Construction debt recovery.
Unpaid progress claims, variations and retentions — recovered through Security of Payment claims, statutory demands and, where needed, enforcement via our specialist recovery partners.
Fixed fee. Senior lawyer.
Every engagement is quoted upfront and led by a senior lawyer — never a paralegal-first pipeline.
- hello@envisionlegal.com.au
- Sydney · Melbourne · National
How we help
What we handle for you.
Concrete deliverables — not a general "advice" retainer. Each item can be scoped as a one-off fixed-fee package or bundled into a monthly counsel arrangement.
01
Letters of demand
Sharp, solicitor-signed demands that put the debtor on notice — most invoices under $50k settle at this stage without escalation costs.
02
Security of Payment claims
Payment claims, payment schedules and adjudication applications under the NSW, VIC, QLD and WA SOP Acts. Fast statutory pathway to a paid invoice.
03
Adjudication response & defence
Acting for principals and head contractors served with SOP claims — payment schedule preparation, adjudication response and jurisdictional challenge.
04
Statutory demands
For liquidated debts against a corporate debtor — 21-day pathway that either gets you paid or triggers a wind-up presumption of insolvency.
05
PPSR & security enforcement
Registration and enforcement of retention of title, purchase money security interests and general security agreements to move you up the queue in an insolvency.
06
Recovery partner enforcement
For contested matters, judgment enforcement, bankruptcy and wind-up proceedings, we brief specialist recovery firms we've worked alongside for years — one coordinated legal team, no duplicated retainers.
Who this is for
Clients we work best with.
- Subcontractors chasing unpaid claims from head contractors
- Head contractors chasing principals or developers
- Trades with retentions held past defects liability
- Suppliers exposed to a builder in financial trouble
How we work
No surprises. Ever.
Fixed fees quoted upfront. Senior lawyer on every file. Clear next steps at every stage.
01 — Brief
Send a short brief or book a 15-minute call. We'll confirm scope and what you actually need — often that's less than you think.
02 — Fixed-fee quote
You get a written scope and a fixed fee before we start. No hourly billing, no scope-creep invoices.
03 — Senior lawyer, on the tools
The lawyer you scoped with is the lawyer doing the work. We turn drafts around fast and stay reachable throughout.
FAQs
Common questions.
- What's the fastest way to recover an unpaid progress claim?
- Almost always the Security of Payment Act in your state. If the payment claim is served correctly, the principal has 10 business days (NSW) to serve a payment schedule or the full amount becomes a statutory debt. It's faster and cheaper than court — provided the paperwork is right, which is where most self-served claims come unstuck.
- Do you do no-win-no-fee?
- We don't run pure no-win-no-fee, but we do offer fixed-fee stages — letter of demand, SOP claim preparation, adjudication — so you know the cost before authorising each step. For contested enforcement work, we refer to specialist recovery partners who can structure that commercially.
- The head contractor has gone into liquidation — is my money gone?
- Often, but not always. Retention of title clauses, PPSR registrations, personal guarantees from directors and unfair-preference clawbacks can all move you up the queue. The critical step is getting advice within the first two weeks of the appointment — deadlines to lodge proofs of debt and statutory challenges close quickly.
- What's the minimum debt worth pursuing?
- Under $10k, letter of demand and small claims tribunal is usually the cap on economic recovery. Between $10k–$100k, SOP claims and statutory demands are highly cost-effective. Above $100k, full recovery strategy including PPSR, guarantees and enforcement is usually justified.
- How do the recovery partners work with you?
- You stay with us for strategy, drafting and commercial advice. When enforcement moves to court, bankruptcy or wind-up applications, we brief a specialist firm we already work alongside. You get one plan across both firms — not two separate retainers pulling in different directions.
Talk to us
Legal built for construction debt recovery..
Send us a note about what you're working on. We'll respond within one business day and, if we're a fit, book a free 15-minute consultation with a senior lawyer.