OUR PURPOSE

To help high-integrity and high-quality construction-related businesses navigate their legal challenges effectively so they grow into even more exceptional businesses that continue to add real value to their clients.

OUR VISION


PART 1

To become the construction law firm partner of choice in NSW for small to medium construction-related businesses who seek top-shelf legal support.

PART 2

To become the 'go to' provider of real world, construction-specific, 'easy-to-follow' legal training for business owners and their teams.

PART 3

To establish a strong community of like-minded, high-integrity and high-quality construction-related businesses who lift each other to higher levels of service and success.

OUR MISSION

PART 1

To provide practical, fast and cost-effective legal advice to small to medium construction-related businesses in NSW and help them continue to grow with confidence.

PART 2

To deliver real world, construction-specific, 'easy-to-follow' legal education to business owners and managers who want to be better equipped to excel in their industry niche.

PART 3

To grow a community of high-integrity and high-quality construction-related business leaders who want to surround themselves with other like-minded business leaders and believe ‘you become like the people you surround yourself with most’.

OUR TEAM

Mike Krsticevic

B.Eng (Civil)(Hons) LLB (UNSW)

Solicitor Director/Founder

Mike has over 24 years experience in law, having worked in both top tier law firms and in-house counsel roles (including as General Counsel and company secretary of the Australian operations of a multi-national corporation in water engineering).

His experience extends over multiple industries and areas of law, including:

  • building/construction law - preparing and negotiating construction and infrastructure related agreements (on projects ranging from $1m to $3.2bn) covering the full range of contracting models such as D&C, construct only, supply and install, maintenance, joint venture, DBOM (design build operate maintain), alliance contracts, PPPs (public private partnerships), Power Purchase Agreements, and more;

  • managing construction disputes and implementing litigation avoidance strategies, including managing disputes (both for and against) ranging in value from $100,000 to $70m;

  • providing general advice in relation to infrastructure and property development matters;

  • preparing Security of Payment Act claims and defences;

  • undertaking company secretarial responsibilities for multiple companies;

  • property law - including drafting and reviewing contracts for sale of land, commercial lease agreements and agreements for lease, property development agreements, and more;

  • project financing - including managing negotiations on documentation for complex joint venture financing;

  • mergers & acquisitions - including assisting with transfers of multiple businesses varying in value from $70m to $1.2bn;

  • corporate law matters;

  • managing EPA matters;

  • managing work, health and safety investigations, and more

Mike is also an adjudicator under the NSW Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 having been in this role since 2014 and has made over 100 determinations to date.

Mike took a break from the law (from July 2022 to May 2024) and, at the request of a friend, project managed the construction of a 3,200m2 A-Grade tilt-up concrete panel factory in Sydney's west with a 1,600m2 basement carpark (total of 49 car spaces top and bottom), 440m2 mezzanine office, substation, lift and 100kW solar system on a 5,200m2 site. With the help of one first-year cadet, he undertook the roles of not only the project manager, but also engineering design reviewer, site manager, construction manager, contracts manager, safety officer, quantity surveyor, steel scheduler, and even a labourer ... when the need arose.

Mike took over the project after DA approval was granted by Council and then worked with consultants to develop designs, obtain the construction certificate, initiate and complete all construction work, and successfully obtain the occupation certificate. He maintained full responsibility for the value engineering, construction methodology, programming, tendering, contract drafting and negotiation, site management, budget management, variation claims management, engagement with neighbours, and more. This experience has given Mike a whole new level of understanding and appreciation of the challenges faced by developers, head contractors, subcontractors, consultants and even suppliers in the construction industry.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with Honours (1996) and a Bachelor of Laws (1998), both from the University of New South Wales.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE

Mike's experience in construction involved not only spending over 10 years early in his career working with his father on multiple residential, commercial and industrial property new-builds and renovations, but most recently (from July 2022 to May 2024), Mike project managed a medium-sized, concrete tilt-up factory in Sydney's west, carrying full responsibility for and managing all aspects of the build. Mike even taught himself to use 3D modeling software (in 3 weeks) and pre-built all aspects of the build by converting 2D plans to 3D designs to discover problem areas ahead of time and manage all the physical build details.

COMPANY

Academy Legal Pty Ltd  (ABN 70 629 180 178) Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal practitioners employed by Academy Legal are members of the scheme.

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