How AEC Firms Move AI Beyond the Pilot
July 27, 2026 —
Aarni Heiskanen - AEC BusinessMost AEC firms can run an AI pilot, but few can scale it. Enthusiasm for a first experiment rarely extends beyond the pilot team, leaving the pilot as an isolated win that never changes how the company works. In a recent
AEC Business Podcast episode,
Adeline Chan, CEO and co-founder of Hong Kong-based AAL Innovation, explained why that gap exists and what separates the firms that close it from those that stall.
The Pilot Mindset that Holds Construction Back
Adeline draws a sharp contrast between finance and construction. Banks cannot afford to fall behind their competitors, so they pilot constantly, sometimes running hundreds of proof-of-concept teams in parallel and letting them compete internally to identify the approach that works. The winning concept becomes the standard and scales across the organization, and the return on investment is measured in undeniable numbers.
Read the full story...Reprinted courtesy of
Aarni Heiskanen, AEC BusinessMr. Heiskanen may be contacted at
aec-business@aepartners.fi
Southwest Super Lawyers Recognizes 50 Snell & Wilmer Attorneys in 2026 Rankings
June 15, 2026 —
Snell & WilmerPHOENIX (April 22, 2026) – Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that 50 attorneys in the Phoenix and Tucson offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Southwest Super Lawyers publication. Of those 50, four were recognized for the first time and 24 were recognized as Southwest Rising Stars. Super Lawyers is a listing of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Super Lawyers was first published in 1991 by Law & Politics and was acquired by Thomson Reuters, Legal in February 2010. Thomson Reuters is a leading source of information for businesses and professionals. The below Snell & Wilmer attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Southwest Super Lawyers rankings.
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Snell & Wilmer
Trial-Tested Property Litigator Kimberlee Martin Joins Ball Janik LLP's Orlando Construction Defect Team
October 06, 2026 —
Ball Janik LLPORLANDO, FL, September 30, 2026 — Ball Janik LLP has added Kimberlee A. Martin to its Construction Defect Practice Group as an associate in the firm's Orlando office. For more than a decade, she has litigated matters in the fields of criminal defense, first-party property, and insurance disputes, taking cases and claims from inception through jury trial. It's the same path many of Ball Janik's clients face when construction goes wrong, and her arrival deepens the firm's trial bench in Central Florida.
"Florida property owners are dealing with complex building problems and less time to act on them. That puts a premium on attorneys who can take a case the distance," said James C. Prichard, Managing Partner of Ball Janik LLP. "Kimberlee has carried property and insurance claims from pre-suit all the way through trial, working hand in hand with experts along the way. Community associations and commercial property owners need exactly that combination, and she brings it to our team on day one."
Most recently, Kimberlee served as Litigation Director, where she oversaw homeowners' property claims in pre-suit and litigation, managed a substantial caseload, and guided associate attorneys on litigation strategy. Her civil work includes jury trials, summary judgment and dismissal motions, expert and witness depositions, mediations, and site inspections, along with close coordination with contractors, consultants, and other experts.
That skill set maps directly onto construction defect and insurance recovery litigation, where cases often turn on site evidence, expert testimony, and a credible readiness to go to trial.
"I've seen firsthand how much is at stake when a building has problems: owners' investments, residents' homes, and everyone's peace of mind," said Kimberlee. "Ball Janik is focused on exactly those clients, which made this a natural next step for my practice. I'm excited to join this team and help property owners hold the responsible parties accountable and get their buildings repaired."
Kimberlee earned her J.D., cum laude, from Florida International University College of Law and her B.A. in political science, with a minor in legal studies, from the University of Central Florida.
About Ball Janik LLP
Ball Janik LLP is a Florida-based law firm offering construction defect, construction law, insurance recovery, and commercial litigation counsel, to its local and national clients. The firm was founded in 1982 and has expanded its capabilities, professionals, and geographic footprint. What started as a small firm focused on real property, land use, and litigation (known then as Ball Janik & Novack) has grown to a team of 70-plus attorneys and paralegals in five offices in Florida, with centuries of combined experience and capabilities. The firm has been recognized by Chambers USA, including for its construction law capabilities in Florida, U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, The Best Lawyers in America©, Super Lawyers, and Corporate International. Read more at www.balljanik.com.
