Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Managing and Resolving Construction Disputes
- Practical tools for preventing disputes: addressing common risk areas, early-warning systems and on-site documentation that stands up to disputes
- Navigating the dispute‐resolution matrix: mediation, adjudication, arbitration and civil proceedings – when to use which option and what to expect in each one
- Proven strategies for protecting cash-flow and keeping up momentum while a project is still live, including payment claims/ schedules, variations and extension-of-time issues
Presented by Hazel Bowering-Scott, Senior Associate, Wynn Williams
Chair
Mark Gillard, Special Counsel, Simpson Grierson
Learning Objectives:
- Understand key dispute prevention strategies and early risk management tools in construction projects
- Identify appropriate dispute resolution pathways and practical strategies to manage ongoing disputes
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Presenters
Mark Gillard, Special Counsel, Simpson Grierson
Mark is a Special Counsel in Simpson Grierson’s construction group, specialising in construction, infrastructure and procurement. Mark joined the Simpson Grierson in 2018 after spending 15 years in Australia where he worked both in top tier law firms (Clayton Utz and Herbert Smith Freehills) and in-house roles assisting with the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects across Australia, including several significant public transport projects in Sydney. His experience covers projects across the rail, roads, telecommunications, water, energy, property development and defence sectors. These projects have been delivered using a wide variety of documentation, from short form minor works contracts to suites of complex PPP documents for the financing and construction of major infrastructure. Mark has advised on resolving complex, high value disputes, including the renegotiation and amendment of project documents for PPP, joint venture and alliance arrangements. Where a dispute cannot be avoided, Mark is experienced in developing and implementing strategies which resolve disputes efficiently and minimise their impact on project delivery.
Hazel Bowering-Scott, Senior Associate, Wynn Williams
Hazel is a skilled commercial dispute resolution lawyer based in Queenstown, with extensive experience in construction and insurance law. She specialises in defective building disputes, material damage, and professional indemnity claims, and is highly knowledgeable about the Construction Contracts Act, the Building Act, and industry contracts like NZS 3910. In addition to her expertise in construction law, Hazel handles a broad range of general commercial disputes, including debt recovery, contract disputes, negligence claims, statutory liability, and other company-related issues. Known for her strategic approach, Hazel is a persuasive advocate who focuses on providing practical and effective dispute resolution. She employs a variety of methods, including mediation, arbitration, adjudication, and negotiated settlements, to achieve the best outcomes for her clients.
