Roland is a commercial litigation and construction specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He brings a strategic and pragmatic approach to his work, focusing on achieving favourable commercial outcomes for his clients. Roland has a strong private practice background, having held several senior roles at mid-tier and boutique firms, including partner at Norton Gledhill (now Piper Alderman), partner at Mills Oakley, and principal at Macpherson + Kelley.
Roland is an active member of the Civil Contractors Federation and advises and represents civil contractors and civil engineers in contract, insurance and regulatory matters. Roland regularly presents to industry on current legal issues.
Roland is based in Melbourne.
Expertise
Experienced in all types of commercial disputes and litigation, with particular interest in the following areas:
Construction
- Civil construction
- Commercial and domestic construction
- Claims under Building & Construction Industry (Security of Payments) Act 2002 (Vic)
- Contract disputes
- Insurance claims
- Occupational health and safety (including Worksafe prosecutions)
- Environmental protection (including EPA prosecutions)
- Professional negligence
- Preparing tailored standard form construction contracts
Subdivisions/owners corporations
- Flammable cladding on high rise apartment buildings
- Water ingress
- Structural defects
Land/real estate
- Commercial and retail leases
- Contracts to buy and sell land
- Off-the-plan contracts
- Crown land
- Adverse possession
- Boundaries and fences
Corporations
- Company disputes
- Shareholder remedies
- Directors’ duties
Trade
- Sale of goods and services
- Consumer protection
Estates
- Estate disputes
- Testator’s family maintenance claims.
Recognition
Roland qualified at Melbourne University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws in 1988. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1989, entered on the roll of practitioners in the High Court of Australia in 1989, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1994
Accreditation
- Accredited as a mediator by the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia since 2010
- Accredited as a specialist in commercial litigation by the Law Institute of Victoria since 2014
Memberships
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Society of Construction Law (Australia)
- Civil Contractors Federation
Career
| 2018 | Keypoint Law | Consulting Principal |
| 2013 – 2018 | McKean Park | Partner |
| 2010 – 2013 | Macpherson Kelley | Principal |
| 2008 – 2010 | Mills Oakley | Partner |
| 1999 – 2008 | Norton Gledhill (now Piper Alderman) | Partner (2001 – 2008) |
| 1990 – 1999 | Middletons (now K&L Gates) | Lawyer |
| 1988 – 1990 | Wisewould Schilling |