Tricia Block, Jeffrey Kirzner, Michael McCauley, Daniel McMillan, Matthew Silveira and Carolyn Woodson | Jones Day In Brief The Situation: Beginning with contracts executed on or after January 1, 2026, two new California laws take effect: California Civil Code sections 8850 and 8811. Section 8850 has particularly significant ramifications for construction contracts on most private construction… Continue reading California Mandates Important New Rules for Private Construction Projects
AAA-ICDR Introduces AI Arbitrator to Streamline Construction Dispute Resolution – Great Promise or Reason for Concern?
Jeffrey Brauer and Aaron Evenchik | Hahn Loeser & Parks The American Arbitration Association (AAA-ICDR®) is launching a first-of-its-kind AI arbitrator this November 2025, designed to handle smaller “documents-only” construction disputes. This change will take small disputes, typically handled on a fixed fee by a single arbitrator, and offer instead AI serving as a finder… Continue reading AAA-ICDR Introduces AI Arbitrator to Streamline Construction Dispute Resolution – Great Promise or Reason for Concern?
AI Arbitrators Have Now Arrived (At Least in Some Cases)!
David Cox, Lisa Dubot, James Ferguson, Brendan Harrington, Charles Harris II, Michael Lennon Jr., and Ryan Stanley | Mayer Brown This week the AAA-ICDR unveiled the first AI Arbitrator for use by a major arbitral institution to decide outcomes in certain types of cases. In this Legal Update we describe how the AAA-ICDR intends for… Continue reading AI Arbitrators Have Now Arrived (At Least in Some Cases)!
Legal Brief: Product Liability in 3D-Printed Construction
Advise & Consult As 3D printing technology gains traction in the construction industry, law firms must prepare for a new wave of product liability challenges. From printed walls to entire homes, additive manufacturing is reshaping how structures are built—and how liability is assigned when things go wrong. The Shift to Digital Fabrication 3D-printed buildings are… Continue reading Legal Brief: Product Liability in 3D-Printed Construction
Understanding the Ostensible Subcontractor Rule: Avoiding Hidden Affiliation Risks in Small Business Contracting
Aron C. Beezley and Gabrielle A. Sprio | BuildSmart The Small Business Administration’s (SBA) ostensible subcontractor rule remains one of the most consequential — and misunderstood — affiliation principles in federal procurement. For small businesses pursuing set-aside contracts, failing to navigate this rule properly can result in bid protests, loss of eligibility, and even contract… Continue reading Understanding the Ostensible Subcontractor Rule: Avoiding Hidden Affiliation Risks in Small Business Contracting