Many owners and contractors assume that their construction contract controls how claims and disputes will be handled. After all, substantial time is often spent negotiating notice provisions, mediation requirements, dispute resolution procedures, and payment terms.
Beginning with many private construction contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, that assumption may no longer be
As construction projects increasingly rely on specialized or international suppliers, project teams should evaluate more factors than pricing and product availability. Overseas vendors can offer significant advantages, but they may also introduce legal and practical challenges that become difficult to manage if problems arise.
When disputes involve foreign suppliers, resolving issues like delayed deliveries, defective
California’s construction industry will undergo a significant change starting in 2026. On July 14, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 61 into law, creating a 5% cap on retention for private works of improvement. The new law aligns private projects with the retention limits established for public works since 2012. The new statute, Civil