Tuesday, 24 February 2026
Learning Objectives:
- Understand recent case law developments and proposed regulatory reforms in construction law
- Identify practical implications of changes to liability frameworks and building consent processes
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
Chair
Mark Gillard, Special Counsel, Simpson Grierson
Recent Case Law and Regulatory Updates
- Proposed amendments to streamline the building consent regime including allowing Council’s to voluntarily consolidate their BCA functions
- Proposal to replace joint and several liability with proportionate liability
- The requirement for holding retentions under the Construction Contracts Act 2002: Burt v Grant [2025] NZHC 2486
Presented by Christine Gordon, Senior Associate, Simpson Grierson
Presenters
Mark Gillard, Special Counsel, Bell Gully
Mark is a specialist construction lawyer with over 20 years of experience advising clients on the procurement and delivery of major construction and infrastructure projects in both New Zealand and Australia. He has advised on the procurement and delivery of some of the largest and most complex public transport projects in Australia, including the Sydney Metro Northwest and Sydney Light Rail. Having spent extended periods embedded within project delivery teams, he is skilled at combining competing contractual, commercial and technical drivers to produce a best for project approach.
Christine Gordon, Senior Associate, Simpson Grierson
Christine is a senior associate in Simpson Grierson’s construction group. She is a specialist construction lawyer having developed her skills in London and top tier firms in New Zealand. Christine advises a broad range of construction parties from principals, contractors and sub-contractors to engineers, architects and insurers on issues arising both during and after construction. She has experience with New Zealand and international forms of construction contracts and consultancy services agreements. Christine’s experience extends to acting for parties in resolving complex and high value disputes through court, arbitration, mediation, adjudication, expert determination and other dispute resolution forums.
