Who we work for
Meridian works with insurers, their lawyers and advisers, and property owners who need an independent forensic building opinion. Each client group needs something slightly different from a report — here is how we work with each.
Insurers
What you typically need
Independent causation and defect opinions from a consultant who spent nine years working directly for general and strata insurers — and knows what a claim decision needs.
How Meridian helps
Causation reports aligned with the ICA Use of Expert Reports standard, written by someone who understands what a claim decision needs. Scope and quotation validation. Basic Causation Reports within 5 business days of inspection; Forensic Reports within 10. Urgent reports within 3 business days.
Reports we are usually instructed for
Construction and insurance lawyers
What you typically need
An expert who understands the duty to the tribunal or court, writes to the practice note, and can be relied on in a conclave and in the witness box.
How Meridian helps
Expert reports that comply with VCAT's PNVCAT2, the Supreme Court Expert Witness Code of Conduct (Form 44A) and the Federal Court practice note (GPN-EXPT). Scott Schedules, joint reports, conclaves, and peer review of the other side's expert. Every Forensic Report and Defect Investigation report instructed by a lawyer carries the expert's declaration. Where a report is first prepared for a claim, we tell you when it should be reissued as an Expert Witness Report for proceedings.
Reports we are usually instructed for
Loss adjusters
What you typically need
A causation opinion that answers the questions in your instructions, keeps fact and opinion apart, and arrives on time.
How Meridian helps
Causation reports aligned with the ICA Use of Expert Reports standard, written by someone who spent nine years inside insurers and knows what a claim decision needs. Scope and quotation validation. Basic Causation Reports within 5 business days of inspection; Forensic Reports within 10. Urgent reports within 3 business days.
Reports we are usually instructed for
Insurance builders
What you typically need
An independent opinion that supports a claim decision or a scope, and technical backing when a customer or a subcontractor disputes it.
How Meridian helps
Independent causation and defect opinions that support claim decisions and scopes. Repair methodology, including options, sequencing, hold points and verification. Technical support in disputes with customers or subcontractors. Because we don't do repair work, our opinion stands apart from the commercial question.
Reports we are usually instructed for
Owners corporations and strata managers
What you typically need
A clear answer on whether damage sits in lot or common property, whether it is damage or maintenance, and who is responsible for repair.
How Meridian helps
Strata Forensic Reports that address lot and common property boundaries, by-laws and repair responsibility under the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (Vic), with causation and defects investigated to the same standard as our insurance work.
Reports we are usually instructed for
Property owners
What you typically need
An independent, plain-English report on what is wrong with your building, what caused it and what the standards require, that will stand up in a dispute.
How Meridian helps
Defect investigations and reports for building disputes — including at VCAT — with findings set out defect by defect against the NCC, Australian Standards, the Guide to Standards and Tolerances. We explain the process and the cost before you instruct us. For private clients, a 50% deposit is payable on instruction, with the balance due before the report is released.
Reports we are usually instructed for
The same report, whoever instructs us
Meridian is instructed by parties on every side of a claim or dispute. The opinion does not change with the instructing party. Our fees never depend on the outcome, we check every instruction for conflicts of interest, and in tribunal and court matters our overriding duty is to the tribunal or court.
Instruct Meridian
Call Lee on 0400 071 933 or send the names of the parties and the property address. We'll confirm within one business day that we can act, and the fee.