A Permitting Base Checklist for Data Centers and Power Plants
June 02, 2026 —
Michael S. McDonough, Stephen J. Humes & Stacey C. Wright - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogThere is a lot of talk these days about “license to operate” for data centers, meaning management of the relationships with stakeholders and broader communities concerning both the benefits and adverse consequences of locating a facility in a particular locale. Here, we are speaking of “license to operate” more literally—namely, the legal and regulatory permitting and approval requirements for a privately owned data center whether by itself or colocated with a power generating plant.
Our Base Checklist includes generally and potentially applicable permitting requirements for development and operation, using California as an example. (Taking legal authority Frank Sinatra out of context, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.”) The actual requirements for a given facility would depend, in part, on local law, including planning and zoning laws and plans, and the environment of the site. Just as examples, additional permitting and mitigation requirements might apply if sensitive receptors are located nearby (e.g., noise mitigation for residential dwellings), if sensitive and protected biological resources (e.g., jurisdictional waters and/or protected species) would be impacted, or if the present or former land uses require additional measures (e.g., hazardous materials remediation, mitigation for conversion of prime farmland, or protection of cultural resources). The scope of permit requirements would ultimately be determined by the applicable regulatory agencies and by the lead and responsible agencies under the applicable state environmental land use regime—in our reference case here, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Reprinted courtesy of
Michael S. McDonough, Pillsbury,
Stephen J. Humes, Pillsbury and
Stacey C. Wright, Pillsbury
Mr. McDonough may be contacted at michael.mcdonough@pillsburylaw.com
Mr. Humes may be contacted at stephen.humes@pillsburylaw.com
Ms. Wright may be contacted at stephen.humes@pillsburylaw.com
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Snell & Wilmer’s San Diego Office Ranked #1 “Best Place to Work” by the San Diego Business Journal
September 01, 2026 —
Snell & WilmerSAN DIEGO – Snell & Wilmer is proud to announce that its San Diego office has been named the
#1 Best Place to Work in the Large Business category by the San Diego Business Journal as part of its
2026 Best Places to Work awards. The annual recognition honors outstanding employers across the San Diego region that are setting the standard for workplace culture and employee engagement. Rankings are based on confidential employee surveys conducted by Workforce Research Group, which evaluate organizations on leadership, corporate culture, communication, employee engagement, and other key workplace factors.
“Being recognized as the #1 Best Place to Work in the Large Business category is an incredible honor because it reflects the experiences and feedback of our own team,” said
Bardia Moayedi, managing partner of Snell & Wilmer’s San Diego office. “Our people are the foundation of everything we do, and this recognition speaks to the collaborative, inclusive, and supportive culture they have helped create. I am grateful to every member of our San Diego office for making this an exceptional place to build a career, serve our clients, and give back to our community.”
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Snell & Wilmer
Idaho Supreme Court Delivers First Authoritative Construction on the Community Infrastructure District Act
November 09, 2026 —
Sara M. Ajeti & Tara Martens Miller - Snell & WilmerOn February 12, 2026, the Idaho Supreme Court issued its first authoritative decision construing the Community Infrastructure District Act (CID Act), Idaho Code §§ 50-3101 to 50-3121, in Doyle v. Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District No. 1. The opinion resolves several issues of first impression — what qualifies as reimbursable “community infrastructure,” how strictly the 60-day statute of limitations bars challenges to a CID’s formation and bond authority, and whether a CID is legally distinct from its creating municipality. For developers forming or using a CID, the decision provides welcome certainty on the durability of CID bonds, reimbursement structures, and the scope of qualifying community infrastructure.
Background
The CID Act allows a developer to petition Idaho cities and counties to form special-purpose taxing districts that finance community infrastructure ahead of development and allow growth to “pay for itself.” I.C. § 50-3101(1)(a)–(c). “Community infrastructure” is broadly defined to include roads, sidewalks, parks, sewers, stormwater facilities, and other public facilities that have a “substantial nexus” to, and directly or indirectly benefit, the district. I.C. § 50-3102(2). A CID is formed upon petition by two-thirds of residents or all landowners within a proposed district to the governing city or county. Once formed, CIDs are political subdivisions with only the power the Act expressly grants, including the powers to contract, finance infrastructure, levy property taxes, and incur debt through general obligation bonds. I.C. § 50-3105(1). Qualified electors within the district must approve a ceiling bond amount by a two-thirds vote; once approved, the district board may issue additional bond series without a further elector vote, notice, or hearing. I.C. § 50-3108(1)–(3).
