Can Anything Supersede Excel in AEC?
April 27, 2026 —
Aarni Heiskanen - AEC BusinessIf there’s one piece of software that dominates the business world across industries, it’s Microsoft Excel. Can AI finally dethrone the mighty spreadsheet?
Memorable Spreadsheet Moments
Everyone has memorable spreadsheet moments. I have a few. For example, my then-architecture firm was involved in more than a dozen housing developments abroad. I developed an Excel workbook that took the required number of households as input and automatically generated a breakdown of buildings and their apartment types for AutoCAD. This was urban planning and architectural design done with a spreadsheet.
I also developed business software using Excel for project portfolio management. The prototype was later scaled into a commercial SaaS that is now used globally.
Another memorable moment was when a property owner told me their Excel file grew so large that it ran out of rows and columns. That must have been before 2007, when the maximum number of columns on a sheet was still just 256 and the maximum number of rows was 65,536. The current limits are 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns, which I hope no one will exceed.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Aarni Heiskanen, AEC BusinessMr. Heiskanen may be contacted at
aec-business@aepartners.fi
Brenda Radmacher Authors Chapter in ABA Publication on Construction Delays
May 26, 2026 —
Brenda Radmacher - The Construction SeytBrenda Radmacher, a partner in Seyfarth’s Construction Law practice and a mediator and arbitrator serving on the American Arbitration Association’s panels, is among the contributing authors to the American Bar Association’s forthcoming guide on construction disputes: Time – The Legal Implications of Project Delay in Construction.
Drawing on three decades of experience, Radmacher authors Chapter 8, Contractor Delay Damages, offering practical insight into one of the most contested issues in construction litigation and arbitration.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Brenda Radmacher, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Thank You All for 10 Years Straight of VA Super Lawyers
May 05, 2026 —
Christopher G. Hill - Construction Law MusingsIt is with humility and a sense of accomplishment that I announce that I have been selected for the tenth straight year to the
Virginia Super Lawyers in the Construction Litigation category for 2026. Add this to my recent election to the
Virginia Legal Elite in Construction and I’ve had a pretty good year. As always, I am thrilled to be included on these peer-elected lists. Your confidence in my work is very gratifying.
So without further ado, thank you to my peers and those on the panel at Virginia Super Lawyers for the great honor. I feel quite proud to be part of the
5% of Virginia attorneys that made this list for 2026.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
The Law Office of Christopher G. HillMr. Hill may be contacted at
chrisghill@constructionlawva.com
Insufficient Notice of Commencement and Construction Lien Rights
August 03, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesWhen a party is preserving their construction lien rights, the party will look to the recorded Notice of Commencement. This is the recorded document that provides the lienor with the information for purposes of preserving construction lien rights. A Notice to Owner company will typically rely on the Notice of Commencement to serve Notices to Owners from lower tiers not in contract with the owner. However, when it comes to preparing the lien, a lienor should look beyond just the Notice of Commencement and also look to the property appraiser’s website as a backstop.
In a recent case, a window company had the homeowner sign the Notice of Commencement and then filled in the information. The company naturally did this for the convenience of the homeowner that probably was unfamiliar with the Notice of Commencement process. Regardless, information in the Notice of Commencement was inaccurate. It failed to include all the real property owners. Thus, when a payment dispute arose and a construction lien was prepared, it did not identify all of the real property owners. All of the real property owners were added later during the pendency of a lien foreclosure lawsuit. The trial court denied the lien because of the defective / insufficient Notice of Commencement — the lienor assumed the risk of error by filling out the information in the Notice of Commencement. The trial court further denied the lien holding that because the work did not commence within 90 days of the Notice of Commencement, the Notice of Commencement is void.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
Safeguarding Your Privileged Construction Information With a Clawback Agreement
June 08, 2026 —
Laura Fraher - Construction ExecutiveFor contractors and construction executives, a
dispute that escalates to litigation brings risks that go well beyond the jobsite. When a dispute escalates to litigation, the attorney-client privilege is a critical protection to safeguard your interests. Disclosing privileged material can undermine your litigation position and, in some cases, negatively impact your business. In the construction context, this often includes sensitive communications about project delays, defect investigations, safety incidents or payment disputes—materials that can significantly impact both liability and reputation.
