Patrick Mead

Patrick provides expert advice and Litigation and Dispute Resolution services to clients in the areas of Construction and Infrastructure, Project Insurance (Contract Works and Construction Liability), First Party Insurance (Property, ISR, Strata), Professional Indemnity, and Environmental Liability. His practice embraces all aspects of these areas, including contract advice, litigation and management of claims involving issues such as defective work, negligence, trade practices, quantum meruit, programming, delay cost, extensions of time, variations and liquidated damages. He also has extensive experience in Class Actions relating to a variety of industry sectors, particularly on coverage for insurers.

Patrick acts for clients nationally and internationally, in disputes and arbitrations and is a Fellow of the Resolution Institute of Australia. Patrick is a graded arbitrator and an accredited mediator, and is a Registered Adjudicator under the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld) (formerly BCIPA).

Patrick sits as co-chair on the international TAGLaw Construction Specialty Group. He is a regular contributor of articles and presentations nationally and internationally in the areas of construction, insurance and risk management.

Patrick is the author of the leading text ‘Construction Insurance in Australia’ (Lexis Nexis 2026), the only publication specifically directed to this subject matter in this country.

In 2025, Patrick was announced as Lawyers Weekly’s Construction & Infrastructure Partner of the Year for the third time after first winning the award in 2020. He was also named 2021 Lawyers Weekly Dispute Resolution Partner of the Year. In 2024 and 2019 he was awarded Lawyers Weekly Litigation Partner of the Year. Patrick was also named ADR Practitioner of the Year at the Australian ADR Awards 2019.

Patrick has been recognised as a Leading Queensland Construction & Infrastructure Litigation Lawyer and a Leading Queensland Professional Indemnity Lawyer by Doyle’s Guide. Patrick has been ranked in Best Lawyers in Australia 2016 – 2026 in the areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Construction/Infrastructure Law and Insurance Law.

Patrick has been named in the Chambers Asia-Pacific listing for Insurance – Australia from 2020 – 2025 which confirms his extensive knowledge of construction insurance policies.

Patrick is a member of the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA), the Building Dispute Practitioners Society (Victorian Chapter) and the Society of Construction Law Australia (SoCLA).

Recent Reported Case Successes of Which Patrick Has Had Conduct:

• Seymour Whyte Construction Pty Ltd v Liberty Mutual Insurance Co t/as Liberty Specialty Markets [2025] NSWSC 1597/ [2026] NSWSC 281 [No 1 and No 2 respectively]  (Success for the insurer defending its declinature under a policy of contractor’s pollution liability insurance).
• AIG Australia Ltd v Sudale [2022] QCA 160 (QCA confirming that a notice of non party disclosure served AIG did not waive privilege in prior legal advice provided);
• Rodriguez & Sons Pty Ltd v Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority t/as Seqwater  [2022] HCA Trans 61 (Associating in the defence: Application for Special Leave to the High Court refused);
• Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority (t/as Seqwater) v Rodriguez & Sons Pty Ltd (2021) 393 ALR 162 (Associating in the defence: NSWCA overturned first instance judgement against Seqwater);
• Landel Pty Ltd & Anor v Insurance Australia Ltd [2021] QSC 247 (Successful reliance on an insurance policy exclusion for flood based on the wording “water overflowing…”);
• Wiesac Pty Ltd v Insurance Australia Ltd [2019] 1 Qd R 198 (Successful reliance on an insurance policy exclusion for flood based on the wording “water escaped or released…”).

Notable Construction Industry Case Successes of Which Patrick Has Had Conduct:

• James Hardie Building Systems v Epoca Constructions (QSC) (1999) 15 BCL 199 (Subcontractors Charges Act – establishing that a charge could only be made for a ‘debt’);
• Boral Formwork & Scaffolding Pty Ltd v Action Makers Ltd (2003) ATPR 41-953 (First ever invocation of S 51 AC of the then TPA in circumstances outside of Amadio “Special Disability” to injunct a call on an unconditional security) – Significant for its impact on the ‘Autonomy Principle’).
• BMD Major Projects Pty Ltd v Victorian Urban Development Authority [2009] VSCA 221 (Success at first instance and on appeal in a latent condition claim against the former Docklands Authority – Clarifying what constitutes a ‘reasonably competent contractor’)
• RCR O’Donnell Griffin Pty Ltd v Forge Group Power Ltd (Receivers and Managers Appointed (in liq) [2016] QCA 214 (QCA reversed decision at first instance, and granted injunctive relief in favour of RCR O’Donnell Griffin restraining a call on unconditional bank guarantees – An important decision in relation to accrued rights)