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Di Gioia Berger
Ms. Di Gioia focuses her practice on complex civil litigation and in particular within the construction industry, she represents owners, designers and contractors in all stages of their construction projects. She has experience negotiating and drafting construction contracts for all participants in the construction industry and also counsels her clients regarding effective risk management and insurance coverage. Ms. Di Gioia also handles construction claim resolution, whether through alternative dispute resolution or litigation. Ms. Di Gioia is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and the New Haven County Inn of Court. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut, Louisiana and New York. She obtained her under graduate degree, magna cum laude, from Siena College, and her law degree, magna cum laude, from the Tulane University School of Law.

Principal of Garcia & Milas in New Haven, CTMr. Garcia is the founding principal of the firm. Since 2006 he has enjoyed the distinction of being named to the Connecticut Super Lawyers® list for Construction Litigation. He combines10 years of hands-on construction industry experience with more than 32 years of legal experience litigating complex commercial construction and franchise disputes. Mr. Garciahas tried 50 construction cases to conclusion before courts and juries. He has tried to conclusion over 30 franchise cases. He has conducted successful appeals before state and federal appellate courts. The cases span a wide range of subjects from public works contract claims for additional compensation to claims based on Connecticut unfair trade practices, including franchise and bad faith litigation, based on common law and statutory principles. The trials have been conducted before arbitration panels, juries or to the court sitting without a jury. Mr. Garcia attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. He served as an editor of the John Marshall Journal of Practice and Procedure, the school’s law review, for two years. In 1979, returning from Chicago to Connecticut, he joined Pullman, Comley, Bradley and Reeves in Bridgeport, Connecticut, as an associate. In 1981 he formed Garcia and Associates, P.C., forerunner of Garcia and Milas, P.C.

Principal of Forensic Engineering in Cheshire, CTMr. Shanok is an electrical, mechanical and structural engineer. He is registered as a professional engineer in Connecticut and Massachusetts and has held temporary permits to practice engineering in more than half the states of the Union and three foreign countries. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1960 and after serving on active duty, gained experience, first as an employee and then as the principal of a design firm, in the operation, design, construction supervision and startup of more than 30 industrial facilities. He reorganized his business in 1982, to specialize in forensic engineering. Among catastrophes his firm has been engaged to investigate were the Derby River Restaurant explosion and fire in December 1985 and the L’Ambiance Plaza construction collapse in April 1987. Over the years, his firm has served more than 2,200 clients, including insurance companies, both plaintiff and defense law firms, and industrial companies.

Partner in the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP.
Mr. Dinardo’s practice focuses mainly on construction disputes, lien prosecution and defense, contracts, commercial litigation, labor law, and collections. He currently serves on the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia’s (ABC) Management Education Committee and is involved with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).

Partner in the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP
Mr. Johnston focuses his practice in the areas of construction litigation, risk management and transactional services. He has many years of experience representing owners, general contractors, architects, surety companies, and other entities on a wide range of construction projects, including high rises, highways, bridges, and industrial complexes. A significant portion of his practice involves claims avoidance through assisting clients in every phase of the construction process. Mr. Johnston is a licensed property and casualty insurance adjuster and his experience in the interpretation of insurance policies further aids owners and contractors in catastrophic loss management, litigation and construction-related claims under CGL, professional liability, and builders’ risk policies.

Partner at Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP in AtlantaMr. Miller practices construction law, government contracts and general commercial litigation, and focuses on the representation of owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in all phases of public and private construction and service projects throughout the United States. Mr. Miller is an advocate of the mediation process as an efficient and cost-effective means of dispute resolution.

Partner at Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP in AtlantaMr. Rippeon represents a variety of construction industry professionals, including lenders, owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals, assisting with all aspects of construction law. His experience includes contract formation and negotiation, and asserting and defending claims utilizing all forms of dispute resolution. He also assists clients with statutory and regulatory compliance matters such as lien filings, bond claims and licensing matters. Mr. Rippeon spent many years as a project manager with several large general contractors, which gives him helpful insight to the legal issues faced by construction clients.

