CDI LAWYERS BUILDS ITS PORTFOLIO

CDI LAWYERS opened its doors in January 2015 and has already built its specialist construction, development and infrastructure law firm from a team of 12 to 22.

Led by former national head of construction at Holding Redlich Stephen Pyman (pictured below), CDI Lawyers most recently celebrated being retained on a number of new projects by developer Flynn Property Group.

The projects include the five star Pullman Brisbane Airport Hotel, the 3.5 star Ibis Brisbane Airport Hotel and the Brisbane Airport Conference Centre.

Pyman says the firm was established to fill a gap in the market to offer clients greater expertise at a lower cost with a high level of service in a more direct and approachable way.

"The growth from 12 staff to 22 in two months is due to our specialisation and ability to prioritise projects and as a result we have been retained on four out of five hotels currently being constructed in Brisbane," says Pyman, who has specialised in construction law for more than 25 years.

"We had been involved in drawing the tender documentation (for the above projects), negotiating the building contract, negotiating the consultant agreements and we will be retained during the construction period."

The 10 storey Pullman Brisbane Airport Hotel will have 130 rooms, while the nine storey Ibis Brisbane Airport Hotel will have 243 rooms. The Brisbane Airport Conference Centre will be able to host 600 delegates, as well as contain 13 conference and meeting rooms along with related facilities including a 300 seat ballroom.

With site preparation and major works due to start in May 2015, construction will continue through to April 2017 and is expected to create an estimated 1000 jobs during this time.

Other hotel projects CDI is working on include the new Emporium Hotel at Southbank developed by the Anthony John Group, the Capri Hotel in Albert St constructed by Hutchinson Builders, Australia Fair Shopping Centre on the Gold Coast, Toowong Village Shopping Centre, the Fiji airport upgrade and Oasis Shopping Centre Northern Territory.

Along with Pyman, founding partners include Gareth Rogers of Holding Redlich and former Norton Rose Fulbright senior associate Josh Kemp.

Moving forward, Pyman wants to work at retaining lawyers that are passionate about construction law and recruit and train the next level of leaders.

"I think the most successful law firms in the future are those that are going to train the next level of leaders that are distinct from the next level of lawyers," he says.