Helix for MPAQ

 

Helix is pleased to provide its services to Master Plumbers Association of Queensland members. 

Helix Legal is a multidisciplinary legal practice serving industry association members, private entities and Local and State Governments in the construction, infrastructure and mining sector. Helix was founded seven years ago with one clear idea: to service our clients by providing meaningful solutions and a better way of doing things.

Our team can provide clients with the most diverse and practical solutions without the constraints of traditional hierarchy. We understand that sometimes the solution is not the black letter law answer, and we strive beyond this to deliver real-world solutions.

Helix Legal's sister company Helix Compliance offers comprehensive contract management and administration training services that can be tailored for various stakeholders, including development managers, property investment managers, and your in-house legal team. Our services encompass a wide range of activities which can range from online modules to in-house presentations, ensuring efficient and effective contract negotiation and administration.

 

What can Helix assist you with?

Offer ongoing legal advice and support on a broad range of issues, empowering MPAQ members to make informed decisions aligned with legal best practices.

Contact:

Earl Tan 

earl@helix.legal

Provide support in resolving disputes, fostering amicable resolutions through negotiation, mediation, and legal counsel when necessary. 

Contact:

Jonathan Miliszewski

Jonathan@helix.legal

Ensure the legal integrity of contracts and agreements, including member-client contracts, partnership agreements and other relevant documents.

Contact:

Jacqui Doyle

jacqui@helix.legal

Keep members informed and guide them in adhering to the ever-evolving local, state and federal regulations impacting the industry.

Contact: 

Janelle Kerrisk and Laura King

janelle@helix,legal

laura@helix.legal

 

This can look like assistance with:

  • Due Diligence on Contracts;
  • Adjudications;
  • Project Trust Payments;
  • Advice on Suspension; 
  • Response to Contractual Notices;
  • Contract Termination;
  • Defects Advice;
  • Project Administration;
  • Project Delivery Strategy; and
  • QBCC License Applications and Assistance.

More about our solutions ...

Diligence by Helix 

Diligence by Helix empowers better contracting decisions for anyone in the building game; bringing together multiple industry-specific due diligence searches into one streamlined and powerful tool.

Find out more here.

Licensing & Regulation 

Our extensive experience working for regulators such as the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, Board of Engineers, and Board of Architects has given us a comprehensive understanding of the industry, not just from a legal perspective, but from a policy and legislative point of view.

We can help with:

  • Setting up a business to meet the Minimum Financial Requirements (MFR);
  • Education on the MFR and how it applies to a business;
  • Supporting an existing external accountant and reviewing the business structure to ensure it meets the MFR;
  • Responding to Notices of Proposed Suspension or Cancellation;
  • Tribunal proceedings involving a review of the regulator’s decision on MFR; and
  • General compliance advice.

Online Training

Helix Legal also offers Online Training Courses on many relevant construction industry topics. With more people working from home or remotely, we recognise the importance of online training resources. Helix Legal have actively produced a number of online courses that are available online for immediate purchase should you wish to start educating your team today.

SOP Online Course

Develop skills in Security of Payment to allow you and your team to make informed decisions in the management of your project. Our self-directed online course allows your team to access training anytime, anywhere from a team of industry experts.

Find out more here.

MFR Online Course 

This online course prepares you for your ongoing financial reporting obligations to the construction industry regulator, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).

Find out more here.

Dispute Resolution Team

Our teams understanding of the law and the process to achieve the best outcome makes us uniquely qualified to help you resolve any disputes concerning Security of Payment and all that stems from it. 

We can assist in Adjudications at all stages, including:

  • Payment claims;
  • Payment schedules;
  • Adjudication applications; 
  • Adjudication responses;
  • Advice on jurisdiction; 
  • Enforcement options; 
  • Injunction and appeals; 
  • In-house training;
  • Compliance with legislative changes; and
  • Setting aside improper adjudication decisions.

We often act in litigation with respect to:

  • Variations, defects, delay, termination, and calling for security;
  • Security of Payment and Court action after adjudication; and
  • Injunctions, appeals and challenges to adjudication decisions.

Projects and Procurement Team

The right contract for you is essential, and tapping into our expertise is the first step in avoiding disputes in the future. We encourage a positive partnership for a great project.

 
We can help with:
  • Advice, analysis and negotiation of contracts;
  • Tender collaboration;
  • Project delivery strategies and risk analysis;
  • Contract administration services;
  • Regulatory, legislative and commercial insight; 
  • Claim management advice and support;
  • Expertise in dispute resolution clauses; and  
  • Organisation for wide suites of procurement and contract documents.

Helix Compliance

With combined insights and skills, the Helix Compliance team offers comprehensive contract management and administration training services that can be tailored for various stakeholders, including development managers, property investment managers, and your in-house legal team. Our services encompass a wide range of activities which can range from online modules to in-house presentations, ensuring efficient and effective contract negotiation and administration.

Find out more here.

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Free Legal Advice Service for Members

Phone an Expert Service

We are pleased to offer members a free of charge 30-minute discovery call. This will allow members to reach out and seek support without any risk of incurring expense. Members can reach out and receive, plain English, legal problem-solving discovery advice for matters to gain a clear understanding of their unique problem, the options available and the recommended next steps (including estimate of potential costs) to help improve and grow your business in the long term. 

Avoiding bill shock is ingrained in the Helix DNA and our commitment is to always be upfront and clear with members.

Letter of Demand 

We are pleased to offer members free access to our solicitors' letter of demand service which includes:

  • Frequently asked questions and answers;
  • Checklist of steps for members to take;
  • Debt check and information gathering tool; and
  • Complete letter of demand.

Fixed Fee Offers

We are pleased to offer members fixed fee prices for Adjudication services for disputes under $750,000 (see here). Exclusive to MPAQ members, Helix is pleased to offer a review of payment claim validity only for just $1,500. 

