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
Facilitating the Project with Effective Construction Contracting
J. Donofrio
Understanding the legal rights/duties of project participants:
owners, contractors, design services firms, subcontractors and suppliers
Understanding your project delivery system: design-bid-build, design-build,
construction manager, construction manager-at-risk
Using standard or custom contract documents: AIA, ConsensusDocs, others
Understanding key contract concepts and terms: performance, breach,
warranties, guarantees, indemnity, damages
Modifying contracts and selecting dispute resolution mechanisms
Protecting the Project with Bonds and Insurance
J. Donofrio
Obtaining construction bonds
• Performance
• Payment
• Alternatives to bonds
Obtaining insurance
• Commercial general liability insurance
• Builder’s risk insurance
• Errors and omissions insurance
• Additional/alternative insurance
Claims and notice issues
Making Changes and Resolving Disputes
During the Construction Process
R. Robinson
Making changes to the contract and contracted work
• Types of changes: ordered and constructive changes
• The contract change clause
• Requirements for making changes
• Liability issues
Solving problems during the construction process
• Site conditions
• Delays
• Disruption
• Acceleration
• Accidents
Participating in the Bidding Process
P. Fitzgerald
Understanding competitive bidding requirements
Reviewing bid package
Prequalification of bidders, bid bonding
Submitting bids
Handling errors and changes
Complying with Safety Requirements
M. Barnaby
Occupational Safety and Health Administration update
State and local safety regulations
Allocating responsibility for construction site safety
Strategies for maintaining site safety
Reporting construction site injuries
Credits
Professional Engineers
6.5 Continuing Ed. Hours
Architects
6.5 HSW Continuing Ed. Hours
6.5 AIA HSW Learning Units
Contractors
Non-Credit Continuing Ed.
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers 6.5 continuing education hours to professional engineers and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours to architects. Continuing education is not mandatory in Connecticut.
This seminar is approved by the American Institute of Architects for 6.5 HSW Learning Units (Sponsor No. J885). Only full attendance can be reported to the AIA/CES.
Engineers and architects 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.
This course offers a non-credit continuing education opportunity to contractors. It has not been approved by any state contractor licensing entity for required continuing education credit.
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
Michael Barnaby
Michael J. Barnaby, LLPManaging Member of the Law Offices of Michael J. Barnaby, LLP
Mr. Barnaby practices exclusively in the area of construction law, representing general, sub and specialty contractors; suppliers; construction managers; sureties; public and private owners; homeowners; design professionals; and other entities involved in the construction industry in litigation, arbitration, mediation, public and private construction contracts, mechanics liens, surety law, administrative proceedings, business law, OSHA law, labor law, and environmental law. He has previously presented lectures to various construction industry professionals and organizations on topics ranging from the mechanics lien law to advanced construction law. Prior to law school, he was a construction superintendent for an internationally-recognized construction manager and he has first-hand experience on multi-million dollar construction projects throughout the tri-state region. Mr. Barnaby received his B.A. degree from Lehigh University and his J.D. degree and Certificate in Environmental Law from Pace Law School. He is a past chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Construction Law Executive Committee.
Jeffrey Donofrio
Ciulla & Donfrio, LLPManaging Partner of Ciulla & Donofrio, LLP
Mr. Donofrio has been practicing construction law, municipal law and commercial litigation in Connecticut since 1990. Mr. Donofrio and his firm represent a variety of public and private entities, including municipalities, utilities, financial institutions, contractors, trade contractors, developers, financial institutions and project owners. He regularly presents construction law seminars to a variety of audiences on topics including construction contracts, claims, litigation, ADR, and collection techniques.
Paul Fitzgerald
Michelson, Kane, Royster & Barger, P.C.Attorney with Michelson, Kane, Royster & Barger, P.C.
Mr. Fitzgerald practices in the areas of construction and surety law, where he handles a broad range of construction-related matters on behalf of subcontractors, contractors, public and private owners, and sureties. He has extensive experience litigating cases in state and federal court, and he has resolved many disputes in arbitration and mediation. Mr. Fitzgerald frequently drafts, reviews and negotiates construction contracts. Since 2002, Mr. Fitzgerald has been a contributing author on the topic of mechanic’s liens for the “Connecticut Bar Association Annual Construction Case Law Summary.” He also has given many presentations to construction trade groups and professional organizations on the topics of mechanic’s liens, payment bonds, and general payment issues in the construction industry. Mr. Fitzgerald also serves as a legal advisor to the Connecticut Subcontractors Association. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Mr. Fitzgerald has been included in both the Connecticut and New England Super Lawyers® Rising Star lists in the area of construction litigation (2010, 2014, 2015). He was also listed as a New England and Connecticut Super Lawyer® in the area of construction litigation in 2017.
Richard Robinson
Pullman & Comley LLCAttorney with Pullman & Comley LLC
Mr. Robinson practices in the area of business litigation including the litigation of construction and employment disputes. He heads the firm’s Construction Law and Litigation Section. Mr. Robinson has successfully resolved hundreds of business litigation cases, both through trial and settlement.