Nik Reljic

Nik has broad front-end and back-end experience across Victoria and New South Wales, advising both principals and contractors in relation to domestic building contracts, contract administration, project delivery, and dispute resolution.

Nik is a commercially minded operator that delivers timely and strategic advice to our clients. He has more than 6 years of experience working in-house for a large volume builder, and one of Australia’s largest private greenfield land developers, and therefore has a strong understanding of our clients’ business and objectives.

Nik’s recent experience includes:

• Reviewing and negotiating domestic building contracts (HIA, MBAV and Australian Standard (construct only, and design and construct), insurance contracts, display village agreements, procurement agreements, commercial tenders, marketing collateral, internal policies and processes for builders, FIAs / consulting agreements, and early access licenses.
• Assisting with and preparing pleadings, including discovery, review of submissions, points of claim / defence, replies, drafting settlement terms, consent orders, and other documentation for filing with the tribunals and the courts.
• Preparing and reviewing NDAs, statutory declarations and affidavits.
• Drafting instructions and briefs to barristers as well as independent experts.
• Experience in dealing with state and federal industry regulator investigations and audits.
• Attending dispute resolution processes (conciliations and mediations), and hearings both at the tribunals and courts.
• Advising on tender proposal documentation for large social housing project: After tenders awarded, assisting with the negotiation of terms of an amended AS 4300 Contract for the design and construct of several properties intended for social housing.
• Townhome project with land developer: Reviewing the terms of a master building contract (AS 4902) for the design and construction of several stages of townhomes across three greenfield estates in regional Victoria.
• Reviewing and negotiating terms of a building contract for the design and construct of several detached homes over five stages.
• Reviewing and negotiating terms of a building contract for the design and construct of half a dozen detached dwellings in regional Victoria.
• Commonwealth games Victoria 2025 tender for building work: Reviewing and negotiating the AS 4300 amended contract for the design and construction of the Commonwealth Games Village.
• Reviewing and negotiating the special conditions to the general conditions of an industry approved HIA building contract for the design and construction of several dozen detached dwellings across 8 stages.
• Multi-stage medium density project with a developer: Reviewing and negotiating terms of the AS 4300 design and construct for several stages of townhomes. Also, assisting the business in project delivery with any queries about the terms of the contract, including EOTs, liquidated damages, delays, etc.
• DBDRV: Representing my client in over 40 conciliation conferences and site inspections.
• Tribunal/Courts: Representing my client at the VCAT and the NCAT in matters involving claims of breaches of contract, implied warranties, and consumer guarantees, in relation to alleged defects. Attending mediations and hearings in the County Court (Vic) and the District Court (NSW).

• Supervising lawyer at South-East Monash Legal Service