Sara Beiro Farabow and Michael Wagner, Jr. | Seyfarth Shaw Volatile U.S. tariff announcements continue to affect international supply chains for U.S. construction projects. Although recent litigation has centered on the scope of presidential tariff authority rather than construction‑specific disputes, these decisions carry important implications for how parties structure risk in their contracts. In May… Continue reading Managing Tariff Volatility in Cross‑Border U.S. Construction Projects: Practical Contract‑Drafting and Procurement Strategies
Category: Construction
Mass Timber Fire Resistance: Sustainability, Code Compliance, and Fire Safety in Tall Buildings
Marc-André Langevin and Kevin To | J.S. Held What Is Mass Timber? Mass timber is gaining popularity in multi-storey construction projects across both Canada and the United States. The benefits of mass timber in terms of efficient construction and reduced staffing requirements for erection are well established; however, current regulatory limitations remain, often based on outdated assumptions… Continue reading Mass Timber Fire Resistance: Sustainability, Code Compliance, and Fire Safety in Tall Buildings
Design-Build Project: Delivery Benefits, Risk Allocation, and Role of Geotechnical Characterization
Gangjin Li | HKA Introduction The design-build (DB) model represents a contemporary approach to project delivery wherein a single contractual entity—the design-builder—is responsible for both design and construction. Unlike traditional models such as design-bid-build (DBB) or construction manager at risk (CMAR), the DB model integrates design and construction under a unified contract, facilitating greater coordination and efficiency.[1][2] Advantages of DB contracts One of the principal benefits of the DB contract is single-point responsibility, which… Continue reading Design-Build Project: Delivery Benefits, Risk Allocation, and Role of Geotechnical Characterization
Developer Liable to Contractor for Misrepresentations Regarding Project Funding
John Mark Goodman and W. Hunter Webb | BuildSmart The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a jury verdict finding that a developer and its founder defrauded a contractor by misrepresenting the availability of construction funding. See Selective Ins. Co. of Am. v. Heritage Const. Cos. et al, Case No. 24-2333, 2026 WL 263591 (D.… Continue reading Developer Liable to Contractor for Misrepresentations Regarding Project Funding
Understanding Washington’s New Solicited Real Property Act
Kelly Rutledge and Joe Delaney | Ahead of Schedule Effective January 1, 2026, Washington’s newly enacted RCW 61.40.010 (the “Solicited Real Property Act”) introduces a suite of statutory protections for property owners in transactions initiated through direct solicitation. While many prospective purchasers will be impacted, this provision will have meaningful implications for real estate purchasers… Continue reading Understanding Washington’s New Solicited Real Property Act