Construction projects are complex and often experience delays.  The party responsible for the delay can find itself subject to potentially severe consequences. There are various ways project owners and contractors can cause project delays, and each party wants to “own” the project float to be able to apply the project’s extra schedule time toward its…

Originally published to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce on August 11, 2026

Ending a construction contract can trigger significant legal and practical consequences for owners and contractors. This article examines the risks that can arise when project participants decide to terminate or separate, including the differences between mutual separation, termination for cause, and termination…

Stoel Rives has been named to Construction Executive‘s The Top 50 Construction Law Firms™ annual national rankings for a seventh consecutive year and ranked No. 21 for 2026, rising six places from the 2025 ranking. Construction Executive evaluated firms on criteria that included construction practice revenue, number of attorneys in the practice, percentage of…

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…

Data center construction projects involve more than delivering complex technical infrastructure on an accelerated schedule. Owners, developers, contractors, and design professionals must navigate legal and contractual issues that can affect project performance, increase costs, and lead to disputes throughout the project lifecycle.

From performance-based specifications and schedule delays to equipment procurement challenges and commissioning requirements…

Washington’s common interest community framework is undergoing its most significant shift in decades. Recent legislative changes to Washington’s Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) will unify all associations under a single statute by 2028, fundamentally reshaping governance and compliance obligations. For developers, the expansion of the express insured warranty option offers a new pathway to…

In June 2026, Congress, in a bi-partisan action, passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (the “Act”) which is widely viewed as the most significant federal housing legislation in decades. While President Trump did not sign the Act into law, neither did he timely veto the Act and so, as of July 11, 2026…

Healthcare construction projects involve more than managing budgets and schedules. Owners must navigate contractual, operational, and legal risks that can affect delivery, increase costs, and create disputes long after construction begins.

From design coordination issues and force majeure delays to insurance gaps and warranty obligations, many significant risks arise from how contracts are drafted, administered…

As development activity continues to grow, developers increasingly face environmental obligations related to impacts on wetlands, waterways, protected species, and habitat. Conservation and mitigation banks provide a market-based mechanism for satisfying those obligations by purchasing environmental credits.

These banking systems can help manage permitting risk, project timelines, and long-term compliance responsibilities. They also present unique…

Washington’s self-storage industry is facing a major tax change. Effective April 1, 2026, income from self-service storage rentals will be subject to Washington’s business and occupation (B&O) tax under recently enacted legislation—marking a significant shift from the industry’s long-standing tax treatment in the state.

The change imposes new compliance and reporting requirements on storage facility…