During litigation, the discovery process requires the exchange of documents and data with your adversary. If privileged materials are disclosed to your adversary during discovery you risk the waiver of your privilege, which in plain terms means you lose the protection of the privilege and make the privileged information, and in some cases all other information related to the same subject matter, available to your adversary. It is critical that your attorney take steps to protect against the unintentional disclosure of privileged materials during discovery to avoid a waiver.
Reprinted courtesy of
Laura Fraher, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.
Read the full story...Ms. Fraher may be contacted at
lfraher@barclaydamon.com
Celebrating 29 Years – Thank You for Your Continued Trust!
April 20, 2026 —
Dolores Montoya - Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLPFor 29 years, Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP has grown alongside the clients and communities we proudly serve.
What began as a single office in Orange County has evolved into a multi-state firm with 11 locations across five states. Today, we are proud to be supported by a dedicated team of more than 200 attorneys and over 400 employees who work every day to deliver exceptional service and results.
This milestone is not just about where we started; it’s about the people who have helped shape who we are today. Our continued growth reflects the strength of our relationships, the trust of our clients and partners, and the commitment of our team.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Dolores Montoya, Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLP
Construction Liens: Liening for Amounts Not Yet Technically Due Does Not Mean Lien Is Fraudulent
August 11, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesA 2024 bankruptcy ruling, In re Edgewater Construction Group, Inc., 657 B.R. 668 (S.D.Fla. 2024), touched upon an interesting issue when it comes to construction liens. Is a construction lien fraudulent simply because the lien includes amounts not yet due? Not necessarily.
In this bankruptcy dispute, the subcontractor debtor (that filed for bankruptcy) recorded two construction liens on projects. The general contractor argued in the bankruptcy court that the subcontractor debtor’s liens were fraudulent.
As to the first lien, the general contractor argued that the lien was fraudulent because it included amounts that the debtor knew the general contractor had already paid to the debtor’s subcontractors/suppliers. The bankruptcy court disagreed: “The Court finds that, although the Debtor had been told that [the general contractor] had paid these subcontractors, in light of the ongoing dispute between Debtor and [the general contractor], it was reasonable for the Debtor to demand proof. Debtor’s subsequent filing of a partial satisfaction of lien once the Debtor received the requested proof of payment from [the general contractor] counters any claim of willful exaggeration.” In re Edgewater Construction Group, supra, at 672-673.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
Balancing the Right to Repair With Evidence Preservation in Construction Defect Litigation
April 20, 2026 —
Benton Wheatley & Anna Spicer - Construction ExecutiveEvery major construction project comes with risk, whether it’s a
warehouse build, a
multifamily development or a major renovation. Parties tend to be aligned when things are proceeding as planned.
Home Sales Topping $100 Million Smash U.S. Price RecordsNew Jersey Construction Company Owner and Employees Arrested for FraudThe Great Fallacy: If Builders Would Just Build It Right There Would Be No Construction Defect LitigationReal Estate & Construction News Round-Up (08/10/22)Payne & Fears Secures $1.9 Million in Defense Costs for Homebuilder Client in Summary Judgment Win Against InsurerTo Require Arbitration or Not To Require ArbitrationRandy Maniloff Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® as a "Lawyer of the Year"White and Williams Celebrates Chambers 2024 RankingsNew Executive Order on AI Innovation and Security: Key Takeaways for the Construction IndustryConstruction Litigation Roundup: “I Never Had a Chance”New Jersey Federal Court Examines And Applies The “j.(5)” Ongoing Operations ExclusionThe Final Frontier Opens Up New Business Opportunities for Private ContractorsQuick Note: Can a Party Disclaim Liability in their Contract to Fraud?Defining a Property Management AgreementThe Overlooked Nevada Rule In an Arena Project LawsuitNevada Assembly Bill Proposes Changes to Construction Defect LitigationAppeals Court Explains Punitive Damages Awards For Extreme Reprehensibility Or Unusually Small, Hard-To-Detect Or Hard-To-Measure Compensatory DamagesAttorneys' Fee Clauses are Engraved Invitations to SueTARP Funds Demolish Homes in Detroit to Lift Prices: MortgagesNew York’s Highest Court Gives Insurers “an Incentive to Defend”The American Rescue Plan Act: What Restaurants Need to Act on NOWClaim for Consequential Damages Survives Motion to DismissInsurance Tips for ContractorsDisgruntled Online Reviews of Attorney by Disgruntled Former Client Ordered Removed from Yelp.comGordon & Rees Ranked #4 of Top 50 Construction Law Firms in the Nation by Construction Executive MagazineWhite and Williams Earns Tier 1 Rankings from U.S. News "Best Law Firms" 2017Construction Defect Not an Occurrence in OhioASCE Statement On White House "Accelerating Infrastructure Summit"City Potentially Liable for Cost Overrun on Not-to-Exceed Public Works ContractDid New York Zero Tolerance Campaign Improve Jobsite Safety?Patent or Latent: An Important Question in Construction DefectsThe Riskiest Housing Markets in the U.S.1 De Haro: A Case Study on Successful Cross-Laminated Timber Design and Construction in San FranciscoSinger Akon’s Multibillion-Dollar Futuristic City in Africa Gets Final NoticePublic-Private Partnerships: When Will Reality Meet the Promise?Subcontractors Eye 2022 with Guarded OptimismThe Clock is Ticking: Construction Delays and Liquidated DamagesSeattle’s Newest Residential DeveloperAlert: AAA Construction Industry Rules UpdateDon’t Overlook Leading Edge HazardsCA Supreme Court Expands Scope of Lawyers’ Statute of Limitations to Non-Legal Malpractice Claims – Confusion Predicted for Law and Motion JudgesCongratulations to Reno Partner Karen Baytosh for Securing a Complete Dismissal via a Motion for Summary JudgmentEvaluating Smart Home Technology: It’s About More Than the Bottom LineNew Home Construction Booming in TexasFederal Court Predicts Coverage In Utah for Damage Caused By Faulty WorkmanshipConstruction Contract Negotiation & Drafting: A Practical Checklist (and Where State-Specific Issues Can Surprise You)Reservation of Rights Letter Merely Citing Policy Provisions InadequateAfter Elections, Infrastructure Talk Stirs AgainCatch 22: “If You’re Moving Dirt, You Need to Control Your Dust” (But Don’t Use Potable Water!)A Classic Blunder: Practical Advice for Avoiding Two-Front Warsemprop="name">Subcontractor Not Estopped from Enforcing Lien Not Listed In Bankruptcy Petition
Judge Who Oversees Mass. Asbestos Docket Takes New Role As Chief Justice of Superior CourtRandy Maniloff Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® as a "Lawyer of the Year"What is Toxic Mold Litigation?Washington’s Court of Appeals Protects Contracting Parties’ Rights to Define the Terms of their Indemnity AgreementsThree Key Takeaways from Recent Hotel Website ADA LitigationCourt of Appeals Invalidates Lien under Dormancy ClauseBrown and Caldwell Team with AECOM for Landmark Pure Water Southern California ProgramCouple Claims Contractor’s Work Is Defective and IncompleteBreak out the Neon: ‘80s Era Davis-Bacon “Prevailing Wage” Definition Restored in DOL Final RuleRecovering Unabsorbed Home Office Overhead Due to Delay
