On-Demand Options

Mr. Dowsing is senior counsel in the Orange County office of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP. He practices in the fields of engineering professional liability and construction law and is a Design-Build Institute of America certified professional. His experience as an attorney includes helping parties with their complex engineering projects, to identify engineering risks and develop programmatic approaches to reduce those risks. He serves as project counsel and lead risk manager for three progressive design-build projects in California valued at over $100 million. Finally, he also represents A/E firms, contractors, and developers in engineering claims throughout California.

Mr. Gibson is a construction business litigator who helps his clients build successful projects and negotiate and resolve disputes. A partner in Stoel Rives’ Real Estate, Construction, and Design Practice, Mr. Gibson drafts and negotiates all forms of project documents, from the design phase through construction, and regularly navigates clients through the tricks and traps of contracting and insurance coverage issues. Licensed in California, Oregon, and Washington, Mr. Gibson is a veteran of all formal legal proceedings and has successfully pursued construction defect claims, delay claims, insurance and bond claims, bid protests, mechanic’s liens, real estate disputes, and collection actions through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

Mr. Knight is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Daniel J. Knight, APLC. As a practicing attorney in California and Hawai’i, university lecturer, California contractor and California real estate broker. Professor Knight can truly be considered something of a “renaissance man” in real property-related matters. His law practice focuses on construction law and real property-related legal services with an additional focus on providing expert witness services in disputes ranging from initial consultation, to mediation, arbitration and/or trial. He is an adjunct professor in the Construction Management Department at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, where he instructs, among other courses, Construction Law and Construction Accounting. Professor Knight holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Walden University and a juris doctor degree from the Santa Barbara Colleges of Law. Prior to passing the bar in California and Hawai’i and starting his own law practice, he worked his way through college and law school as the owner/operator of a successful construction, house lifting and moving business. 

Mr. Kommer is a provisionally licensed attorney with a robust background in construction, human resources, and risk management. Originally from Los Angeles County, California, he later relocated to San Luis Obispo County, California. Mr. Kommer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Marketing from San Diego State University, a Juris Doctor from Concord Law School at Purdue University Global, and a Higher Education Teaching Certificate from Harvard University’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.

With nearly 25 years of experience in construction, human resources, and risk management, Mr. Kommer transitioned to academia and legal work in 2016. He consults on construction matters and contributed to rewriting the Preconstruction Risk Assessment and Infection Control Risk Assessment certification exam for Green Advantage.

Mr. Lindborg leads the firm’s construction practice. Lindborg and Mazor acts as general counsel to private entities and as outside counsel to private and public entities. The firm specializes in all facets of real estate and construction, from the negotiating and the documentation stage, through project completion and beyond, including the counseling of clients in claims avoidance and mitigation techniques and the mediation, arbitration and litigation of claims. He has been lead counsel in numerous trials and arbitrations involving the prosecution and defense of multi-million dollar construction and real estate claims. Mr. Lindborg has also represented clients before various state and federal administrative agencies and has appeared in a number of state and federal courts throughout the United States. He is a member of the American, California, New Mexico and Los Angeles County Bar Associations.

Mr. Nicholas is a member of Stoel Rives’ Construction and Design group with experience litigating a range of construction disputes and drafting a variety of construction agreements. Mr. Nicholas has trial and arbitration experience and has assisted clients before federal and state courts, domestic and international arbitration panels, and administrative bodies. He is licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California. Before joining Stoel Rives, Mr. Nicholas worked as a summer associate for Oracle Corporation in Redwood Shores, California, and as a judicial extern for the Honorable William Q. Hayes of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego, California.

Mr. Love obtained his bachelor of science degree in Construction Technologies with a concentration in Community and Regional Planning from Appalachian State University. He is also a licensed general contractor. Mr. Love currently holds a Level III Standard Certificate in Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical and Level I Standard Fire Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Insurance. He teaches Building and Plumbing I, II and III Standard Courses to North Carolina Building Inspectors as well as continuing education courses for the North Carolina Building Inspectors’ Association. Mr. Love is currently on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Building Inspectors’ Association as the president-elect, and he also serves on the Education Committee as the co-chair and Site-Development Committee.

