Law Reform & International Building Regulatory Development
Building Regulation and Policy Design Expertise
Lovegrove & Cotton Construction Lawyers` law reform advisory division comprises experts with a 30-year track record in building regulatory transformation.
Our team includes internationally recognised experts who have been engaged to date and continuing to develop holistic building control systems that enhance consumer protection, improve construction efficiency, and streamline building permit delivery.
Our people have been retained by governments and multi – jurisdictional agencies across multiple jurisdictions.
Law Reform Division Leadership
Our Law Reform Division is led by Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove MSE RML, a globally recognised authority in building regulation (admitted to legal practice in NZ). He is supported by Ziggy Lovegrove, a construction lawyer (admitted to legal practice in Australia), Practice Manager, and Secretary of the IBQC Dispute Resolution Committee
Professor Lovegrove holds current adjunct/conjoint professorial appointments at:
- University of Canberra.
- Southern Cross University.
- University of Western Sydney.
- University of Tasmania.
He is also a past Conjoint Professor at the University of Newcastle and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate in Letters from Western Sydney University.
Legislative Reform Track Record
Professor Lovegrove has played a leading role in major reforms, including:
- Instructing Officer to the Victorian Government – Building Act 1993.
- Policy Advisor – NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979).
- Current Advisor – MBIE (New Zealand) on liability reform to their Building Act.
- Contributor – Japanese Building Standard Law reform think tanks.
He was Project Director of the National Model Building Act, adopted in Victoria and the Northern Territory. He has also served as Senior Consultant to the World Bank (India, China, Malawi, Southern Africa) and helped design:
- Balanced liability and insurance models.
- Compulsory insurance and consumer protections.
- Practitioner licensing and registration systems.
- The design of complete holistic acts of parliament.
One example is Best Practice Construction Dispute Resolution Design
Ziggy Lovegrove leads the firm’s dispute resolution law reform initiatives. Under the auspices of the IBQC, she has participated in the design of building regulatory systems guidelines for both developed and emerging economies, with a focus on contextualisation — tailoring frameworks to local institutional, legal, and cultural conditions.
Key features include:
- Early-stage mediation pathways.
- Culturally relevant dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Practical, enforceable solutions accessible to all parties.
Ziggy is also currently assisting the Lovegrove & Cotton team with the development of liability reform options to the New Zealand Building Act for the New Zealand government.
Global Leadership in Regulatory System Development
Members of our team have led teams that have designed :
- Sustainable permit systems that reduce delay and cost.
- Balanced enforcement models.
- Reform templates adopted internationally.
Professor Lovegrove also chairs the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC), a global coalition advancing best practice building regulation.
Reform Implementation and Lasting Impact
One of our founder’s most influential projects in which capacity he was the project director was the Australian National Model Building Act, which delivered:
- Streamlined building permit delivery systems.
- A fair liability and insurance framework.
- Fast-track dispute resolution.
- A professional licensing regime.
These reforms continue to influence building law across several jurisdictions not limited to Australia.
Government and International Engagements
Members of our team have at various times been retained for law reform projects by the :
- Victorian Government.
- NSW Government.
- Australian Uniform Building Regulatory Coordinating Council.
- Japanese Government.
- World Bank – China, India, Malawi, Southern Africa.
- New Zealand Government (MBIE).
Why Governments Engage Lovegrove & Cotton
We have people
- With decades of experience in building law reform.
- Who are experts in holistic building control system design.
- With proven outcomes in building permit delivery, liability and insurance.
- That are leaders in design of contextualised dispute resolution systems.
- That are trusted by governments and multilateral institutions to do work of state and national significance.
Selected Project Highlights
- Building Act 1993 (Victoria) drafting instructing officer.
- National Model Building Act (Australia) Kim Lovegrove project director.
- Building Standard Law think tank review work in Japan.
- Building Act review in Malawi for the World Bank.
- Best Practice Regulatory frameworks advice in India and China through the World Bank.
Future-Focused Regulatory Design
Governments are navigating:
- Complex liability systems.
- The shift to risk-based compliance.
- Global harmonisation in regulation.
Lovegrove & Cotton is expert in creating future-ready building control systems that ensure legal clarity, efficiency, enforceability, and strong consumer safeguards.
Contact Us
Kim Lovegrove
Ziggy Lovegrove