Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 – 11:30 am
Lunch (On your own): 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Afternoon Session: 12:30 – 4:30 pm
Contract Law Primer for Engineers
B. Koerwitz
Contract Law 101
Overview of standard contracts v. custom contracts
Key contract terms
Scope of work
Changes
Owner’s obligations
Warranties and guarantees
Indemnification
Limitations of liability
Dispute resolution
Practical tips for contracting with an owner or as a subconsultant
Federal and Nebraska Environmental Law
M. Linder
Reviewing recent changes and enforcement
Reviewing recent and anticipated developments at the US EPA
and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Handling Ethical Issues in Professional Engineering Practice
B. Meyer
Promoting health and welfare vs. managing risk:
complementary or conflicting duties?
Protecting the environment: meeting or exceeding legal
requirements
Watching the bottom line: identifying and balancing economic
pressures in design and construction
Integrating new technologies: identifying and balancing
the benefits and risks
Professional Liability Law
B. Meyer
Reviewing the grounds for professional liability claims
Identifying who can bring a claim
Examining common sources of professional liability claims
Reviewing defenses to liability claims
Determining damages
Participating in dispute resolution: arbitration, mediation, litigation
Obtaining Insurance coverage for professional liability claims
Intellectual Property Essentials for Engineers:
Trademarks, Copyrights, and Trade Secrets
V. Amen
Securing ownership of your designs through trademarks,
copyrights, and trade secrets
Leveraging your intellectual capital through licenses, franchises,
and other technology agreements
Policing intellectual property rights and preventing infringement
Resolving intellectual property disputes
Credits
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers up to 6.5 PDHs, including 1.0 hour of ethics, to Nebraska professional engineers. Educators and courses are not subject to pre-approval in Nebraska.
Nebraska engineers with continuing education requirements in other states will be able to claim 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
Vicky Amen
Amen Business Law, L.L.C.Amen Business Law, L.L.C.Ms. Amen is an attorney who focuses on business law, franchising, and estate planning. Her work includes contract negotiation and review, business entity selection and formation, corporate governance and regulatory compliance, intellectual property issues, business succession, and general business counseling. Ms. Amen earned her J.D. degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1987 and is a member of the American, Nebraska State, and Lincoln bar associations.
Brian Koerwitz
Endacott Peetz & Timmer, PC LLOEndacott Peetz & Timmer, PC LLOMr. Koerwitz focuses his practice on construction law and contracting. He has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and architects in all areas of construction law, including construction defects, differing site conditions, bond and lien claims, project delays, change orders, professional negligence, and contract negotiation.He has authored numerous construction e-briefs and has been a contributing author to several construction law reference books, including the State-By-State Guide to Design and Construction Contracts and Claims, 2015 Supplement. Mr. Koerwitz is licensed to practice law in Nebraska, Iowa, and Wyoming and is a member of the American General Contractors of America – Nebraska Building Chapter.
Michael Linder
Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O.Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O.Mr. Linder has 30 years of experience in environmental law. His experience covers all aspects of environmental regulation, permitting, compliance, and policy. Before joining Koley Jessen, he served as the governor-appointed director of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) from 1999 through 2013. The NDEQ administers and enforces all environmental laws in Nebraska. Prior to becoming director, he served as the NDEQ’s legal counsel for ten years. His experience includes state, local, and federal environmental laws dealing with water quality, air quality, groundwater, and waste management. Mr. Linder has worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the regional and national levels. Mr. Linder has been a leader locally and nationally on environmental issues and policy.
Brent A. Meyer
Partner at Husch Blackwell LLP in Omaha, NE
Mr. Meyer is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction team. He has extensive experience in construction contract drafting and litigation. Mr. Meyer has represented government entities, business owners, general contractors, suppliers and subcontractors in civil disputes and lien claims. He also represents political subdivisions by assisting in a variety of issues including regulatory compliance, contract negotiations, property acquisitions and condemnation. Prior to joining Husch Blackwell, Mr. Meyer practiced in Atlanta, Georgia for eight years. He represented various entities and individuals in pre-litigation negotiations, mediation, throughout the litigation process and arbitration. In addition, he assisted with multiple cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia that have resulted in the enforcement of certain limitation of liability clauses for design professionals performing services in the State of Georgia. Mr. Meyer was named a Georgia Rising Star from 2014-2016 and a Great Plains Rising Star from 2017-2021 by Super Lawyers. He earned his J.D. degree, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska College of Law.