Mr. Mohney is the Engineering Geology Program leader for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Engineering Geology Program at ODOT encompasses site characterization, subsurface exploration, slopes and embankments, geologic hazards, groundwater, geotechnical instrumentation, and planning and research activities. In this role, he also oversees the Unstable Slopes (landslide/ rockfall) Program for ODOT. He is a registered geologist and a certified engineering geologist in Oregon with over 30 years of experience in Oregon and the western states. Mr. Mohney has been the Engineering Geology Program leader since 2004. Prior to this, he had been a staff and project-level geologist for consulting firms and the mining industry as well as for ODOT. He is a graduate of the Geology Program at Portland State University. During his professional career, Mr. Mohney has been involved in the investigation, design, and construction of a wide range of challenging earthwork projects including high fills on soft ground, side slope embankments, and cut slopes in mixed-face conditions. His other work includes landslide and rockfall mitigation, ground improvement, and dewatering.

Ms. Cornett is a partner at the forensic engineering consulting firm Ward Cornett & Associates. She has over 20 years’ experience in the world of construction and engineering forensics, representing contractors in disputes related to contract negotiation, job site injury, defect allegations, building envelope consulting, extra-work claims, default termination, delay claims, forensic cost accounting, failure analysis, among other construction and engineering related claims. In addition to construction and engineering related disputes, Ms. Cornett also acts as an Owner’s Representative for best practices in code compliance, premises-liability exposure, and OSHA and job site safety standards compliance. She is also active in performing property condition assessments and safety audits. Ms. Cornett completed a joint Bachelors (B.S.E.) and Masters in Construction and Structural Engineering (M.S.E.) at Arizona State University in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with emphasis on Structures and Strength of Materials. She will sit for her Professional Engineering fundamental exams in 2024. Ms. Cornett holds an Arizona KB-2 Dual General Contractor license and maintains safety certifications with both the National Safety Council and OSHA. She sits on several boards in the community: (1) the Arizona Board of Technical Registration (AZBTR); (2) the Arizona State University Engineering Department Academic Integrity Board; (3) the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee on Forensic Engineering Standards, (4) the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Committee on Forensic Engineering Standards, Forensic Reporting and Forensic Investigations, (5) The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and (6) The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) Arizona Chapter. She is also a certified fire and explosion investigator (CFEI), certified cost estimator, and NRMCA certified concrete plant and fleet inspector. Most recently, Ms. Cornett was invited to participate in the ASCE 11-28 Structural Condition Assessment committee, which will be adopted in the International Building Code. She also instructs as adjunct faculty at both the Arizona State University Department of Engineering and University of Washington, Seattle. Ms. Cornett regularly presents at construction, safety, and engineering conferences throughout the United States. When not speaking or teaching, she provides expert witness and forensic consulting services.

Mr. Long is a detail-oriented engineer in training with passion for action sports. A long-time skateboarder himself, his work on countless skateparks/youth park facilities has built his reputation as a leader in the field. He recently made the transition from Stantec Consulting (Action Sports Division) after three years in his role as civil designer and joined the team of New Line Skateparks where he now provides civil design support for all US design operations. He is driven to design synergistic skatepark/youth park environments that leave a lasting impact on the local community and fulfill the client’s overall vision.

Mr. Misiano is a high-level skateboarder and the founder of Misiano Skateparks, a boutique municipal skatepark design-build contractor with over 10 years of successful concrete development experience throughout Florida and across the United States. He and his crew joined the New Line team in 2017 to continue their legacy of inspired and community-driven concrete youth parks created with true care and passion. Pursuing only a select number of projects each season, he personally oversees all construction operations from first shovel through to grand opening to ensure full continuity and quality control through each phase of development. He is a licensed general contractor; is OSHA, COR Safety and ISO 90001 compliance trained; is an ACI certified shotcrete nozzleman; and serves as a construction project manager.

Mr. Russell was a professional skateboarder for over 13 years traveling all over the world endorsing his pro model shoes and signature skateboards. His experience has helped him relate to the action sport community to design and develop their dream skate park facilities for the last 10 years. Mr. Russell possesses all the design and technical skills using AutoCAD 2018 and Civil 3D to generate concepts, technical drawings, horizontal control, and grading plans. His knowledge of site development, park design, and skateboarding has helped him work with communities to formulate the best skate parks on budget in the action sports industry.

Mr. Klaas is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, estate and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Klaas taught as an undergraduate/graduate tax instructor at Purdue University Northwest. He received his B.S. degree with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He has spoken on various occasions presenting on taxation of decedents, estates and trusts. Mr. Klaas serves as a 1041 subject matter expert for a national tax software development firm, has edited various professional publications and is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, Illinois CPA Society, and AICPA.

Mr. Wirtz is a partner at Friedman + Huey Associates, LLP. He specializes in fiduciary, charitable and individual income taxation and working with large family groups. Mr. Wirtz received his B.S. degree in Accounting from Purdue University Northwest and received his M.S. degree in Taxation from DePaul University. He also is member of the Illinois CPA Society.

Mr. Carter, founder and owner of Carter Custom Construction, has been transforming homes and outdoor spaces for over 26 years. Raised in White Bear Lake, MN, his passion for construction began at the young age of 18 when he started building decks and porches. In 2008, he officially launched Carter Custom Construction, and since then, he has designed and built thousands of decks, porches, kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Known for his attention to detail and commitment to quality, Mr. Carter has become a trusted name in the construction industry. His company’s reputation is built on a foundation of craftsmanship, customer satisfaction, and innovative design. From concept to completion, Mr. Carter and his team deliver projects that not only enhance the beauty of homes but also improve the way clients live in them.

Mr. Kurdi has been serving the electrical industry for over 30 years as an engineer, electrician and trainer. Mr. Kurdi has engineered (designed, specified and analyzed) government buildings (police stations, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, city halls, court houses, libraries, and jails), housing buildings (affordable, senior, assistant, memory care, adaptable use and student), hospitals, data centers, sport arenas, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater treatment plants and electric utility distribution and substations. Mr. Kurdi’s experience as an electrician includes estimating, laying out, wiring, installing and maintaining electrical systems for residential and commercial buildings. He has served as an engineer on construction projects in numerous locations in Texas, including San Antonio, Arlington, Bryan and Manor. He has developed and taught thousands of seminar hours over the years at Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Electrical Association, IEEE and others. The seminars include NEC Code, electrician’s exam, MV system, electrical wiring, apprenticeship, estimation, electrical design, Revit MEP, and project management. Mr. Kurdi holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and a master’s degree in Adult Education. He is a registered electrical engineer (PE) in 37 states, including Minnesota and Texas. He holds a Class A master electrician license from the State of Minnesota. Currently, Mr. Kurdi is a senior electrical engineer and department head at BKV Group (A&E Firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, DC & Minneapolis). Mr. Kurdi served as NCEL Board Member (Jan 2021 – present), IAEI MN Chapter president (Jan 2018 – Jan 2023), chair of IEEE Twin Cities PES/IAS (Aug 2019 – Jan 2023), Minnesota State Board of Electricity member (Jan 2018 – Jan 2020).

Mr. Kwiatkowski has over 25 years of experience in the field. He’s a certified professional ecologist (CE) and fluvial geomorphologist, who has collected and analyzed data on more than 1,000 miles of river and stream and contributed to stormwater best management practice manuals, addressing the design of ecosystem restoration projects, green infrastructure planning, water quality improvement, and habitat reconstruction. Mr. Kwiatkowski has assisted numerous clients, including non-profit organizations, municipalities, park districts, and government agencies, with the planning, design, and installation of restoration projects on a variety of scopes and scales. His day-to-day professional responsibilities include project management, public outreach, stream assessment, data analysis and calculations, restoration design, and construction oversight.  

Mr. Hendrickson is the owner of SportsWest Construction, a general contractor, with offices in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, and with operations currently covering five states. He is a former board member of the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), overseeing the Courts Division. Mr. Hendrickson was a contributor to the ASBA Official 2020 Pickleball Construction and the 2023 Courts and Rec Construction manuals for ASBA. His company has built more than 15,000 courts and other sports projects since 1987. He is currently a consultant for several pickleball complexes throughout the West. Mr. Hendrickson graduated from BYU School of Engineering with emphasis in Construction Management. His background of real estate development and construction foster his enate ability to grow the business and a multitude of networking relationships. His team of account managers, project managers, and support staff enables his company to provide the best professional service in sports construction in the industry. An avid sports fan, you will find him cheering on his favorite BYU teams, and he still plays pickleball, tennis, and golf.

Mr. Don is an Arizona civil rights attorney focused on serious constitutional litigation, including correctional healthcare failures, jail deaths, and claims arising from government misconduct. For more than three decades, he has litigated complex civil cases in state and federal courts. His practice includes Section 1983 civil rights claims, wrongful death litigation, and serious injury matters arising from systemic negligence and institutional failure. Mr. Don has tried cases in courtrooms across Arizona and has appeared in federal appellate proceedings. His work is grounded in detailed record review, expert development, and structured trial preparation.is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has obtained multiple multimillion-dollar jury verdicts. He has served as President of the Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and has twice received Top Ten Civil Jury Verdict of the year recognition in Arizona. Mr. Don has served as Adjunct Faculty at Arizona State University, teaching Health Care Law. He lectures attorneys and professionals on trial presentation, psychiatric injury, and civil rights litigation.

Ms. Kimmel has worked for and been a partner in a number of law firms during her 30-year career, most recently returning to Goldberg & Osborne as a Managing Attorney of four offices in Southern Arizona where she continues to represent clients with personal injuries. Ms. Kimmel graduated from Greater Hartford Community College with an Associates Degree and University of Hartford with a B.A. in politics and government. She next graduated from the University of San Diego in 1990 with a JD. Since then, Ms. Kimmel has practiced in Connecticut and Arizona, and currently practices in Tucson, Arizona. She holds licenses in the State of Arizona, District Court of Arizona, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Court. Ms. Kimmel is a Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death by the Arizona State Bar. Her focus during the last 28 years has been in personal injury representing consumers and vulnerable people including children and elderly. A wide variety of personal injury cases are handled by Ms. Kimmel including motor vehicle collisions, premises liability, nursing negligence, and medical malpractice. Ms. Kimmel has successfully arbitrated and tried cases including complex and wrongful death cases, and has litigated appellate cases resulting in two published opinions in her clients’ favor – one in the Arizona Supreme Court and the other in Arizona Court of Appeals.

Mr. Offenhartz is a business attorney who represents clients in the finance, medical, construction, real estate and culinary industries. Mr. Offenhartz has significant experience managing all phases of litigation, including preliminary investigations, discovery, depositions, settlement negotiations, mediation, motions for summary judgment, trial and appeals. Mr. Offenhartz is a member of Madison School District’s Financial Advisory Board and a board member of the Desert States Region of Jewish National Fund. He supports the Phoenix Art Museum as a member of the Men’s Art Council, and helps others by volunteering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Arizona, Saint Mary’s Food Bank and the Wounded Warrior Project. Mr. Offenhartz earned his B.S. degree in public administration from the University of Arizona, and his master’s and J.D. degrees from Arizona State University. He is licensed to practice law in Arizona; Southern District Court, District of Arizona; and Southern Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Ms. Padish Hoebing is a skilled attorney who practices primarily in family law, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Prior to joining Padish Law Group, she served as in-house counsel at Benedictine University and Assistant General Counsel for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Internal Affairs Division. Ms. Padish Hoebing has a wealth of experience litigating in city, state, and appellate courts. Recognized for her achievements, she was named to the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 in 2023, 2024 and 2025. She earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and her B.A. in Political Science and Art History from the University of Arizona. Ms. Padish Hoebing is admitted to practice law in both Arizona and Illinois. She is actively involved in her professional community, serving as the current President and past Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Scottsdale Bar Association. Ms. Padish Hoebing is also a member of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association and serves on the City of Scottsdale Personnel Board.

Mr. Torrens has practiced civil litigation in Arizona since 1996. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes and personal injury matters. He has first-chair experience in more than 30 state and federal civil jury trials and has handled over 250 arbitration hearings. He has also argued before the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Torrens earned his B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University and his J.D. from University of Nebraska College of Law. He is an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has been selected to Southwest Super Lawyers on multiple occasions. He also serves as co-chair of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Torrens has served as a judge pro tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2006 and is regularly retained as a private mediator and arbitrator.

Ms. Banta is a connector and resourceful problem solver who is passionate about demystifying legal requirements and helping clients create, protect and leverage value. She is a registered patent attorney and focuses on assisting Fortune 100 and middle-market clients with global trademark, patent, and copyright needs and infringement issues. She concentrates her practice in the areas of foreign and U.S. trademark, patent, and copyright prosecution; bet-the-company patent, trademark, copyright, design, unfair competition, right of publicity, marketing, and trade secret litigation; dispute negotiation; intellectual property licensing; and business planning for protection and value enhancement of intellectual property. Her focus in all these endeavors is business planning for protection and value enhancement of intellectual property.

As a connector, Ms. Banta’s intellectual property clients trust her to find the right connection on non-IP issues, and so Holiday enjoys serving as outside general counsel to many of her clients. She assists companies to develop in-house intellectual property protection programs and recommends and implements protection strategies for core intellectual property assets. Through these programs and strategies, she provides clients with business planning to protect and enhance the value of their intellectual property. Ms. Banta has worked with clients in a wide range of fields, including the medical device, biotechnology, software, agricultural, wine, consumer products, chemical, pharmaceutical, equine, wireless technology, private equity, logistics, real estate, food service, automotive, banking, drone, insurance, refrigeration, plastics, aviation, toys, veterinary, travel, and publishing fields.

Ms. Hamer’s experience, success, and reputation earned her the honor of receiving IndyBar’s first-ever V. Sue Shields Young Female Lawyer Award in August 2025. The award recognizes an emerging female attorney who embodies excellence, professionalism, and a commitment to the ideals of justice. Ms. Hamer was selected by her peers as an Indiana Super Lawyers – Rising Star honoree in 2019-2025 in Environmental Litigation, and Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch for 2024-2026 in Environmental Law, Construction Law, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defense. In addition, she is a registered civil mediator. Ms. Hamer is a volunteer attorney for multiple projects through the Indianapolis Bar Association (IndyBar), the Indiana Bar Association, and the Indiana Bar Foundation. She has served on the Executive Committee for the Women and Law Division (WLD) of IndyBar since 2017 and chaired the WLD Mentoring Program in 2018 and 2019. As of 2021, she is an at-large member of the IndyBar Insurance Coverage Section’s Executive Committee. In 2025, she was elected to a two-year term as Vice-Chair of the Indianapolis Chapter of Women in E-Discovery, having previously served a term as Social Media Director and a term as Membership Director.

Ms. Hamer was elected to the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management’s (IHMM) National Board of Directors in 2020 and re-elected for another four-year term beginning in 2024. She was elected Chair of the IHMM’s Board in 2025, having previously served on the Executive Committee as Vice-Chair and Secretary. The IHMM certifies and manages multiple hazardous and dangerous materials and occupational safety and health credentials. She is also a regular speaker on environmental law, including PFAS topics, administrative laws and procedures, and on construction and insurance law issues. Ms. Hamer has been a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) since 2010, as accredited under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, the International Standard for Personnel Certification Programs, and the Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB).She is also an environmental professional, as defined in the ASTM E1527 standard for environmental and real estate due diligence and under the U.S. EPA’s guidance.

Her prior legal experience includes work as a civil defense attorney for another Indianapolis law firm, where she concentrated on environmental, construction, and A/E professional malpractice litigation and insurance coverage. She previously was an attorney in E-discovery and ESI management. She was a law clerk in Marion Environmental Court under Judge David Certo, with the Civil Litigation Section of the Indiana Attorney General’s office, and for Chief Environmental Law Judge Mary Davidsen with the former Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication. Ms. Hamer’s prior business experience includes work as an environmental and real estate redevelopment consultant, in environmental laboratories, and as a regulator in multiple states and regulatory media. She led her certified woman-owned business for several years, providing environmental risk assessment, technical review, regulatory negotiation, and business development services for environmental consultants in Indiana and Illinois.

Ms. Hamer was also a senior environmental manager and environmental risk assessor for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). She was an invited peer-reviewer and is credited in the 2012 IDEM Remediation Closure Guide. She is a founder and a past vice president and treasurer of the Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association and was an organizer of the 2006, 2009, and 2010 Midwestern States Risk Assessment Symposiums. Ms. Hamer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Columbia College where she graduated cum laude. She then earned her Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and a graduate certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law.

Mr. Pempus has been a risk manager for more than 18 years, with experience in architecture, engineering, land use, law and professional liability insurance, and a unique and well-rounded background in the construction industry. Prior to risk management, he has 25 years of experience in the practice of architecture and engineering, and as an adjunct professor teaching professional practice courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for the last 37 years. As a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and AIA National Ethics Council 2021 chair, he has demonstrated his impact on the architectural profession. He is a licensed architect, attorney and property and casualty insurance agent. 

Mr. Lhuillier is a construction attorney whose practice is focused on mechanic’s liens, lien foreclosure actions, and construction-related disputes throughout New York. Mr. Lhuillier represents contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, developers, and property owners in matters involving unpaid work, project disputes, and enforcement of construction rights.

Mr. Lhuillier works closely with clients at every stage of the lien process—from filing and perfecting mechanic’s liens to prosecuting and defending lien foreclosure actions in New York courts. For contractors and suppliers, this often means securing payment for work performed and materials provided. For owners and developers, it means challenging improper liens and protecting their property from unwarranted claims.

Mr. Lhuillier has been with Kushnick Pallaci PLLC since his time in law school, joining the firm as an associate in 2012 and becoming a Member in 2019. Over that time, he has developed a focused practice in construction law and has handled matters across multiple counties throughout New York.

In addition to his legal work, Mr. Lhuillier contributes to industry discussions as a regular writer for the New York Real Estate Journal and remains active in construction trade organizations in New York City and Long Island. This ongoing involvement keeps him closely connected to the issues contractors and developers are dealing with day to day.

Clients rely on Mr. Lhuillier when payment issues arise, liens are filed against their property, or a project dispute needs to be addressed efficiently and effectively. His approach is practical and direct—focused on resolving the issue and moving the project or business forward.

Mr. Ofori-Amanfo’s broad-based experience includes investigation of collapsed structures, investigation of construction defects and damage, investigation of condensation in building envelopes, evaluation of roof and wall leakage, field water spray testing of windows, and assessment of wind and hail damage. His work also involves giving expert testimony and assisting attorneys in resolving disputes over construction and materials-related problems. Prior to establishing Collins Forensics LLC, Mr. Ofori-Amanfo previously worked for many years at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE), the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Twin City Testing Corporation. He received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Science and Technology in Ghana and his M.S. degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Mr. Ofori-Amanfo is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Ms. Sauls received both her J.D. and Graduate Degree in Comparative Law from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, graduating cum laude. While in law school, She served as an executive member of the Moot Court Board. Additionally, she completed an externship in the First Circuit Court of Appeals and trained to mediate resolution of conflicts through her involvement in the Civil Mediation Clinic. Ms. Sauls was recognized by the Wex S. Malone Inns of Court for excellence in Trial Advocacy and received the CALI award in Contracts. She earned her undergraduate bachelor of science degree in Marketing from LSU.

Ms. Varnado represents clients in all areas of construction, general liability, insurance defense, commercial litigation, and advises clients on government relations and regulatory matters. Ms. Varnado is ranked by her peers and clients among the Louisiana Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” in Construction Litigation, Civil Litigation, and Business/Corporate Law.

Professor Fratta is an associate professor in Geological Engineering and Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He holds Civil Engineering degrees from three different universities: a diploma from U.N. Corboda (Argentina), an M.A.Sc. degree from U. of Waterloo (Canada), and a Ph.D. degree from Georgia Tech (USA). He has over 20 years of teaching experience through courses in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, and applied geophysics, and he is the author of three books. Professor Fratta also supports a research group that pursues studies in near-surface geophysics, wave propagation in soils and groups, and experimental geotechnical engineering.

Dr. Souza is the founding partner of Princeton Hydro, LLC. From its inception in 1998 through 2018, he served as president of Princeton Hydro, retiring from the company in 2019. Over the past 35 years he has dedicated his career to the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, in particular lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Dr. Souza received his B.S. degree in 1974 from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, his M.S. in 1976 from Rutgers University, and his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of Connecticut. He has served over the past 25 years as an instructor and course coordinator for the Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education, developing and implementing multiple short courses focused on the management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Souza is also an adjunct professor at Temple University (Ambler Campus), teaching a graduate studies course in the Department of Landscape and Horticulture (Tyler School of Art and Agriculture). He also conducts a professional continuing education course focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management for CPES through Montclair State University.

Ms. Warner holds a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering and is a Certified Access Specialist Professional by the state of California, as well as a National Accessibility Professional Certification for the Built Environment. She recently retired after over 30 years of service with the City of San Diego, including 25 years dedicated to accessible design. She brings extensive knowledge and understanding of accessibility laws, codes, and regulations. She collaborated with various city departments, including Park and Recreation Engineering and Capital projects, Transportation, and Mobility, overseeing the Citywide ADA compliance program, and managing transition plans.  

Ms. Warner played a key role in the development of accessibility requirements for Park Design, Street Design, Complete Streets, and Curb Ramp Design Guidelines. Additionally, she integrated code changes and provided training to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations. Ms. Warner’s qualifications and experience highlight her expertise in accessible design. Beyond her previous role, she serves on the board of the California Certified Access Specialists Institute (CASI), where she helps coordinate the education program. She is also actively involved with the Regional Transportation Board and has presented at national conferences, sharing her insights on accessibility.

Mr. Wassam is the Founder and Chief Drone Pilot of Aerial Ops Drone Services and a Part 107 FAA Certified Pilot with more than 25 years of experience in professional photography, video production, and visual documentation. He specializes in delivering accurate, mission-specific aerial data and high-impact imagery for commercial construction, infrastructure, quarry, and corporate projects. Mr. Wassam combines advanced UAS operations, including progress documentation, mapping, 2D orthomosaics, 3D modeling, and site analysis, with professional-grade software to produce actionable data—not just visuals. His approach is grounded in a strong understanding of jobsite workflows, safety considerations, and decision-making requirements for project managers and engineers. In addition to his drone expertise, Mr. Wassam brings a unique technical perspective from an extensive background as a decorative artist and specialty contractor, working closely with architects, designers, and top building contractors on residential and commercial projects. This hands-on construction experience allows him to communicate effectively with field teams and deliver aerial products that align with real-world construction needs. By integrating technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and visual clarity, he helps clients reduce risk, improve efficiency, and gain better insight into their projects through aerial intelligence.

Dr. Wu is an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Alabama. He is the director for Interdisciplinary Center for Sustainable Engineering (ICSE), the Gulf-Coast Center for Addressing Microplastic Pollution (GC-CAMP), the Solid Waste Sustainability Hub and the director for Sustainable Asphalt Materials Lab. Dr. Wu was a senior sustainability research engineer in the Illinois Center for Transportation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research and education areas include asphalt materials characterization; smart, sustainable transportation materials for infrastructure; pavement performance evaluation and modeling; and pavement design and maintenance. Dr. Wu has successfully secured over $7.8 million in research funding from various federal and state agencies, as well as industry. He has published 67 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 technical reports, and has presented at over 56 conferences and 33 invited talks. Dr. Wu teaches a mixture of undergraduate and graduate engineering courses such as Pavement Design and Advanced Characterization of Transportation Materials. He developed a free course for students to pass the fundamentals of engineering exam. Dr. Wu is a committee member for Transportation Research Board (TRB) AJE35 and AKM 90, and a member of American Society of Civil Engineer (ASCE), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and Academy of Pavement Science and Engineering (ASPE). Dr. Wu is also an editorial member for ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, and International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology. He serves as a panel member for several NCHRP and ACRP projects. He is also a registered professional engineer in Alabama and a LEED accredited professional.

Ms. Banks focuses her practice on all areas of construction law, from contract drafting and negotiation, to pre-litigation dispute resolution, and complex construction disputes involving construction defect, mechanic’s lien, and payment bond claims. She represents clients across the construction spectrum, including design professionals, owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. In addition to her construction practice, Ms. Banks serves as outside legal counsel to the AIA Contract Documents Committee and has been intimately involved in the drafting of, and updates to, AIA Contract Documents over the past fifteen years. Ms. Banks frequently presents on topics including risk management for design professionals, owners, and contractors, and updates to, and analysis of, AIA Contract Documents.

Ms. Banks has been published in the Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers, Construction Law Handbook, and the Maryland State Bar Association Deskbook, as well as in other professional books and publications. Ms. Banks is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers and has been listed in Chambers USA for Construction in Maryland, U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for Construction Law in Maryland, and Maryland Super Lawyers for Construction Litigation. Ms. Banks is also a member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, Maryland State Bar Association, and District of Columbia Bar Association.

Mr. Katz has practiced law in Maryland for two decades, primarily focusing on construction litigation. However, he has a soft spot for representing architects and engineers facing disciplinary proceedings. In these cases, he aims to both zealously defend his clients from harsh repercussions so as to preserve their license to practice, but also to educate them so that they can avoid further disciplinary charges in the future.

Mr. Kelly joined Jackson & Campbell, P.C. from the Department of Justice in 1988. He became a Director in 1992 and a Shareholder in 1993, and is a member of the Firm’s General Litigation and Trial Practice Group. He has been appointed a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, is rated AV-Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell, and has received the coveted Super Lawyer designation for Washington, D.C. in the fields of professional liability, general litigation, and insurance coverage annually beginning in 2012. He is included on the Roster of Neutrals of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) for construction disputes, and serves as an arbitrator and mediator in disputes brought to the AAA for resolution.

He serves as a volunteer arbitrator with the D.C. Bar’s Attorney/Client Arbitration Board, is a Steering Committee member of the Litigation Community of the District of Columbia Bar, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Construction Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. In 2015 he was elected a Fellow of the American College of Coverage and Extra-Contractual Counsel. Mr. Kelly’s practice has concentrated on the counseling and defense of clients in litigation arising out of construction defect and delay claims, professional liability claims (particularly those brought against architects, engineers and social services providers), environmental and toxic tort disputes (including asbestos, gasoline spills, and interior mold claims), pharmaceutical product liability claims and serious bodily injury and wrongful death claims. He also assists insurance companies in resolving coverage questions arising under general liability and professional liability policies in those and other areas of the law, and represents insurers in coverage litigation.

Like any litigator, he has had occasion to take on cases in other areas as far afield as those involving employment discrimination, public charity tax issues, and tort suits against adoption agencies. A member of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Florida bars, Mr. Kelly’s practice is centered in the regional D.C., Maryland, and Virginia state and federal courts, but he has been admitted pro hac vice to the courts of virtually all other east coast states, and in a good number of western states including Arizona, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming. In addition to his trial work, Bob has represented clients in appeals in several states, including briefing appeals to the Supreme Courts of Delaware, South Carolina, and Texas, and briefing and arguing appeals to the Supreme Courts of Virginia and West Virginia, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits. Before coming to Jackson & Campbell, Mr. Kelly was a Senior Trial Attorney with DOJ’s Civil Division (Torts Branch) defending environmental and toxic tort (asbestos) claims brought against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

He also maintained a significant admiralty and maritime tort caseload. In 1987, he joined the Adjunct Faculty of the Washington College of Law at The American University, where he taught legal writing for seven years. He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in civil engineering from Princeton University in 1974 and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1977. Mr. Kelly speaks and publishes frequently on litigation and insurance coverage topics, and currently is most active in the Construction Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, and the Litigation Section of the District of Columbia Bar. He is a past Vice Chair of the Insurance Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS).

He authors and provides annual updates to the chapters on District of Columbia law in two highly regarded treatises, the “Tort Law Desk Reference” and the “Product Liability Desk Reference.” He wrote the chapter on Post-Evidentiary Actions and Relief from Judgments and Orders for inclusion in the D.C. Bar Association’s most recent (2014) update to its “Civil Trial Practice Manual,” as well as the post-trial (appellate) chapter in the recent reissuance of “Appleman’s on Insurance,” a nationally recognized treatise on insurance coverage law. He also has been principally responsible for updating the DC Bar’s Litigation Section’s chapter on Superior Court Civil Practice in “The District of Columbia Practice Manual.”

Mr. Policastri is a trial attorney with more than 37 years of experience handling commercial and construction disputes, including the defense of professional liability matters involving engineers and other design professionals. He regularly advises clients on insurance coverage issues related to professional liability. Mr. Policastri has represented parties in multi-million-dollar claims involving alleged design coordination failures, construction sequencing disputes, and performance standard disagreements, where liability turned on the project specifications and the allocation of responsibility under contract documents. He earned an LL.M. in Litigation Management, focusing on the trial and dispute resolution strategy in the management of complex multiparty litigation with catastrophic loss. Mr. Policastri is licensed to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Louisiana.

Mr. Smith practices in O’Hagan Meyer’s Maryland office. A civil litigator for over 30 years, the bulk of his time has been devoted to the defense of design professionals. He holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell. In addition to providing malpractice litigation defense, he prepares and negotiates contracts and provides risk mitigation advice for his clients. Mr. Smith has litigated, tried cases, and handled appellate matters in each of the jurisdictions in which he practices. While he has concentrated on the defense of design professionals, he has experience in premises liability, automobile accident, products liability, insurance coverage, food poisoning, asbestos cases, and even one McDonald’s “hot coffee” case. Mr. Smith spent seven years as the in-house lead claims counsel for Baltimore Gas & Electric Company (BGE). There, he oversaw cases from investigation through trial, handled portions of crisis response, as well as advised management on risk mitigation strategies. His experience with utility issues began before his stint with BGE, providing defense and counsel to underground utility locating companies, and continued after his return to private practice with work on revisions to the Maryland “Miss Utility” law and membership on the Defense Research Institute’s Public Utilities Task Force. Mr. Smith was BGE’s representative to the Southeastern Electric Exchange Claims Committee, where he also served as secretary, vice chair and chair, (at different times).

At the firm, Mr. Vyas handles legal matters in the realm of construction, contracts, patents, and more. In the construction law world, he represents a wide variety of clients ranging from contractors and owners to engineers and subcontractors. Mr. Vyas has garnered the attention of many attorneys and engineers alike in a short time since opening his own law firm in 2018. This has brought him recognition on a national and global scale with his handling negotiations, mediation, and arbitration internationally in addition to his domestic law practice. Mr. Vyas has organized symposiums to discuss construction law issues and spoken at various conferences and internal construction company events about how to best manage and mitigate legal risk in engineering and construction projects. In 2018, the same year He opened his law firm, he was awarded the Clients’ Choice Award. Since becoming an attorney, Mr. Vyas has collected numerous accolades including consecutively being selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. He enjoys the life of being a true solo attorney law firm. It allows him to truly connect to each of his clients and address their needs directly. Mr. Vyas regularly posts to his law firm’s blog and on social media channels @SAVLawFirm. While connecting with clients is his favorite activity, he also stays regularly connected with his peers and new topics in the field of engineering and law as he is a member of over a dozen unique associations, institutions, bars, and programs across the globe.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.