STRATEGIC AND
TECHNICAL
LEGAL ADVICE
Barbara Saegers is a construction, infrastructure and engineering disputes specialist with over 12 years of litigation experience gained while working in top-tier law firms.
The focus of Barbara's practice is to provide sound, practical and commercially-driven advice to those consultants who are engaged as the Engineer to the Contract or the Contract Administrator.
Such consultants require independent legal advice as and when they are required to make unbiased decisions under the construction contract. Barbara provides this advice to the Engineer, independent of the Principal and the Contractor.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
COMPLEX & HIGH VALUE PROJECTS
Barbara is proficient at working on complex, high value and multi-party disputes, and in working on projects that involve cost, quality and delay issues.
Throughout her career, Barbara has become skilled at working with a wide range of construction documents. These include the various standard-form construction contracts, and she has particular familiarity with NZS 3910.
Barbara's expertise includes an understanding of various construction-related issues such as defects, design responsibility, variations, extensions of time, delay and disruption, prolongation, liquidated damages, payment claims and schedules, and the final account.
With strong industry knowledge, Barbara is mindful of the wide-ranging accountabilities of the parties involved. Balancing the minimisation of risk with the need to be pragmatic and achieving successful commercial outcomes is at the heart of Barbara's practice.
EXPERIENCE
Barbara has acted for principals, consultants, contractors, subcontractors and territorial authorities, both in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Her experience has involved a wide range of construction, infrastructure and engineering cases, including those referred to arbitration, adjudication under the Construction Contracts Act and using the Building Disputes Tribunal, the New Zealand High and District Courts and the Technology and Construction Court (UK).
Barbara has acted for clients using alternative dispute resolution processes such as judicial settlement conferences, mediations and settlement using the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service.
She has extensive experience in dispute avoidance, negotiation and strategy development, and her focus is to manage and resolve disputes as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
CAREER HISTORY
2002 – 2005 Kensington Swan, Auckland
2005 – 2008 Burges Salmon LLP, Bristol
2008 – 2017 Buddle Findlay, Christchurch
2018 Sole Practitioner
QUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
University of Canterbury, LLB/BA, 2001
Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, 2002
Solicitor in England and Wales, 2006
Member of the Society of Construction Law
