VALENTINA O'REGAN
FOUNDER | DIRECTOR | PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR
ABOUT
VALENTINA O'REGAN
Valentina established Valorum Law Group in 2019 after working in senior positions in top tier global law firms, ASX-listed companies, independent public and government organisations.
As a commercial and construction law expert with over 17 years experience, she provides strategic and pragmatic advice to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
Valentina has acted for a broad range of commercial and construction industry participants and independent public and government organisations, including private financial and freight companies, contractors, owners and developers such as Patrick Stevedores, ADCO Constructions, Boral, Laing O'Rourke, Mega-Top Cargo, Leonite Capital, Northwest Rapid Transit System SJV, Signal Energy Australia, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.
Valentina has gained a wealth of experience, including from running complex litigation, and drafting, negotiating and managing commercial and construction contracts worth up to $5 billion.
With extensive public speaking experience on legal issues, Valentina has presented on construction and commercial-related law for the Law Societies of New South Wales and Newcastle, and her clients., She has also lectured at the University of Technology Sydney on Building and Construction Law.
Valentina's clients span across Australia and internationally (including the United States).
Her areas of expertise include:
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Drafting and negotiating construction and related contracts, commercial leases, licenses, shareholders agreements, joint ventures, partnerships and franchising agreements
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Reviewing and analysing construction and related contracts, and commercial contracts, and advising on risk mitigation
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Advising on the interpretation of contractual terms and issues, and state and federal legislation
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Advising to ensure compliance with the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW)
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Advising and acting for applicants and respondents in the preparation of payment claims, payment schedules and the adjudication process under security of payment legislation across Australia
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Representing clients in complex litigation in a variety of jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the New South Wales Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Queensland, the Federal Court of Australia, the District Court of New South Wales, the District Court of Queensland, the Local Court of New South Wales, and the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal
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Advising clients on all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, expert determination and mediation
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Advising clients in employment matters including drafting employment agreements for companies, and representing companies and private clients in unfair dismissal and adverse action proceedings
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Advising and representing clients on strata-related matters
QUALIFICATIONS
2013-2016
The University of Melbourne
Master of Construction Law (Hons) (LLM)
Exchange program at the University of Cambridge
2005-2007
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
The University of Sydney
2001-2004
The University of Sydney
Bachelor of Resource Economics (Hons)
ACCOLADES
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Minter Ellison Prize in Construction Risk Allocation & Insurance (LLM)
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Bruce Davison Prize in Resource Economics
VALENTINA’S HIGHLIGHTS
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Drafting and negotiating infrastructure construction contracts and consultant contracts for Patrick Stevedores’ $120 million Sydney AutoStrad Botany Rail Expansion Project
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Acting for Laing O’Rourke in respect of the Ichthys LNG Project dispute valued at $1 billion as in-house counsel
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Drafting and negotiating construction contracts for the University of Technology Sydney’s $1.4 billion Campus Master Plan including D&C, managing contractor, minor works and lump sum contracts, and consultancy agreements
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Managing the dispute relating to the crane fire at the University of Technology Sydney and the subsequent NSW Coronial Inquest in 2014/2015
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Drafting and negotiating SPV/JV agreements, construction contracts, development agreements, leases and licences for the University of Technology Sydney & Australian Rugby Union Development Centre at Moore Park valued at $70 million, including facilitating consent from the NSW Minister of Sport
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Advice on the use of cladding materials (combustible building elements) for the University of Sydney
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Defending NSW Supreme Court proceedings relating to a statutory demand for a $600,000 debt owed to a company
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Defending NSW Supreme Court proceedings relating to a joint venture/partnership dispute concerning multi-million-dollar properties, and prosecuting a multi-million-dollar cross claim for a private developer
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Prosecuting NSW Supreme Court judicial review proceedings of an adjudication determination for $500,000 awarded against a developer
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Prosecuting summary judgments under Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) for a $19 million dispute in respect of a solar farm project in the NSW Supreme Court and a $5 million payment dispute concerning the Sydney Metro Project in the NSW Supreme Court
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Prosecuting a $45 million defects dispute for the private developer of ‘the Ivy’
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Prosecuting and defending NCAT proceedings relating to residential building disputes valued up to $500,000
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Preparation of adjudication applications and responses pursuant to security of payment legislation in NSW, Queensland and Victoria
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Prosecuting and defending employment disputes for employers and employees in the Fair Work Commission, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
OUR CLIENTS