Partner at Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP in AtlantaMr. Rogers focuses his practice on the representation of parties involved with the design, construction, ownership and development of commercial and residential construction projects, for public and private entities. This representation encompasses all phases of such projects, including pre-project planning and development, contemporaneous management, and resolution of project-specific disputes and claims, as well as post-project operations and claim handling. Specific services provided include traditional litigation, claim preparation and defense, contract drafting and negotiation, alternative dispute resolution and general consultation.

Associate at Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP in AtlantaMr. Stuart‘s practice covers construction, energy, environmental, and contract law. Prior to attending law school, he spent several years managing the construction of multi-million dollar commercial and residential projects in the Washington, D.C. area. Mr. Stuart is a certified LEED-AP through the U.S. Green Building Council.

Partner in the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP
Mr. Walters received a B.C.E. (Bachelor of Civil Engineering) degree from The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Before law school, he worked as a project engineer, project manager, and owner’s representative on numerous commercial construction and environmental remediation projects. Mr. Walters has represented contractors, subcontractors, owners, and developers in general business matters, contract claims, and disputes involving real estate issues, bid protests, differing site conditions, changes, delays, defective plans and specifications, construction defects, and regulatory compliance.

Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois
Dr. Sfura is a Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois. His experience includes the assessment of structural distress and serviceability problems, the investigation of structural failures, peer review, and the rehabilitation of structures. He has published and lectured on seismic design and performance, and the assessment and rehabilitation of structures.

Dr. Sfura received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. He studied the nonlinear seismic response of asymmetric steel structures to earthquake ground motions as a doctoral candidate. He is a licensed structural engineer in Illinois, civil engineer in California, and professional engineer in Florida and Michigan. He is a member of the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI).

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned interdisciplinary firm with 19 offices across the United States. Its team of structural engineers, architects, and material scientists use problem solving and a hands-on technical approach to construction challenges, with virtually every construction material, structural system, and architectural component.

Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois
Dr. Sfura is a Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois. His experience includes the assessment of structural distress and serviceability problems, the investigation of structural failures, peer review, and the rehabilitation of structures. He has published and lectured on seismic design and performance, and the assessment and rehabilitation of structures.

Dr. Sfura received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. He studied the nonlinear seismic response of asymmetric steel structures to earthquake ground motions as a doctoral candidate. He is a licensed structural engineer in Illinois, civil engineer in California, and professional engineer in Florida and Michigan. He is a member of the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI).

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned interdisciplinary firm with 19 offices across the United States. Its team of structural engineers, architects, and material scientists use problem solving and a hands-on technical approach to construction challenges, with virtually every construction material, structural system, and architectural component.

Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois
Dr. Sfura is a Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. in Northbrook, Illinois. His experience includes the assessment of structural distress and serviceability problems, the investigation of structural failures, peer review, and the rehabilitation of structures. He has published and lectured on seismic design and performance, and the assessment and rehabilitation of structures.

Dr. Sfura received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois. He studied the nonlinear seismic response of asymmetric steel structures to earthquake ground motions as a doctoral candidate. He is a licensed structural engineer in Illinois, civil engineer in California, and professional engineer in Florida and Michigan. He is a member of the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC), the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI).

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned interdisciplinary firm with 19 offices across the United States. Its team of structural engineers, architects, and material scientists use problem solving and a hands-on technical approach to construction challenges, with virtually every construction material, structural system, and architectural component.

Mr. Skibinski is a Principal of Skibinski Associates, a consulting engineering firm located in State College, Pennsylvania. He has more than 40 years of experience in the consulting engineering and A/E professions. His broad background includes project management, design and construction administration of private and public-sector projects. These projects include land development (residential/commercial/industrial/institutional), master planning, roadway and bridge design, transportation planning, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, buildings and engineered systems, LEED/sustainable design, and wastewater treatment and collection. His expertise is well suited towards complex/multi-faceted projects with critical time frames. He possesses extensive experience with contract documents, contract administration, regulatory agencies, approval acquisition, project financing/budgeting and fund procurement. 

