Since its inception, Katz & Stone attorneys have shared their knowledge and experience with the construction industry by presenting educational and informative seminars to industry professionals.  These seminars help attendees understand the dynamics of construction contracts, construction risk management techniques and recent developments in construction contract law, so that they are better able to successfully manage their projects and avoid construction disputes.

Over the years, Katz & Stone attorneys have spoken to dozens of construction industry groups and thousands of industry professionals on such topics as proving construction claims, design professional liability, construction risk management, contractual risk transfer, negotiating construction contracts, prosecuting and defending mechanic's liens and payment and performance bond claims, and many other topics of vital importance to the construction industry. 

In addition to seminars presented to construction associations, Katz & Stone attorneys often are invited to make in-house presentations to construction companies, sureties and insurers.

Construction Association Seminars

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. - Katz & Stone attorneys have spoken at many ABC chapter meetings and national conventions on such topics as negotiating construction contracts, documenting construction claims, mechanic's liens, payment bond claims and design-build contracts.

National Electrical Contractors Association - In 2001, NECA engaged Katz & Stone to prepare and present construction law seminars to NECA Chapters across the United States.  The seminar topics are organized into fundamental and advanced construction law curriculum and provide attendees with a basic understanding of the elements of construction contract law in the context of the day-to-day performance of electrical contracting.  The seminars offer practical advice that can be put to immediate use to manage construction risks in both the negotiation and performance phases of a project.

National Utility Contractors Association - Our attorneys have spoken to both state chapters and national conventions of the National Utility Contractors Association on such issues as differing site conditions, compliance with occupational safety and health regulations, mechanic's liens, payment bond claims and negotiating utility contracts.

American Subcontractors Association - Katz & Stone has been a long-standing contributor to the presentation of seminars to chapters of the American Subcontractors Association on issues of importance to the subcontractor community such as collecting contract payments, mechanic's liens, payment bond claims and negotiating balanced subcontracts.

World of Concrete Exposition - Katz & Stone's senior partner has presented seminars to attendees at annual World of Concrete Expositions on such topics as negotiating concrete construction contracts and avoiding and managing the risks of defective concrete work.

National Pavement Exposition - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to paving contractors at their national conference on the negotiation and management of paving contracts and collecting contract payments.

Associated General Contractors of America, Inc.  - For many years, Katz & Stone attorneys have presented seminars for the Associated General Contractors of America, at both the national and state levels, on matters of interest to the general contractor and subcontractor communities.  Seminar topics have included when not to abandon the project, the liability of the design professional to the contractor, negotiating subcontracts, contractual indemnity issues, mechanic's liens, payment bond claims and documenting and proving construction claims.  In addition, Katz & Stone attorneys have contributed to AGC national and state publications and serve on a variety of AGC national and state committees.

American Institute of Constructors - Katz & Stone attorneys have spoken to AIC Chapters on a variety of construction contract issues and have contributed to AIC publications.

Virginia Utility Contractors Council - Katz & Stone attorneys have presented seminars to the Virginia Utility Contractors Council on issues of importance to utility contractors, such as risk management, differing site conditions and the defense of safety violations.

Heavy Construction Contractors Association - Katz & Stone attorneys have spoken at meetings of the Heavy Construction Contractors Association on issues such as risk management, differing site conditions, enforcement of mechanic's liens and the defense of safety violations.  In addition, Katz & Stone attorneys serve on a variety of HCCA committees.

Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Cooling Contractors Association - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken before the Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Cooling Contractors Association's California convention on the defense of occupational safety and health violations, mechanic's liens and proving construction claims.

Contractors Association of West Virginia - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to the Contractors Association of West Virginia on negotiating construction contracts and prosecuting mechanic's liens in West Virginia.

Virginia Building Materials Association (now Southern Building Materials Association) - Katz & Stone's senior partner has been a frequent speaker to state-wide meetings of the Southern Building Materials Association on such topics as recovering contract payments, asserting mechanic's liens, payment bond claims and risk management.

Maryland General Contractors Association - Katz & Stone attorneys have presented seminars to this construction trade association on topics of interest to general contractors, including the negotiation and enforcement of subcontracts.

Construction Management Association of American (CMAA) - Katz & Stone attorneys have been frequent contributors to CMAA regional programs and CMAA's newsletter.  Katz & Stone attorneys have spoken to CMAA conferences on such topics as how to avoid construction litigation, the risks of construction management and negotiating construction management contracts. 

Fabricating Manufacturers Association - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to this association of piping fabricators and installation contractors on such issues as designer liability for errors and omissions in the contract documents, proving construction claims on complex industrial projects, and risk management methods.

Virginia Roofing Contractors Association - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to the Virginia Roofing Contractors Association on the negotiation and enforcement of subcontract provisions for the roofing industry.

National Association of Surety Bond Producers - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken at various regional and local meetings of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers on such topics as the surety's defenses under payment and performance bonds, proof of construction claims and negotiating construction contracts.