We are pleased to offer members one free Diligence by Helix search per month OR subscription discounts of:

  • 5 Search Plus per month for $355 per month on a 12-month subscription; or
  • 10 Search Plus per month for $775 per month on a 12-month subscription.

We are pleased to offer MPAQ members access to our Security of Payment (SOP) and Minimum Financial Requirements (MFR) online training courses at a discounted price of $1,035.

Transparent Pricing for MPAQ Members

Helix’s way of doing business is based on utilising technology and giving absolute price transparency, which increases the ability of our lawyers to deliver favourable outcomes to your members.

As we progress to map out each phase of the work being performed, we will ALWAYS deliver your members estimates and advise when and if we expect to exceed such estimates.

We are also pleased to offer your members non-traditional pricing solutions that deviate from the traditional hourly rate model, such as:

 

Instead of charging clients based on the number of hours worked, a fixed fee is agreed upon for the entire scope of the legal service. This approach provides our clients with cost certainty.

Example:

  • We operate on a fixed fee structure when working with our major private sector Hospital Owner/Operator client.
  • When commencing each project, we present the client with a comprehensive proposal that outlines fixed fees for each project phase that can be accurately priced (such as the preparation of an amended base AS4902 contract for tender which then might move to reviewing tenderer feedback on contract terms and providing advice).
  • In cases where the work cannot be immediately priced, we proactively communicate this to the client, keeping them informed about the progress and completion of the project scope.
  • We promptly provide the client with a transparent and fair fixed-fee proposal as soon as the scope can be adequately evaluated and priced.
  • Our steadfast commitment is always to honour the fixed fee proposals we present to our clients, ensuring a relationship built on trust and reliability.

This model focuses on the value of the legal service to the client and delivers exceptional outcomes as an agreed upfront fee.

Example

  • Litigation can be difficult to navigate and the cost escalation uncommercial, we provide a plan and a fixed monthly value to advance your claim.
  • In insolvency situations we are able to assist groups of subcontractors to advance claims together through subcontractors chargers.

A retainer agreement involves an ongoing relationship between the client and Helix. The client pays a fixed amount on a regular basis, usually monthly, to retain the services of Helix Legal for a specified range of legal matters.

Example:

  • We provide ongoing legal support to a privately owned electrical and communications contracting company, specifically in relation to their head contract and subcontract negotiations.
  • Our arrangement with this client is structured as follows: the client pays a predetermined monthly retainer, and in return, we offer the following services:
    • Reviewing up to five contracts per month, as agreed upon within the scope of work.
    • Being available for calls whenever necessary to discuss project-related issues at no extra charge.
  • To ensure a successful partnership under this retainer, we began by working closely with the client to gain a thorough understanding of their existing forms and precedents. This enables us to align our work with their specific requirements. We also collaborated with the client to establish their preferred format for contract reviews upfront, ensuring that each review is presented in an easily accessible and user-friendly manner.
  • In the event that negotiation with a counter-party becomes necessary, we typically charge for these services either on an hourly basis or through a fixed fee arrangement, depending on the circumstances.
  • Our goal is to support our clients in achieving success by providing reliable and strategic legal counsel throughout their contract negotiations, ensuring that their interests are protected and potential risks are mitigated.

Our legal services are broken down into specific tasks or services, and agree a predetermined price for each task or service. This provides transparency and allows clients to choose and pay only for the services they require.

Example:

  • In certain situations, our clients require consistent legal support for contract reviews, but the volume of reviews and/or contract negotiations can vary in an unpredictable manner. As a result, a retainer agreement may not be the most suitable option.
  • To address this challenge, we have developed a tailored approach for each client, offering a "menu" of legal services with predetermined fixed prices for each specific service.
  • For example, we have established a fixed price for reviewing and providing feedback on consultancy agreements that do not exceed 20 pages and a separate fixed price for reviewing and offering feedback on an amended AS4902 contract. This approach ensures that our clients have clarity and certainty regarding the cost associated with each specific request for assistance.
  • By presenting fixed prices for distinct scopes of work, we enable our clients to accurately anticipate and plan for the financial implications of engaging our legal support. This transparent pricing structure facilitates a smooth and productive working relationship, as our clients have a clear understanding of the cost associated with each service they require.

When we do charge by hourly rates, our standard charge-out rates are:

Position Rate per hour
Principal $650
Special Counsel $610
Senior Associate $590
Associate $550
Lawyer $500
Junior Lawyer $350
Law Graduate $300
Paralegal $270
Legal Assistant/Law Clerk $250
Administration Support $250

 

Our goal is to provide our clients with a reliable and cost-effective legal solution that caters to their specific needs while promoting transparency and predictability in our working arrangement.

With respect to our Retainer Agreements and Task-Based or Menu Pricing, we are able to offer this pricing structure because we invest time in understanding our client's business and the nature of the work they require (both from a legal and commercial perspective). Initially, we engage in a "getting to know you" phase, where we dedicate effort to familiarise ourselves with your member's business and its specific needs. This process ensures the long-term success of our relationship because we gain a comprehensive understanding of the business, and members have the opportunity to communicate how they want our services to be delivered clearly. By aligning our services with MPAQ members specific requirements, we can effectively provide tailored legal assistance that meets expectations every time.

Hybrid Fee Arrangements

We also offer hybrid models combining elements of different pricing approaches, such as a mix of fixed fees and standard hourly rates pricing.

Our non-traditional legal pricing solutions aim to provide our clients flexibility, cost control, and value while encouraging efficiency and innovation within the legal industry. These models can be tailored to suit clients' specific needs and objectives and foster a more collaborative and transparent relationship between legal service providers and their clients.

Get in touch with us ...