Edward Samo is a lawyer – with over 43 years experience in the building industry working as an architect, project manager and lawyer resolving disputes. Ed is also an Adjudicator accredited under the Security of Payment Act, and a Mediator at VCAT and on the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria’s SLEM (Single List of External Mediators).
Ed went to the Building Commission in July 2002 from a national law firm to set up and manage the Dispute Resolution Unit (DRU), and was at the Commission for approximately 5½ years. This system morphed into the current DBDRV process. Ed left in early December 2007 returning to practise law and consulting in construction law.
Ed was also responsible for delivering the new Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2007, a document widely used in the resolving and reducing disputes in the domestic building industry in Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania.
Ed is the Principal of Samo Lawyers specialising in building disputes. Ed has also been a Mediator at VCAT since 2009 and is on the Panel of Lawyers of HIA and MBAV.
Ed has been involved in judging the Master Builders Victoria Regional Building Awards for 4 years, and the State Excellence in Housing and Excellence in Construction overall winners for 3 years.