Seminar on 'Legalities and Realities' of Construction Contracts to Benefit Maine Construction Industry

January 30 event organized by Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson

The Portland law firm of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson and Lorman Education Services have organized a one-day seminar on construction contracts, an event designed for contractors, developers, subcontractors, architects, suppliers, engineers, lenders, attorneys, accountants and others involved in building projects in Maine.

Called "Write the Contract, Read the Contract and Build the Job: Legalities and Realities of Maine Construction Contracts," the seminar will be held Tuesday, January 30, at the Sheraton Hotel in South Portland, 363 Maine Mall Road. To receive a brochure, persons may call Diane Lankton, (207) 774-1200 at Bernstein, Shur, or call Lorman Education Services at (715) 833-3959 to register directly.

The seminar, which may enable participants to earn continuing education credit, will cover the pitfalls of "handshake deals," steps to take in writing contracts, insurance provisions, do's and don'ts, reading contracts and building the job.

"If you don't understand how to read, write and follow your contract, you will lose money in the construction process," said David P. Ray, chairman of Bernstein, Shur's Construction Law Practice Group. "A well-crafted contract recognizes and shifts the substantial risks of a construction project to the party in the best position to control them, and reduces the risk of loss on the project as a whole. It is of vital importance to the success of a project, and is the best way to facilitate dispute resolution if something goes wrong."
This is the first of four construction law seminars the firm has organized during the first half of 2001 as part of the "Legalities and Realities" series. Future seminar topics include public contracts and competitive bidding (March 30), getting paid (May 15), and saving projects at risk (June).

The seminar features Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson construction law attorneys George F. Burns, David P. Ray, Mary DeLano and Carrie A. Green as well as J. Michael Roper, a leading claim management consultant. Roper's company, Energy Insurance Consultants, provides both pre-loss and post-loss claim-related support and advisory services to North American companies.

Burns, one of Maine's leading commercial and construction law attorneys, specializes in corporate and commercial law and litigation with particular concentration on construction contracts and business finance. He has a wealth of experience as an arbitrator and litigator of construction claims.

Ray has provided legal services to contractors and owners for more than 20 years in all areas of construction law and has lectured on construction and litigation issues. He specializes in construction litigation and construction-related insurance and surety matters.

DeLano handles a variety of large and small construction disputes in court and in arbitration, and assists clients with contract reviews and the development and resolution of construction claims. She and Green are each past presidents of the Southern Maine Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.

Green specializes in the management and trial of a wide variety of commercial disputes, negotiation of commercial and construction contracts and construction litigation. She has lectured on a variety of legal topics including construction, real estate and environmental issues.

The four attorneys recently merged with Bernstein, Shur after building a strong construction practice over two decades at their former firm, Burns Ray Delano & Macdonald. As a result of the merger, Bernstein, Shur has created a new Construction Law Practice Group.

Established in 1915, Bernstein, Shur concentrates its practice in select areas, including corporate and commercial law, litigation and trials, municipal and governmental affairs, tax and estate planning, international and immigration matters, health law, employment, legislative representation and intellectual property, construction law, high technology and e-commerce practice. Its web site at www.mainelaw.com was the first of its kind when launched in 1995, and is now available in six languages for the convenience of its many foreign clients. Bernstein, Shur is the only Maine law firm that is a member of Lex Mundi, an international association of 151 law firms located in all major economic centers in the world.

# # #