COVID-19 And The Construction Industry: Must Know Information For Executives

During Ward and Smith’s recent virtual “Construction Conference,” six of my partners and I covered a range of emerging legal issues — most related to the pandemic — that are important for construction companies.

In a rapid-fire legal update format, we covered how:

COVID-19, and the government’s response to it, is changing employment law and contracting
Firms should plan for Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness

Employer’s Pandemic Response
Ken Gray, who leads the firm’s Labor and Employment […]

By | February 17th, 2021 ||

You Can’t Always Get What You Want – “Economic Waste” in Construction Defect Claims

The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger famously sang, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you’ll find you get what you need.” Jagger wasn’t singing about damages in construction defect litigation. But his message rings true, especially when the cost to repair a defect is high and the final product meets the owner’s requirements.

The goal of any construction project is to build a structure that meets the owner’s needs. If […]

By | February 17th, 2021 ||

Buy America—The Biden Administration’s Plan

The Biden Administration issued another executive order, this one focusing on the application and enforcement of the Buy America Act.  As the name indicates, the Buy America Act is intended to increase the amount of American goods used on and in government contracts.  President Biden’s executive order focuses on enforcement and the administration of the Act.

The most significant change created by the executive order is to create a Made in American Office (MAO) to better […]

By | February 10th, 2021 ||