FAQS

You have questions... we have answers!

Check out the full list of frequently asked questions below.

A Free Call is a 15-minute conversation where we get to know you and understand your needs. You’ll have the opportunity to tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll discuss how we can work together and create a plan to move ahead together.

While we can’t provide legal advice until you’re officially our client, we will discuss how we can collaborate and outline a clear path ahead.

We have a simple 3 step process, to make working with us easy!

Step 1 – Book Your Free Call

  • Pick a time that suits you—we’ll work around your schedule. We’re here to assist, making it easy for you to get the help you need.

Step 2 – Talk to Us

  • Share what’s on your mind—we’re here to listen. Tell us what you need help with, and we’ll dive into your situation, understanding your concerns helping to ease any stress. We’ll discuss your options and work out how you can move forward with confidence.

Step 3 – Welcome aboard

  • After you accept our proposal, we’ll jump right in and get to work. What’s next? You can sit back, knowing there is an expert team that’s got your back.

Click here to Book your Free call now. It’s that easy!

A boutique law firm zeroes in on a specific area of law, offering top-tier expertise. At Lauderdale, we’re all about construction law. We diagnose issues and strategies quickly, delivering cost-effective solutions that big firms can’t match. We’re lean, adaptable, and focused on building strong client relationships while delivering quality every step of the way.

We Fight to Win. Period.

This isn’t just law, it’s war. We’re the hired guns who don’t miss. Every move is calculated.  Whether we hit fast or negotiate with precision, it’s all about pressure and results. When it gets brutal, the serious players call us.

60+ Years of Construction Law Expertise

We’ve crushed over $400+ million in disputes and clocked 60+ years in the game. This isn’t our first rodeo – it’s our arena. We know every loophole, every move, and how to play it to win. Others dabble in construction law. We own it.

3 In-House Adjudicators, including the Chief

We don’t just play the adjudication game – we run it. With three adjudicators on our team, including the Chief, we know how to weaponise the process to your advantage. We’ve sat in the decision-maker’s chair, now we’re in your corner

95% Success Rate. Fast.

In this game, hesitation costs, and we don’t flinch. We move fast, strike hard, and get money back in your hands where it belongs. Construction disputes are a race against time. No one hits harder or faster than us.

A specialist lawyer is like a construction expert—both have deep, focused knowledge in their field. Just as a structural engineer knows every detail about building safety, a specialist lawyer knows the ins and outs of a specific area of law.

At Lauderdale, we’re laser-focused on construction law, tackling legal challenges with the same precision any other construction pro brings to a project, ensuring the best results for you. Just as you would trust an engineer to design and plan a bridge, you can trust us to handle construction law with our deep knowledge and expert skill.

An accredited adjudicator under the Security of Payment laws is an expert in their field—typically a construction lawyer, engineer, or sometimes a quantity surveyor. At Lauderdale, we have more adjudicators than any other firm in Australia, with three top-tier experts: two distinguished lawyers and one leading engineer.

One of our adjudicators even serves as the Chief Adjudicator on the NSW Panel at Adjudicate Today, probably one of the most senior adjudicators in Australia. Our unmatched expertise gives us insider knowledge on adjudication that no other firm can match, allowing us to expertly resolve disputes with authority

If you’re a subcontractor, builder, or developer facing a construction law issue, it’s crucial to get the right advice to understand your options. Whether you’re dealing with contract disputes, project delays, non-payment issues, or unfair claims, having expert legal guidance can make all the difference.

At Lauderdale, we’re here to support you through every step, offering clear, practical advice and helping you find the best solution for your construction challenges.

When you hire us, we’ll send you a clear costs disclosure and agreement, and you’ll deposit the agreed amount into our trust account. As we work on your case, we’ll use those funds to cover our fees. If you decide to part ways with us, we’ll gladly refund any remaining balance, following the terms outlined in our costs disclosure and agreement.

A lawyer’s trust account is a special bank account where funds are held on behalf of clients. This account is used to keep your money safe while your legal matters are being handled. For example, if you pay an advance for legal services, that money is deposited into the trust account. As your case progresses, the lawyer withdraws money from the trust account to cover their fees and expenses. This ensures that funds are managed transparently and only used for their intended purpose. If there’s any money left in the trust account after your matter is resolved, it is returned to you.

We provide pricing options, offering fixed fees or an hourly rate, so you can choose the approach that best suits your needs. This flexibility puts you in control of your legal expenses, making it easier to manage your budget while getting the quality legal support you need.

Yes, we do offer fixed fees for some of our services. Unlike many other law firms that charge an hourly rate for everything, we provide clear, upfront pricing for our services, helping you avoid unexpected costs and manage your budget more effectively.

At Lauderdale, we don’t offer “no win, no fee” services because we prefer a clear and predictable pricing model. Handling construction law cases involves complex details and significant resources, which we manage with fixed fees or our hourly rate.

This approach not only helps us avoid financial risks and ensures transparency but also avoids the pitfalls of firms that may push clients into quick settlements to avoid their own financial losses.

Many of these firms also charge uplift fees taken from your settlement, which can drastically reduce the final amount you receive. Our clear fee structure ensures that we focus on delivering the best legal outcomes without any hidden surprises or incentives to settle prematurely.

 

At Lauderdale, we don’t usually offer payment at the end of your case because legal work involves upfront costs, like court fees and expert reports, which need to be covered as we go along. Regular payments help us stay on top of things and ensure we’re compensated for the continuous effort we put into your case. It also helps us manage our own expenses and keep everything running smoothly, so we can stay focused on achieving the best results for you throughout the entire process.

We have an easy-to-use online booking system. This way you can book in for a free call at any time of day, from anywhere, whether you are on your smart phone, tablet or computer.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Our law firm is located at 6/1 Maxim Street in West Ryde, NSW.

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