Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove RML MSE

Founder

Kim Lovegrove MSE, RML is the founder of Lovegrove & Cotton Lawyers, originally established as Lovegrove Solicitors in 1993. Kim completed his law degree at Auckland University and his Diploma in Teaching at Auckland Teachers Training College, transitioning from a teaching career into law. He has lived and worked in both Auckland and Wellington, and has contributed significantly to the development of construction law and building regulation abroad.

Kim currently serves as the Chairman of the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC), continuing his commitment to promoting global best practices in building regulation.

Law Reform Expertise

Pioneering Contributions to Building Law
Kim led the development of the National Model Building Act (NMBA), a landmark framework that became the template for building regulation in several jurisdictions.

As a principal adviser to the Victorian Government, he played a critical role in developing the Building Act 1993, one of the most significant building reforms in Australian history.

Global Influence

Retained by the World Bank as a senior law reform consultant, Kim has advised on building regulation and control systems in:

  • India: Mumbai and New Delhi.
  • China: Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chongqing.
  • Malawi (Southern Africa): Establishing foundational building control frameworks.
  • Engaged by the Japanese Government to participate in think tanks for the reform of Japan’s Building Standard Law.
  • Industry Leadership and Public Speaking
  • Past President of the NZIOB

Kim served as the President of the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB), further establishing his prominence in the construction and building sectors.

Government Leadership Roles

  • Assistant Director of Building Control, Victoria: Contributed to the development and implementation of the Building Act 1993.
  • Deputy Executive Director of the ABCB: Led initiatives in building regulatory reforms at a national level.
  • Chairman of the Victorian Building Practitioners Board: Oversaw the regulation and registration of building practitioners.

Honours & Awards

Awarded The Royal Medal of the Lion (2017) by Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie for humanitarian contributions in Ethiopia, including the sponsorship of legal services for underprivileged communities.

Received the Order of the Star of Ethiopia (2019), an honorary chevalier for his service as Honorary Consul for Ethiopia.

Will be conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Letters for services to construction law in June 2025.

Has 4 concurrent adjunct professorships at 4 separate universities.

Publications and Thought Leadership

Authored or co-authored over 15 books on construction law and building regulation.

  • Former legal columnist for The Australian, Herald Sun, and The Age.
  • Regular contributor to Sourceable, with over 3 million reads of his articles on construction law.

High Level Expertise

Design of Building Regulation
Kim is a global authority on designing effective building regulation systems, focusing on:

  • Holistic Building Control Regimes: Ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency.
  • Building Permit Delivery Systems: Best practice models for timely approvals. Mandatory Licensing and Registration: Regulating practitioners to protect consumers.
  • Proportionate Liability Systems: Ensuring equitable accountability.
  • Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: Cost-effective and efficient systems for construction disputes

Key Law Reform Retainers

Kim has advised governments and international bodies on transformative law reforms, including:

  • Developing the National Model Building Act for the Australian Uniform Regulatory Coordinating Council.
  • Advising the Victorian Government on the Building Act 1993.
  • Consulting for the New South Wales Government on reforms to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
  • Representing Australia in a Japanese law reform think tank, providing expertise on international building standards.
  • Retained by the World Bank for law reform projects in India, China, and Africa.
  • Currently engaged by MBIE on liability reform options to the NZ Building Act.