On October 6, 2023, I will be on the panel “Trying Large Construction Disputes,” to be presented during The Seminar Group’s 30th Annual Washington Construction Law conference on October 5 and 6, 2023, in Seattle or online. Intended for anyone who practices construction law, desires to practice construction law, or is confronted with matters involving
Construction Law Updates, Public Works Issues, and Judicial Perspectives on Litigation in an Evolving Courtroom
On June 10, I will be co-chairing and my colleague Colm Nelson will be a panelist during the annual mid-year WSBA Construction Law Section CLE. This program is a full-day webinar presented by the WSBA in partnership with Stoel Rives and will cover construction law updates, public works issues, and judicial perspectives on litigation in
Looking Back — and Ahead — After Two Years of a Pandemic
In my column for the Daily Journal of Commerce from two years ago, I wrote that proceeding with ongoing or planned construction was not without impact or risk tied to COVID-19, and I provided a checklist for owners, designers and contractors to help them decide whether to continue a project or start a new one
Three Tips for Owners and Contractors to Improve Their Odds of Success in 2021
While all of us begin 2021 still confronting the challenge of COVID-19, construction project owners face particular pandemic-related issues in their industry, including the need to maintain strict best practices for projects and manage scheduling and labor challenges for existing and new projects. In my latest article for the Daily Journal of Commerce, I
Warning Signs that a Contractor May Be Overextended
If you are involved in the construction industry, like it or not risk management is part of your job. From home office executives to workers in the field, each person is expected to manage schedule, cost, and safety risks. While these risks are common, the recent prolonged period of economic growth has created new challenges,
Jane (or John) Hancock 2.0: Utilizing E-Signatures in the Construction Industry
In our increasingly electronic age, parties signing a construction contract, invoice, change order or other documents are as likely to do so by clicking on an “I agree” checkbox or inserting a digital signature, or e-signature, as they are to put pen to paper. In my first article for the Daily Journal of Commerce,
I’m a Developer and My Contractor Refuses to Perform Work Without a Change Order. What Are My Options?
Over the duration of a construction project, changes to its scope are inevitable, and the easiest way to address such changes, and their potential impacts on scheduling and contract price, is for the project owner and the contractor to mutually execute a change order prior to implementing a change. However, for a variety of reasons,
Three “Basic Best Practices” New Year Resolution Tips for Construction Projects
Ultimately, improving our companies, like improving ourselves, is up to us and our own diligence and persistence in identifying and implementing improvements on an ongoing basis. A strong market as we start 2019 means a great opportunity to review for and ensure solid implementation of legal compliance and financial goals for your construction projects –
A Lawyer’s Checklist for Starting Strong
In the push to get a construction project started, important management tasks may be overlooked or subordinated by “higher priority” tasks, and the importance of completing many of those tasks may not become apparent unless there is a legal dispute. In my latest article for the Daily Journal of Commerce, I provide a brief
Oregon Women In Construction Conference
Stoel Rives is proud to have co-created and been the leading sponsor in the first annual “Oregon Women In Construction Conference” hosted by the University of Oregon last Thursday, April 27. The event was emceed by City of Portland construction attorney Molly Washington (who led all aspects of the event including topics, speakers, locale, etc.)