked extensively on the preparation and review of construction contracts and subcontracts in both the commercial and domestic sectors of the industry. His experience includes acting for major builders, developers, the former Queensland Building Services Authority, Master Builders' Queensland and the Swimming Pools and Spas Association (Queensland).
Craig enjoys a close working relationship with the Master Builders' Queensland (MBQ) and the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and sits on the following committees:
Housing Sector Committee - MBQ
South-East Queensland Technical and Legal Services Committee - HIA
Craig has extensive experience in security of payment issues including the preparation of payment claims, payment schedules, adjudication applications, adjudication responses and court applications seeking to have adjudication decisions upheld or overturned.
Craig Sawford haw over 25 years' experience in building and construction and has acted for a wide range of clients, including government departments and authorities, large commercial construction companies and small domestic builders and subcontractors.
Crystal Ray has practiced exclusively as a building and construction lawyer since 2007 and provides both dispute resolution and transactional advice to a wide range of clients including subcontractors, government authorities, principals, contractors and home owners.
With extensive experience in construction litigation as well as advising on, drafting and negotiating contracts, Crystal is well versed in assisting clients with all aspects of building and construction law.
Crystal has prepared and defended claims made under the Security of Payment legislation in Queensland and New South Wales. Crystal has experience in subcontractors' charges and in matters arising out of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld) including advising on licensing requirements, defective works and the statutory insurance scheme.
Crystal regularly provides advice and assistance to clients on all manner and scales of projects from the tender stage through until the end of the project and beyond.
MEMBERSHIPS
Queensland Law Society
Building Dispute Practitioners' Society - past President, past Vice President and past Secretary
AWARDS
Senior Associate of the Year - SME Women in Law Awards 2019
QUALIFICATIONS
Crystal holds the following degrees and qualifications:
Crystal Ray has practiced exclusively as a building and construction lawyer since 2006 and provides both dispute resolution and transactional advice to a wide range of clients including subcontractors, government authorities, principals, contractors and home owners.
Emily Roberts is a lawyer with 12 years' post qualification experience in building and construction, administrative reviews, debt recovery enforcement and commercial litigation. Emily has gained her professional experience from working in boutique Brisbane based law firms, a building industry association and during her five years as a senior lawyer at the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (formerly the Queensland Building Services Authority).
Emily is proactive and recognises that all matters are unique. She is committed to finding a resolution best suited to each client. Emily has assisted her clients on a wide range of construction and commercial queries including disputes in the Queensland Courts, the Federal Courts and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Her experience extends to negotiating contractual terms; comprehending legal obligations, rights and risks under a proposed or signed contract; advising on the dispute resolution regime and prospects of success within a contractual dispute. In addition, Emily is experienced in advising clients on the statutory home warranty insurance scheme and licensing regime administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Her experience extends to enforcing contractual terms and defending disputes including commencing litigation and appearing as a solicitor advocate.
MEMBERSHIPS
Queensland Law Society
Building Dispute Practitioner's Society - Events Co-ordinator
National Association of Women in Construction Strategic Events Co-chair, Events Committee Member and former Events Committee Chair
QUALIFICATIONS
Emily holds the following qualifications:
Kirsty Stewart is a lawyer with 16 years' post qualification experience in the area of building and construction. Prior to joining Construct Law Group, Kirsty was an in-house lawyer at the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) (formerly the Queensland Building Services Authority) for 10 years.
During her time at the QBCC, Kirsty obtained extensive experience in conducting review applications regarding administrative decisions made under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (Qld) in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with some matters proceeding to the Court of Appeal. Kirsty has an in-depth knowledge of Queensland licensing and statutory insurance schemes administered by the QBCC.
Prior to her time at the QBCC, Kirsty practiced primarily in building and construction and commercial litigation in national law firms. Kirsty has experience across a range of matters, from large-scale construction disputes in the Supreme and District Courts to domestic/residential disputes in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and disciplinary proceedings on behalf of the Board of Professional Engineers.
Kirsty has extensive experience in advising in relation to decisions made by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
MEMBERSHIPS
Queensland Law Society
QUALIFICATIONS
Kirsty holds the following qualifications:
Kirsty Stewart is a lawyer with 16 years' post qualification experience in the area of building and construction. Prior to joining Construct Law Group Kirsty was an in-house lawyer for Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
Job Titles:
- Operations and Accounts Manager
Leonie commenced with Construct Law Group in 2015 and is an integral part of our day to day operations.
With a solid background in the operations centre of a large bank, Leonie brings with her a hard working attitude and attention to detail.
Michael Burgess is a lawyer with over 6 years' post admission experience and assists a wide range of clients across Queensland in respect of domestic and commercial building disputes, contract advice, adjudication and subcontractors' charges under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017, and represents clients relating to QBCC decisions made under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991.
Prior to joining Construct Law Group, Michael has previously worked in a broad number of commercial and litigation matters in the Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal, Queensland Courts and Federal Circuit Court of Australia. He completed his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Journalism degrees at Queensland University of Technology.
Michael is continuing to grow his practice areas of building and construction litigation and dispute resolution, working closely with our highly experienced Construct Law Group team.
Michael is admitted to practice in the courts of Queensland and the High Court of Australia.
MEMBERSHIPS
Queensland Law Society
QUALIFICATIONS
Michael holds the following qualifications: