Pennsylvania Construction Contract Workshop
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before the start time.
Friday, February 14, 2025
9:00 am – 4:30 pm EST
Understanding Construction Contract Essentials
Presented by: Vittoria D. Greene
- 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
- Choosing the right delivery system and contract for the project
- Exploring the law of construction contract interpretation
Use of Standard Forms
Presented by: Veronica Morrison
Making Changes to Construction Contracts (the Right Way)
Presented by: David Makara
- What types of changes require a change order?
- Preparing a change order
- Communicating the change
- Constructive changes: what they are and how to prevent them
- Best practices for managing changes
Understanding Issues in Contract Administration
Presented by: Liam Braber
- Insurance and indemnity; workers comp immunity waivers in Pennsylvania
- Ensuring payment to subcontractors, suppliers
- Labor unions and labor harmony
- Liquidated damages; consequential damages
- Managing changes and change orders
- Substantial and final completion
Preventing Legal Issues and Contract Disputes
Presented by: Liam Braber
- Legal and enforceable lien waivers in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania state construction notices directory
- Delay clauses; no damage for delay clauses in Pennsylvania
- Changed and unforeseen conditions clauses
- Prejudice rules for notice of claims, delays, impacts in Pennsylvania
- Alternative dispute resolution; resolving disputes constructively
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)
Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled.
Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps Hardware: 2GB RAM or more
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Engineers
6.5 PDHs
ICC - International Code Council
.65 CEUs (Administration)
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers in Pennsylvania. Continuing education courses for Pennsylvania engineers are not subject to pre-approval requirements; the Board has final authority regarding acceptance.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
On-Demand Credits
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate.
Speakers
Liam Y. Braber, Esq.
Shareholder, Charlson Braber McCabe & Denmark, P.C. in Philadelphia, PALiam Braber is a shareholder with Charlson Braber McCabe & Denmark, P.C., located in Philadelphia and serving Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Over the course of 22 years, Mr. Braber has established an extensive construction law practice. He also has a considerable employment, labor and ERISA practice. In his construction practice, Mr. Braber drafts and negotiates construction contracts of all types, including general contracts, construction management agreements, subcontracts, supplier and vendor agreements, architect and design-build agreements, and many other commercial instruments that are fundamental to the construction industry. He also litigates construction cases in court and in mediation/arbitration throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Mr. Braber
has received many recognitions for his work, including being named a Best Lawyer, a Superlawyer, and a Lawyer on the Fast Track. He maintains an active commitment to the community and to legal service for those in need.
Vittoria D. Greene
Partner, Milber Makris Plousadis & Seiden LLP in Berwyn, PAVittoria D. Greene is a partner at Milber Makris Plousadis & Seiden LLP. Her practice focuses on the representation of engineers, architects, and other design professionals. She regularly acts as their advocate by negotiating contracts, addressing potential claims during design and construction, and defending them in litigation. Ms. Greene is also a contributing author to the Pennsylvania section of the Cumulative Supplement of the State-By-State Guide to Design and Construction Contracts and Claims (2nd Edition), published by Wolters Kluwer.
David Makara
Partner, Davis Bucco & Makara in Conshohocken, PADavid Makara is a partner of Davis Bucco & Makara, having joined the firm in 2006. He has practiced in Pennsylvania since 1996, primarily representing clients in business litigation. Mr. Makara has litigated and arbitrated hundreds of cases to verdict in Pennsylvania and has argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania supreme court. Specifically, he argued two cases before the Supreme Court, involving interpretation of the Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Law. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Makara worked with a general practice firm in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where, in addition to handling commercial litigation matters, he represented parties in all types of civil litigation. He then worked with a large Philadelphia defense firm, where he practiced in the Architects, Engineers and Contractors Liability Department.
Veronica L. Morrison
Shareholder, Stevens & Lee in Harrisburg, PAVeronica Morrison is an experienced litigator who focuses her practice on construction law. She also assists with a range of commercial, real estate and environmental litigation issues as well as procurement and administrative matters. Her clients include commercial real estate owners and developers, general contractors, subcontractors, local governments, national health care insurance providers, and large and small commercial business owners. Ms. Morrison counsels clients, particularly those with large construction projects, on risk avoidance and options for alternative dispute resolution. She also represents clients in mechanic’s lien claims and cases before the Board of Claims. Ms. Morrison is a Hearing Committee Member for the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, serves on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Evidence and sits on the PBA Civil Litigation Section Council. She also serves as chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Inclusion, Diversity and Unity Committee and is a member of the organization’s Workforce Development Committee.