Planning Your Construction Project: What you need to know from the insurance, legal and engineering perspectives before you break ground

Construction projects are complex undertakings involving many parties, and it is not uncommon for problems or claims to arise during or after the construction work is complete. How you prepare for and handle those situations can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful project.

Join Barnes & Thornburg, Gibson, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates for an informative program that will discuss ways you can plan for and avoid problems during construction projects, and how you can investigate and resolve problems if they do arise.



Specific topics will include:

• Understanding the risks not covered in a commercial general liability policy, such as professional liability, liability assumed in a contract, and additional insured endorsements
• The surety bond and the role it plays in getting a job started and getting a job finished, from the perspective of the job owner, the general contractor/construction manager, and the subcontractor/supplier
• Tips for negotiating construction contracts and for avoiding frequently litigated provisions
• Insurance coverage issues in the legal context, including the builder’s risk, soft cost, and Expense to Reduce the Amount of Loss (ERAL) distinctions
• International Building Code, International Existing Building Code and insurance - what is required by code as compared to what is often covered by insurance and when and why they can be different
• Work Area Method and the importance of Substantial Structural Damage (SSD)
• Water-related damage problems and solutions - improvements to design/specification and building maintenance, use of design review/Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) during initial design based on experience with previous failures
• The importance of mockups, testing and inspection to avoid water damage problems during construction or to avoid unnecessary repairs
• The program will include case studies providing real-world examples related to these topics.

MODERATOR
Tim Abeska, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg

SPEAKERS
Joseph Fullenkamp, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg
Alice Springer, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg
Bill Cerney, Principal, Gibson
Brad Serf, Principal, Gibson
Logan Cook, Associate III, WJE
Ross Smith, Associate Principal, WJE

Location: Barnes & Thornburg
100 N. Michigan
South Bend, IN 46601

Date: Thursday, June 1, 2017

Registration and Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. (Eastern)
Program: 8:00-11:00 a.m.

This program is offered compliments of Barnes & Thornburg's Construction Law Practice Group, Gibson and WJE.

Questions? Please contact Meghan Kibbe@mkibbe@btlaw.com or (574) 237-1246.