Construction Law 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 – 4:30 pm
Construction Contracting in Traditional M. Rowley
and Alternative Project Delivery Systems
Legal rights/duties of construction entities:
contractors, design services firms, subcontractors and suppliers
Design-bid-build: entering into construction contracts
and agreements in the traditional construction process
Design-build: entering into contracts and agreements
• Contractor-led, designer-led, joint venture, and developer-led projects
Accurate and Effective Construction Contracting J. Steckler
Understanding contract terminology
Forming contractsUnderstanding contract obligations
The law governing construction contracts:
the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and applicable state laws
Subcontract formation and administration
Performance and payment issues
Breach of contract and default
Making Changes and Resolving Disputes T. Radio
Making changes to the contract and contracted work
• The contract change clause
• Types of changes: ordered and constructive changes
• Requirements for making changes
• Liability issues
Resolving disputes during the construction process
• Site conditions
• Delays
• Disruption
• Accidents
• Accelerations
Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues in Construction M. Gherty
Determining qualifications and competence of participants
Preventing conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety
Identifying ethical issues in bid practices
Handling ethical issues created by constructive and ordered changes
Handling ethical issues created by payments, liens and lien waivers
Insurance and Bonding Issues in Construction A. Bergstrom
Types of construction bonds
• Performance
• Payment
• Alternatives to bonds
Types of insurance
• Commercial general liability insurance
• Builder’s risk insurance
• Errors and omissions insurance
• Additional/alternative insurance
• Claims and notice issues
Credits
Architects
6.5 Contact Hours (PDHs)
6.5 AIA HSW Learning Units
Professional Engineers
6.5 PDHs (Includes 1.0 Ethics Hour)
Contractors
Voluntary Continuing Ed.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers 6.5 HSW continuing education hours to architects and 6.5 PDHs to professional engineers in Minnesota, including 1.0 Ethics hour. Educators and courses are not subject to preapproval in Minnesota.
This seminar is approved by the American Institute of Architects for 6.5 HSW Leaning Units (Sponsor No. J885).
Architects and engineers seeking continuing education credit in other states will be able to apply the hours earned at this seminar, in most cases. Refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
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.
Speakers
Adina R. Bergstrom
Founding Partner of Sauro & Bergstrom, PLLC, a plaintiff’s firm located in Oakdale, Minnesota.
With a background in insurance claims and regulatory compliance, Ms. Bergstrom has decades of experience analyzing, resolving, and litigating insurance claim disputes and construction matters both as a plaintiff’s attorney and formerly as staff counsel for several large insurance companies. She regularly handles insurance appraisals, arbitrations, and litigation at both district and appellate courts in Minnesota and elsewhere. She serves as an AAA arbitrator, as well as an expert on insurance coverage and bad faith issues. Ms. Bergstrom is an active member of several national organizations, including the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters and the American Bar Association’s Tort and Insurance Practice Section, where she is the current chair of the Property Insurance Litigation Committee. Ms. Bergstrom was named by Minnesota Law and Politics as a Rising Star in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and as a Super Lawyer in 2014 – 2021.
Molly Gherty
Felhaber LarsonAttorney with Felhaber LarsonMs. Gherty focuses her practice in the areas of business and corporate organizations, real estate and intellectual property. She enjoys helping clients swiftly achieve their business goals in order to enhance their development and business activity. Detail-oriented, personable and client-centric, Ms. Gherty excels at translating clients’ goals into legal realities. She received her J.D. degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2011. Ms. Gherty was named a 2014 Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Thomas Radio
Felhaber LarsonAttorney with Felhaber LarsonMr. Radio is a member of the firm’s Construction, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Real Estate practice areas. He provides a range of services and creative solutions for corporations, individuals, non-profit organizations, and public entities on issues related to construction, real estate valuation, and land use. He has acted as counsel for both private and public entities on construction, land use, eminent domain, and land valuation matters. He has represented owners and developers who sought governmental approvals, and faced special assessment and eminent domain proceedings. For those in the construction industry, Mr. Radio has been adept at negotiating construction contracts, litigating payment, delay, and defect claims and resolving bid disputes. He serves as a mediator and arbitrator, and he is listed on the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Rule 114 roster of qualified neutrals.Mr. Radio has been named a certified civil law trial specialist and certified real property law specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association and has been recognized as a Minnesota “Leading Attorney” and Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law and Politics. He has also achieved an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Michael Rowley
Goetz & Eckland P.A.Attorney with Goetz & Eckland P.A. in Minneapolis
Mr. Rowley primarily practices in commercial and residential construction defect litigation. He has extensive experience representing all types of parties, including cities and school districts, private owners, design professionals, contractors, and their insurance companies. He has drafted and defended numerous construction contracts for commercial and residential projects. His practice includes analysis and motions involving contractual indemnity and insurance coverage related to construction projects. He is a frequent speaker on construction defect topics to insurance industry groups and in continuing legal education seminars. Mr. Rowley is a board member of the Construction Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association. He is named a Minnesota Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics.
Jon Steckler
Madigan, Dahl & Harlan, P.A.Mr. Steckler’s practice is focused on commercial and business law and related litigation and appeals. Serving as general corporate counsel for companies in various industries, Mr. Steckler regularly advises clients on a broad range of issues facing businesses on a day-to-day basis. He advises on and prepares complex commercial contracts, franchise agreements, distribution contracts, construction contracts, non-compete agreements, commercial leases, and asset and stock purchase agreements. In addition to representing clients in general commercial, corporate and operational matters, Mr. Steckler represents companies and individuals in state and federal courts, licensing, and regulatory tribunals and in alternative dispute resolution in jurisdictions nationwide. Assessment and management of risk for clients on wide-ranging operational and strategic issues, timely issue spotting and front-end problem solving are among Mr. Steckler’s core strengths.