Construction Contract Workshop Seminar
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 – 11:45 am
Lunch (On your own): 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Afternoon Session: 12:45 – 4:00 pm
Understanding Construction Contract Essentials
J. Sperati
Examining contract terminology:
parties, consideration, term, performance, substantial performance, breach, remedies, damages
Studying roles and relationships of project participants:
owners, architects/engineers, construction managers, contractors, subs and suppliers
Understanding the project delivery system:
traditional design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager at risk, multiple prime contractor, owner control
Understanding types of construction contracts:
lump sum, cost plus, time and materials, unit pricing
Exploring the law of construction contract interpretation
Review of Project Documents
J. Laurie
Use of standard forms or custom documents
Agreement
Performance bond
Payment bond
Contract conditions (general and supplementary)
Specifications (Format, CSI 1995 and 2004)
Shop drawings
Contract modifications (change orders, directives, etc.)
Understanding Issues in Contract Administration
E. Biesecker
Insurance and indemnity issues
Subcontracts
Changes and change orders
Payments
Substantial and final completion
Breach and pitfalls
Examining Legal Issues and Contract Disputes
E. Biesecker
Changed conditions
Project documentation
Delays, acceleration
Handling payment claims and final payments
Resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, litigation
Understanding contractual and statutory warranties
Credits
Architects
6.0 Contact Hours (HSW)
6.0 AIA Learning Units
Professional Engineers
6.0 PDHs
Contractors
Non-Credit Continuing Ed.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers 6.0 contact hours (HSW) to architects and 6.0 PDHs to professional engineers, in all states*. HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education provider for North Carolina professional engineers.
This seminar is approved by the American Institute of Architects for 6.0 HSW Learning Units (Sponsor No. J885). Only full attendance can be reported to the AIA.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for architects in Florida and is deemed an approved sponsor in New York.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00000700), New York (NYSED Sponsor No. 35), and North Dakota.
This seminar also offers a non-credit continuing education opportunity to contractors. It has not been submitted for course approval to any state contractor licensing entity.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
*Excludes Florida architects.
Speakers
Eric Biesecker
Nexsen PruetMember of Nexsen Pruet in GreensboroMr. Biesecker is a member of Nexsen Pruet, a law firm with eight offices throughout the Carolinas. He has extensive experience in the construction industry and regularly represents construction owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Mr. Biesecker has handled hundreds of lien and bond claims, defect and delay disputes, delay and disruption controversies, bidding challenges, product defects, andscope-of-work conflicts. He is the Triad Chapter counsel ofthe American Subcontractors’ Association of the Carolinas, past chairman of the Attorneys’ Council of the national American Subcontractors’ Association, a longtime memberof the Suppliers Counsel for Associated General Contractors, on the Government Affairs Committee of Associated Builders and Contractors, and a member of the Carolinas AGC.Mr. Biesecker has written and spoken on many topics related to the construction industry. He received his JD degree from the University of North Carolina and his BA degree from Wake Forest University. Mr. Biesecker has been ranked as a top lawyer in construction law by The Best Lawyers in America and by North Carolina’s Legal Elite. Martindale Hubbell rates Mr. Biesecker as an AV lawyer, the top rating.
James Laurie
The Law Office of James P. Laurie III, PLLCPrincipal Attorney with The Law Office of James P. Laurie III, PLLCMr. Laurie has been a construction litigator for 25 years, and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia. Mr. Laurie represents owners, architects, engineers, developers, sureties, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. He is an arbitrator and mediator on the Construction Industry Panel of the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Laurie teaches Business Law and Legal Ethics and Corporate Governance for the MBA program at Strayer University. He is certified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA School in Chicago as an instructor for private sector compliance in safety and health. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and his law degree from Campbell University now in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to his law career, Mr. Laurie worked as a human resources and safety director in manufacturing, transportation, and heavy industry.
John Sperati
Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLPPartner with Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLPMr. Sperati concentrates his practice in commercial creditor bankruptcy, foreclosure and real estate litigation, structured settlement transfer, judgment domestication and enforcement, construction litigation, commercial litigation, equipment leasing and finance and creditors’ rights. His clients include general contractors, custom homebuilders, subcontractors, owners, sureties, suppliers of materials and labor, developers, engineers, and demolition and salvage contractors. His representation of clients includes the protection of rights to payment on private and public construction projects; filing and enforcement of liens and bond claims; defense/prosecution of warranty claims; representation in civil litigation, arbitrations and mediations; and recovery of equipment and vehicles for leasing companies. Mr. Sperati was recently listed as a rising star in North Carolina Super Lawyers®.