Variations & Claims

Turn project change into a properly supported commercial entitlement.

Practical support for identifying, preparing, substantiating, assessing and negotiating construction variations and claims for principal contractors and subcontractors in Brisbane and across Queensland.

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Protect entitlement

A valid commercial position needs more than a variation spreadsheet.

Construction projects change constantly. The commercial outcome often depends on whether the change was identified early, the correct contractual process was followed and the resulting time and cost consequences can be demonstrated.

LMA assists contractors to connect the contract, the instruction or event, the project records and the claimed quantum into a clear and supportable commercial position.

Support can range from reviewing a single rejected variation through to establishing and managing the claims position across a project or final account.

How LMA can assist

From initial notice through to commercial resolution.

Variation identificationIdentify changes, directions, scope growth and other events that may give rise to additional entitlement.

Contractual entitlementReview the relevant contract provisions, notice requirements, direction mechanisms and valuation rules supporting the claim.

Notices & correspondencePrepare clear contractual notices and correspondence that preserve the position and establish the factual basis of the claim.

Claim preparationStructure claims so the contractual basis, cause, effect, evidence and amount claimed can be understood and assessed.

Pricing & quantum supportReview rates, build-ups, labour, plant, materials, subcontract costs, preliminaries and other relevant cost components.

Records & substantiationIdentify and organise directions, diaries, correspondence, programmes, dockets, invoices, timesheets and other supporting records.

Claim response assessmentReview rejected, reduced or disputed claims and identify the contractual and evidentiary issues that need to be addressed.

Negotiation & settlementDevelop the commercial position, priorities and supporting material required for effective negotiation and final account resolution.

Common situations

When variation and claims support can add value.

work has been directed but the variation has not been formally approved;
scope has changed progressively and entitlement is becoming difficult to track;
a claim has been rejected or substantially reduced;
the parties disagree about whether work is included in the original scope;
notice or substantiation requirements are being relied upon to resist payment;
the claimed value does not align with the principal's or contractor's assessment;
multiple unresolved variations are affecting cash flow and project reporting;
a final account requires consolidation, substantiation and negotiation; or
management wants an independent assessment before escalating a commercial issue.

LMA approach

Entitlement. Evidence. Quantum. Strategy.

Strong claims connect the contractual right to the actual project event and its demonstrated commercial effect.

LMA works through the relevant contract, directions, correspondence, project records and cost information to establish a coherent position. Weaknesses are identified early so they can be addressed before the claim becomes entrenched in a dispute.

The objective is not simply to produce more correspondence. It is to establish the strongest commercially supportable position and create a practical path toward recovery.

Related support

Claims often involve time, administration and broader contractual issues.

Brisbane & Queensland

Have a rejected variation, unresolved claim or final account issue?

LMA can review the position, identify the key entitlement and substantiation issues and help establish a practical recovery strategy.

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