Bermuda Contractors Association - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken on several occasions to the Bermuda Contractors Association on the negotiation of construction contracts, interpretation of the American Institute of Architects standard form contracts as used in Bermuda, and proving construction claims.

Bermuda Architects Association - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to the Bermuda Architects Association on the use of the American Institute of Architects standard form contracts between architects and owners in Bermuda.

Center for Aviation Research and Education - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to this group of public airport owners on the construction contract implications of airport paving projects, and defect and warranty claims.

Barbados Association of Quantity Surveyors - Katz & Stone's senior partner participated in the presentation of a seminar on avoiding and proving construction claims in the Caribbean.

Korean Contract Management Association - In Seoul, Korea, Katz & Stone's senior partner presented seminars to this association of major Korean engineering/construction firms on the interpretation and enforcement of standard form contract provisions, and the preparation and presentation of delay and disruption claims.

In-House Presentations

The Shockey Companies, Winchester, Virginia — Gerald Katz presented a seminar to contract administrators and project managers of The Shockey Companies’ three operating divisions, general contracting, ready-mix and precast fabrication and erection. The seminar focused on identifying, analyzing and managing the risks presented by standard form contract clauses, both in the negotiation and performance phases of a construction contract.

New River Electrical Corp., Cloverdale, Virginia — Gerald Katz presented an in-house seminar to the project managers and contract administrators of this diversified electrical contractor whose services include energy transmission, distribution and communications fields to utility, governmental and industrial customers. The seminar focused on managing the risks associated with construction contracts including design-build projects.

Taylor Johnson Group, Virginia Beach, Virginia — Katz & Stone’s senior partner presented a seminar to the insurance professionals and construction clients of Taylor Johnson. The seminar addressed such typical contract clauses as condition precedent payment, no damages for delay, indemnification and change conditions. The attendees were taught how to negotiate the risks presented by these and similar contract clauses and seek “win-win” solutions.

China National Petroleum Corporation
, Washington, D.C.- Katz & Stone's senior partner presented a seminar to construction executives and project managers of the China National Petroleum Corporation.  The seminar covered such topics as proving construction claims and analyzing and negotiating contract provisions.

Reliance Insurance, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Katz & Stone's senior partner spoke at a regional meeting of Reliance Insurance's surety bond producers on surety bond claims and surety defenses.

The St. Paul Companies, St. Paul, Minnesota - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to both home office and regional meetings of The St. Paul Companies on contractual risk transfer and indemnity issues.

American Contractors Insurance Group, Dallas, Texas - Katz & Stone's senior partner has appeared at annual meetings of the members of this construction industry insurance captive to speak on the management of contract claims.

American Bridge Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Katz & Stone's senior partner has spoken to meetings of American Bridge Company project managers on construction claims and understanding construction contracts.

K.J. McNitt Construction, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  - Katz & Stone's senior partner presented a seminar to project management and contract administration personnel on the identification and management of risk allocation provisions in construction contracts.

EC Company, Portland, Oregon - Katz & Stone's senior partner presented a contract administration seminar to EC Company project personnel on managing risks in electrical contracting.



Continuing Education Programs

International Risk Management Institute - Katz & Stone's senior partner has been a long-standing speaker at the International Risk Management Institute's annual Construction Risk Conference.  He has spoken on a variety of topics including contractual risk transfer, identifying and managing construction contract risks, the liability of design professionals, completed operations insurance, payment and performance bond claims, and other topics of interest to the construction, surety and insurance industries.  In addition, Katz & Stone attorneys are frequent contributors to IRMI's newsletter and its other informative publications.

Virginia Continuing Legal Education - Katz & Stone's senior partner has been a frequent speaker at Virginia Continuing Legal Education programs for attorneys who practice construction law.  He has spoken on such topics as design-build liability, mechanic's liens, construction claims, construction law for the design professional, and the Commonwealth of Virginia's general conditions for public projects.

Professional Education Systems, Inc. - Katz & Stone's senior partner has presented many seminars sponsored by Professional Education Systems, Inc. on such topics as construction law in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, mechanic's liens, payment bond claims, the negotiation and administration of construction projects, and other matters of interest to the construction industry.



 
 


Katz & Stone, L.L.P. attorneys will be
presenting the following seminars in the months ahead:

October 2007

October 6, 2007 - "Recent Developments in Construction Law for Electrical Contractors", National Electrical Contractors Association Convention, San Francisco, California.   For additional information, visit www.necaconvention.org.

October 9, 2007 - "Construction Law Workshop", Associated Builders and Contractors of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii.

October 18, 2007 - In-house presentation for Aldridge Electric, Libertyville, Illinois.

October 24, 2007 - "Construction Law Update", Associated Builders and Contractors of Virginia, Chantilly, Virginia.

October 29 - November 1, 2007 - "Examination of Completed Operations Risks", International Risk Management Institute, Orlando, Florida.   For additional information, visit www.irmi.com/conferences/crc.

January 2008

January 30 - February 2 - National Pavement Expo, Nashville, Tennessee. For additional information, visit www.nationalpavementexpo.com.