Podcast: Coffee with CGW – Get to know Vanessa Thompson

The Court of Appeal of the NSW Supreme Court has found that emailing a link to documents stored in an online repository did not constitute valid service under the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA), and that strict compliance with the Act’s one-business-day service requirement was necessary to establish jurisdiction.

The New South Wales Government has introduced Decennial Liability Insurance (DLI), a groundbreaking 10-year no-fault insurance policy for new apartment buildings that guarantees protection against serious defects even if developers or builders become insolvent. This legislative reform, passed through the Fair Trading and Building Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, fundamentally changes how apartment owners are protected from structural failures and serious defects.

Easements present significant challenges in property development, from securing third-party consent for infrastructure connections to navigating strict statutory requirements under Queensland's Planning and Building Acts. Understanding when easement holder consent is mandatory, what legal remedies exist when landowners refuse cooperation, and how approval conditions requiring new easements can create project uncertainty is essential for developers navigating these complex property rights.

Directors who sign retail leases on behalf of company tenants often provide personal guarantees without fully understanding the scope of their liability. This liability can extend far beyond unpaid rent to include outgoings, interest, make-good costs, and enforcement expenses, persisting even after resignation or business sale. Understanding the distinction between guarantees and indemnities, and knowing when statutory protections may apply, is essential for directors seeking to limit their personal exposur

When can a commercial landlord in Queensland legally terminate a lease, and what procedural requirements must be followed? Understanding the distinction between a tenant's breach and the landlord's right to re-enter is critical, as non-compliance with the Property Law Act 2023 can invalidate termination attempts and expose landlords to legal risk.

Recent NSW court decisions are establishing new protections for residential owner-occupiers under the Security of Payment Act, with judges granting stays on enforcement where contractors pose insolvency risks. These rulings recognize that residential owners face fundamentally different risks than commercial parties, cushioning the impact of legislation originally designed for business-to-business construction disputes.

Special counsel Mark Cowan shares his journey to Cooper Grace Ward after nearly two decades in property, planning and environment law, discussing what attracted him to the firm's collaborative culture. The conversation explores how planning and environment law has transformed into a dynamic field spanning urban development, renewables, infrastructure, agriculture and mining, while examining the persistent challenge of delivering infrastructure efficiently amid shifting government policies.

From October 2026, all new and returning strata committee members in New South Wales will be required to complete mandatory online training within three months of their appointment...

Australia’s social and affordable housing agenda is no longer constrained by policy intent alone – it is increasingly defined by how capital, risk and delivery are structured across the system. While funding has expanded, it remains finite, and will not, on its own, sustain delivery at the scale required. The central challenge is whether the system is configured to deploy that capital effectively, or whether structural barriers will continue to constrain supply.

An NCAT decision demonstrates how chronic maintenance failures by owners corporations can result in substantial costs orders, even without damages awards. The case clarifies when lot owners can be quarantined from contributing to legal costs and establishes clear responsibilities for identifying and delineating repair obligations in strata schemes.