Mr. Skibinski is also on the faculty of Penn State’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at University Park. He teaches undergraduate courses in construction management, construction engineering, project delivery systems, professional practice, ethics, engineering economy, and a graduate course in civil engineering project management. 

Mr. Skibinski is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and a professional planner in New Jersey. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State and an MBA degree from the University of Scranton. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and is listed on their Roster of Neutrals as a construction arbitrator for construction and design disputes. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) and the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE). 

Mr. Skibinski is a Principal of Skibinski Associates, a consulting engineering firm located in State College, Pennsylvania. He has more than 40 years of experience in the consulting engineering and A/E professions. His broad background includes project management, design and construction administration of private and public-sector projects. These projects include land development (residential/commercial/industrial/institutional), master planning, roadway and bridge design, transportation planning, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, buildings and engineered systems, LEED/sustainable design, and wastewater treatment and collection. His expertise is well suited towards complex/multi-faceted projects with critical time frames. He possesses extensive experience with contract documents, contract administration, regulatory agencies, approval acquisition, project financing/budgeting and fund procurement. 

Mr. Skibinski is also on the faculty of Penn State’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at University Park. He teaches undergraduate courses in construction management, construction engineering, project delivery systems, professional practice, ethics, engineering economy, and a graduate course in civil engineering project management. 

Mr. Skibinski is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and a professional planner in New Jersey. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State and an MBA degree from the University of Scranton. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and is listed on their Roster of Neutrals as a construction arbitrator for construction and design disputes. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) and the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE). 

Mr. Skibinski is a Principal of Skibinski Associates, a consulting engineering firm located in State College, Pennsylvania. He has more than 40 years of experience in the consulting engineering and A/E professions. His broad background includes project management, design and construction administration of private and public-sector projects. These projects include land development (residential/commercial/industrial/institutional), master planning, roadway and bridge design, transportation planning, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, buildings and engineered systems, LEED/sustainable design, and wastewater treatment and collection. His expertise is well suited towards complex/multi-faceted projects with critical time frames. He possesses extensive experience with contract documents, contract administration, regulatory agencies, approval acquisition, project financing/budgeting and fund procurement. 

Mr. Skibinski is also on the faculty of Penn State’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at University Park. He teaches undergraduate courses in construction management, construction engineering, project delivery systems, professional practice, ethics, engineering economy, and a graduate course in civil engineering project management. 

Mr. Skibinski is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and a professional planner in New Jersey. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State and an MBA degree from the University of Scranton. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and is listed on their Roster of Neutrals as a construction arbitrator for construction and design disputes. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) and the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE). 

Mr. Skibinski is a Principal of Skibinski Associates, a consulting engineering firm located in State College, Pennsylvania. He has more than 40 years of experience in the consulting engineering and A/E professions. His broad background includes project management, design and construction administration of private and public-sector projects. These projects include land development (residential/commercial/industrial/institutional), master planning, roadway and bridge design, transportation planning, utility infrastructure, stormwater management, buildings and engineered systems, LEED/sustainable design, and wastewater treatment and collection. His expertise is well suited towards complex/multi-faceted projects with critical time frames. He possesses extensive experience with contract documents, contract administration, regulatory agencies, approval acquisition, project financing/budgeting and fund procurement. 

Mr. Skibinski is also on the faculty of Penn State’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at University Park. He teaches undergraduate courses in construction management, construction engineering, project delivery systems, professional practice, ethics, engineering economy, and a graduate course in civil engineering project management. 

Mr. Skibinski is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and a professional planner in New Jersey. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State and an MBA degree from the University of Scranton. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and is listed on their Roster of Neutrals as a construction arbitrator for construction and design disputes. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) and the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE).