We were delighted to attend the Society of Construction Law’s annual dinner last week at which our managing director and founder, John Green, was recognised for his extensive contributions to the practice of construction law with an Honorary Life Membership.
John is one of New Zealand’s best known and most respected construction arbitrators, adjudicators, and mediators, having been appointed in more than 1,200 building disputes to date. He is also the founder and driving force behind the establishment and development of the Building Disputes Tribunal, the New Zealand International Arbitration Centre (NZIAC), the New Zealand Dispute Resolution Centre (NZDRC), the BuildSafe Security of Payment Scheme (BuildSafe), and the New Zealand Family Dispute Resolution Centre (FDR Centre). The SOCL’s award of an Honorary Life Membership recognises John’s contributions to the practice of construction law and dispute resolution in the construction industry, which go far and beyond simply establishing his own practice. Rather, it celebrates the contributions John has made over a period of more than 30 years including establishing the Building Disputes Tribunal, improving access to justice by designing, developing and delivering effective and cost efficient dispute resolution processes and services, supporting, training and mentoring students, colleagues and contractors alike, regularly speaking and engaging with the construction and legal sectors at seminars, conferences and workshops, establishing and providing substantial open source resources to both sectors including the highly respected quarterly journals, BuildLaw and ReSolution, and the BuildRight suite of Conditions of Contract for residential building, acting as a Weathertight Homes Adjudicator for almost 10 years, establishing the BuildSafe Security of Payment Scheme, and actively participating in and volunteering countless hours of time to various community, interest and membership groups. This has included serving two terms as Chairman of a school board of trustees, serving the Master Builders Association of which he was President,12 years as Council member of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New