Special feature – Justin Cotton, Director, Lovegrove & Cotton: 20 years – 2 Decades of Construction Lawyering
I remember interviewing Justin in our King Street offices back in August of 2002, the 18th to be precise, as if it was yesterday. Justin was fresh off the plane from our home town Auckland, New Zealand. We connected the dots: both studied law at Auckland Uni; we hailed from the balmy seaside suburbs; were (and still are) All Black supporters enjoying a mutuality of high regard for good Australian shirazzes.
In keeping with the “it’s a small world” metaphor, he revealed that I had taught his younger brother, at Bucklands Beach Intermediate whilst studying law; I remember saying what were the odds? We exchanged fond memories and anecdotes of some of our favourite teachers. The teachers in the early eighties were often seen sporting knee length shorts, long socks and winter cardigans. We reminisced over one particular multi-talented guitar playing teacher who used to perform a stirring rendition of Harry Belafontes` Banana Boat Song .. ‘Dayo, daaaayo, daily light come my way I wanna go home’ to the kids in the music session.
Justin got the job. 20 years on, I can say: what you saw was what you got. Straightforward, capable and affable. In keeping with his qualification in journalism, he had an economy and efficiency of language that was well suited to construction law parlance. His narrative was complemented by a great turn of phrase, and I always loved reading his advices and insightful articles. (If you haven’t had occasion to read some of his construction law musings ‘do yourself a favour’ and log into our e-Library).
Justin`s been with Lovegrove and Cotton and its earlier incarnations for just shy of 2 decades, save for an 18 month stint at another law firm a decade or so ago. Two of the most significant moments of my professional life were facilitating his joining the firm, and his affording me the fortuity of accepting the partnership offer when he came back to the practice. Justin has now been on the letterhead for more than a decade.
Mr Cotton is a pillar of the firm and a natural construction lawyer from the get go. He went on to become a very experienced and revered construction lawyer on the Eastern Seaboard, possessing outstanding construction and planning law knowledge. I say this descriptively and objectively. Having been a partner at two large law firms in my earlier years, and having founded the original incarnation of this firm, Lovegrove Solicitors in 1993, my descriptors are experientially and evidentially based. I have been afforded the good grace of knowing a great many outstanding construction lawyers within our firm and throughout the profession and can attest to the fact that Justin is up there with the best of the best.
He`s also a very nice man, a kind soul who always has more than a few dollars in his pocket for our more vulnerable brothers and sisters on the street. Unwavering in the firm’s support of the HIV NGO Hope For Children Ethiopia and in our underwriting of their in-house lawyer for many years. He has served and chaired the HIA Industrial Relations and Legal Services Committee for some years now – a position that he is very proud of and takes very seriously.
Justin afforded me a lot of support when I was Ethiopian Honorary Consul to Victoria. He never for a second shied away from supporting any of the firms’ altruistic initiatives, be it the aforementioned or pro-bono staff resourcing of IBQC initiatives.
Thank you Justin for your support and your loyalty that goes way back. You’re a Champ, Champ.
By Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove MSE RML
