Know where a head contract can catch you out

The biggest issue is usually not one dramatic clause, but a combination of terms that shift project risk onto you without being obvious at first glance. A head contract can affect when you get paid, how variations must be approved, who carries delay risk, what safety obligations sit with each party, and how easily the other side can suspend or terminate. A legal review helps identify those pressure points in the actual document before you sign, so you can decide whether to accept them, negotiate changes, or seek clarification.

We usually pay close attention to the clauses that control money, scope and project control. That often includes payment timing, set-off rights, variation procedures, programme obligations, extension of time wording, defect and warranty obligations, indemnities, insurance positions, termination rights and dispute clauses. We also look at how the contract allocates responsibility for site access, safety and coordination where relevant. The aim is to show you where the commercial risk really sits in the document you have been given, not just provide a high-level summary.

Yes. The same head contract can create very different issues depending on your role in the project. A builder may be more concerned with programme risk, liquidated damages and variation approval mechanics, while a project owner may focus on delivery control, defects and termination rights. A subcontractor stepping into a head-contract style arrangement may need close attention on pass-through obligations and payment dependencies. We review the document in light of your position and the concerns you want tested, while keeping the work centred on the contract itself.

Sometimes a template is a useful starting point, but straightforward projects can still contain difficult contract wording. A standard form may be heavily amended, or it may leave important commercial points unclear, especially around payment triggers, delay responsibility, variations and termination. The legal risk usually comes from assuming the document says what the parties intended, when the wording points somewhere else. A review helps you see whether the contract matches the deal you think you are agreeing to and whether any clauses need to be pushed back on before signing.

Timing depends on the length of the contract, how heavily amended it is, and whether there are supporting documents that need to be read with it. Once we have the contract and your instructions, we review the document, prepare written comments on the key issues, and then talk you through the main points in a follow-up call. If there are clauses you want to negotiate, we can flag suggested amendment points. If you later need broader negotiation support or ongoing assistance on the project, that would be separate from this fixed-fee review.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Head Contract Review service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.