2025 is nearly over and as we look ahead to Xmas and hopefully a break for all

2025 is nearly over and as we look ahead to Xmas and hopefully a break for all…

I start thinking what defined 2025 and what’s to come in:

• Law;
• Insurance; and
• Building.

Here’s my top ten picks

1. Big domestic building law changes!

Plus, 2026 will be the rise of rectification orders and reviews by VCAT…

BUT will it make a difference? I am afraid that without the resources it’s just shuffling the cards folks…

Sorry pessimistic on numero uno!

2. Insurance - specifically denied domestic home insurance claims…

NEVER have I ever seen so many wear and tear, building defect denials on the back of ‘preferred builder’ reports…

3. Sorry for the misery but another negative one is - the ‘Victorian Economy’ OR perhaps the lack thereof.

I am no economist but Anecdotally…

• 30 unfair dismissal disputes crossing my desk in recent weeks Guys, I am not even a core employment litigator; and

• Debt collection! Cases everywhere. Again - not our field but a reflection of the economy!

5. Insurance, specifically PI. Well here goes!

I predict a mass increase in premiums for building professionals.

More multi party cases AND More respondents means more legal costs meaning one thing - more premiums for building professionals.

6. OC disputes: I think I have seen more defective balconies than builds this year plus car parks, water ingress, cladding, and you named it - more claims for defective building works!

I see no change in sight for VCAT volumes despite the new laws. How can BPC resolve complex OC disputes…?

7. Lawyers retiring: So many in the law retiring, with the ageing population and the need for experienced professionals…

The questions is up to us as practitioners and firm owners to give these practitioners an environment to continue assisting their clients.

8. New Zealand 🇳🇿: Good News!

We welcome to the proportionate liability environment our kiwi neighbours.

We know you’ve been left out…until now. Now you’re a part of the club too, so mark your calendars for:

• You guessed it…
• skyrocketing insurance premiums!

Welcome to the club… what took you so long?

9. Second last but not least people wanting to sue their lawyer. Many might say more good news

This is not a new one, but I see so many dissatisfied clients but with baseless claims.

Yep we turn away more of these cases than any other…In 2025 we saw more lawyers charging flat and capped fees. Expect more of this in 2026 and maybe even less grounds for costs disputes….

10. And last, but not least has to be:

INSOLVENCY!

Maybe 2025 was even the year of insolvency!

Everywhere I look it’s liquidation, external admin, creditors, DBI, S601AG, trying to find the money from the ashes…

Anyway, that’s my list and picks for 2025 and into 2026.

This article is a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Tagged as:

• building disputes
• legal practice