2015 in Review: Trending Topics, Strategies and Best Practices for Design Professionals

2015 was a busy year for the architecture, engineering and design industries. Join us as we discuss some of the most interesting questions posed by design professionals this past year and provide best practice strategies for the future.

How Ten Key Provisions in a Strong Design Professional Agreement Can Prevent or Terminate a Lawsuit

Donovan Hatem invites you to join us for a discussion led by Ken Walton, on AIA agreements and key provisions in a strong design professional agreement that can provide protection to design professionals. Effective use of these provisions can shield a design professional from potential legal liability or assist in terminating litigation after it has started.

Risk Management and Contractual Strategies for E-Communications and Construction Site Accidents

Donovan Hatem invites you to join us for our next Design Professional Roundtable discussion led by Eric A. Howard on how design professionals can manage risk and develop strategies for dealing with issues and claims that may arise as a result of information transmitted in electronic communications such as e-mail, marketing materials and social media. This program will also address how design professionals can manage risk and develop strategies for dealing with indemnification rights, responding to interviews, and OSHA. Attendees will learn about standard contractual provisions including means and methods, site safety, defense and indemnification and additional insured protection for design professionals.

Legislative Initiatives Impacting Design Professionals

Join us for our next Boston roundtable on Thursday, October 22. This panel discussion will be focused on the latest legislative actions impacting design professionals.

2015 ACEC Fall Conference

Don’t miss David Hatem at the 2015 ACEC Fall Conference!

September 3 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Design-Build and P3s: Risk Allocation and Professional Liability Claims Experience

Please join us on Thursday, September 3 at the Boston Harbor Hotel for a discussion led by David J. Hatem on the increasingly popular design-build and P3 delivery methods. Beyond any question, design-build is on the rise as the delivery method of choice for many public owners seeking to contain cost overrun and other project risk exposures. In addition, P3, which combines design-build with private financing, is gaining interest across the United States.

June 17 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Please join us on Wednesday, June 17 at the Boston Harbor Hotel for a panel discussion focused on recent court decisions impacting design professionals. Donovan Hatem attorneys will provide presentations on several of their cases in the last year involving professional liability claims against design professionals. Actually, there is much “good” to report!

Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Midwinter Meeting

Sue Yoakum, AIA and Dan Klancnik will be presenting Building Information Modeling (BIM) – Risks and Legal Concerns at the upcoming Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Midwinter meeting on January 22 from 1:30-2:15. This presentation will commence with a state-of-the-art BIM presentation by Dan Klancnik and follow with a timely presentation by Sue Yoakum on past, present and future risks associated with the use of BIM on a construction project. They will also address various legal concerns involving the use of BIM, identify “noise” relating to the use of BIM, and provide guidance regarding the handling and avoidance of BIM claims.

December 11 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Please join us on December 11 for our last roundtable of 2014! Cheryl Waterhouse, Esq., and Dan Poteet, Esq. will present Practice Requirements for A/E Firms. This roundtable will address various states’ statutory and regulatory provisions that impact the practice of architectural and engineering services through corporate entities. Breakfast and registration starts at 7:30 am in the Wharf Room, we hope to see you there!

ABX 2014

David J. Hatem, P.C., and Sue Yoakum, AIA will be presenting Fiduciary Duty and Liability of Design Professionals (session A31) at the upcoming ABX conference on October 28 from 10-11:30. This presentation explores the difference between fiduciary duty and standard of care and how to avoid, manage and separate fiduciary duty and standard of care risks. If you are attending ABX we would love to see you at our session!

November 6 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Please join us on November 6 as David Hatem, P.C. presents Varying Risk and Responsibility for Design Adequacy in Alternative Project Delivery Methods at the Boston Harbor Hotel. This program will address how risk and responsibility for design adequacy is impacted in the context of project delivery approaches, between project participants in direct contractual relationships and between design professionals and third parties with whom the design professional has no direct contractual relationship. Registration and continental breakfast is at 7:30 am in the Wharf Room, the presentation will begin at 8am.

October 1 Roundtable at the Westin New York at Times Square

Is Perfection Possible? Managing Uncertainty and Expectations in Building Design and Construction.

Please join us on October 1 as Stephen Jones, Senior Director with McGraw Hill Construction and Sue Yoakum lead a discussion on Is Perfection Possible? McGraw Hill has been selected to study this issue, Phases 1 and 2 are complete and will be published this fall. Join us as we discuss and learn about the study results. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 9 am in the Palace Room of the Westin New York at Times Square.

September 17 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

A Study of Two Lean Projects – What is Lean Project Delivery and why is this a Good Project Delivery Method?

Please join us on Wednesday, September 17 for a panel discussion on Terminal B Improvements Project (Massport) and the Chicopee Women’s Correctional Facility Project (DCAMM) covering the good, the interesting and the successful aspects of Lean Project Delivery.

AIG Construction Symposium

David Hatem, Esq. will be presenting “Project-Specific Professional Liability Insurance and Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Risk Allocation Considerations and Functional Alignment” at the 2014 AIG Construction Industry Practice Group Symposium on September 10.

June 18 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Standard of Care – Is it changing?

Eric Howard and Kristen Ragosta will lead a discussion on the Standard of Care. Standard of Care is an issue in every lawsuit or claim against an Architect or Engineer. This roundtable will discuss the recent developments surrounding this important topic. We look forward to seeing you at the Boston Harbor Hotel on June 18. Registration and breakfast begins at 7:30 am.

May 8 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Alternative Project Delivery Methods: What is driving the interest, do they solve the perceived problems with Design-Bid-Build, and what are the risks and other issues for design professionals.

David Hatem will lead the discussion addressing the reasons motivating project owners to consider and select project delivery methods alternative to traditional Design-Bid-Build. We look forward to seeing you on May 8 at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Registration begins at 7:30.

UNH Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Conference

Eric Howard, Esq. and David J. Hatem, PC will be presenting “Being an Expert Witness” on May 1 from 1:30-2:45. This session will take alumni Tony Coviello and Eric Olsen through a mock expert witness case to demonstrate a deposition and trial. Eric and David will demonstrate mistakes expert witnesses make and how to avoid them.

David J. Hatem PC will be the Program Moderator for the Alternative Delivery Methods – ACEC/MA Breakfast Program

On January 22, 2014 the ACEC/MA Program Committee and Private Sector Committee will present the Alternative Delivery Methods Breakfast Program Hosted by: CDM Smith. Program Moderator: David Hatem, Esq., Donovan Hatem LLP

Announcement: Ross Wecker presenting at the Annual Steel Design Conference

Ross Wecker was a speaker at the 32nd Annual Steel Design Conference at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute on June 5, 2013. Ross spoke on the recent developments in the law for consideration by fabricators, engineers, architects and detailers.

Announcement: Kenneth B. Walton speaking at Boston Bar Association Event

Donovan Hatem LLP Partner, Kenneth B. Walton will be the speaker at the Boston Bar Association’s event on March 22, 2013 – The Trial of a Professional Liability Case. The presentation will focus on the trial of a professional liability case that includes the defense of a malpractice claim and the prosecution of a counterclaim for unpaid fees.