Reprinted courtesy of
Sara M. Ajeti, Snell & Wilmer and
Tara Martens Miller, Snell & Wilmer
Ms. Ajeti may be contacted at sajeti@swlaw.com
Ms. Miller may be contacted at tmmiller@swlaw.com
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Andrew Gendron Authors D.C., Maryland Damages Compendium Articles for Defense Counsel Journal’s “Damages Compendium – East of the Mississippi”
August 24, 2026 —
Lewis BrisboisBaltimore Partner Andrew Gendron recently penned the District of Columbia (D.C.) and Maryland d
No Duty to Indemnify Where No Duty to DefendDiffering Site Conditions: What to Expect from the Court When You Encounter the UnexpectedGRSM Secures Complete Judgment for Defense in Years-Long Dispute Spanning Multiple VenuesShort on Labor, Israeli Builders Seek to Vaccinate PalestiniansVenue for Miller Act Payment Bond When Project is Outside of UsMore Thoughts on “Green” (the Practice, not the Color) BuildingIllinois Court Determines Duty to Defend Construction Defect ClaimsConsiderations in Obtaining a Mechanic’s Lien in Maryland (Don’t try this at home)Construction Costs Must Be ReasonableNinth Circuit Holds That Policies Covering Environmental Claims Do Not Have Aggregate LimitsThe Real Cost of ‘Dirt Cheap’ Walmart & Amazon Tiny Homes: 10 Things Consumers Should KnowResulting Loss Provision Does Not Salvage CoverageEleventh Circuit’s Noteworthy Discussion on Bad Faith Insurance ClaimsGenerally, What Constitutes A Trade Secret Is A Question of FactHaight Brown & Bonesteel LLP Congratulates Krsto Mijanovic on ABOTA Induction Miller Law Firm Helped HOA Recover for Construction Defects without Filing a LawsuitNew California Construction Laws for 2020The Cost of Overlooking Jury FeesConstruction Project Bankruptcy LawRCW 60.30 – Contract ConsiderationsGeorgia Court Clarifies Landlord Liability for Construction DefectsSafer Schools Rendered Unsafe Due to Construction DefectsHow Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Decision Affects Coverage of Faulty Workmanship ClaimsVallagio v. Metropolitan Homes: The Colorado Court of Appeals’ Decision Protecting a Declarant’s Right to Arbitration in Construction Defect CasesGAO Sustains Unsupported Past Performance Evaluation and Unequal Discussion Bid ProtestReasonable Expectations – Pennsylvania’s Case by Case Approach to the Sutton RuleFrom Shale to Salt: Texas Supreme Court Applies Uniform Rule for Ownership of Subsurface CavernsColorado Senate Bill 13-052: The “Transit-Oriented Development Claims Act of 2013.”The Golden State Commits to Going Green – Why Contractors Will be in High Demand to Build the State’s InfrastructureZLien Startup has Discovered a Billion in Payments for ClientsFlorida Condos Bet on Americans Making 50% Down PaymentsDon’t Conspire to Build a Home…Wait…What?Colorado Senate Committee Approves Construction Defect BillNine Firm Members Recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising StarsSurplus Lines Carriers Cannot Compel Arbitration in LouisianaWhen Logic Doesn’t Matter: Why ‘Irrational’ Isn’t a Ground to Overturn an Arbitration Award in TennesseeFour Things Construction Professionals Need to Know About AsbestosEndorsements Preclude Coverage for Alleged Faulty WorkmanshipFreight Train Carrying Hot Asphalt, Molten Sulfur Plunges Into Yellowstone River as Bridge FailsCA Civil Code § 8850: What Private Multi-state Owners and Developers Building in California in 2026 Need to KnowCarrier Has Duty to Defend Claim for Active Malfunction of ProductHaight’s John Arbucci and Kristian Moriarty Selected for Super Lawyers’ 2020 Southern California Rising StarsKey Legal Considerations for Modular Construction ContractsThe Firm Hits the 9 Year Mark!Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act EnactedWhy the Renovation of Federal Reserve Headquarters Costs $2.5 BillionACS Recognized by Construction Executive Magazine in the Top 50 Construction Law Firms of 2021Protecting Your Business From Liability Claims Stemming From COVID-19 ExposureThe Most Expensive Apartment Listings in New York That Are Not in ManhattanAre Millennials Finally Moving Out On Their Own?Montana Federal Court Upholds Application of Anti-Concurrent Causation ClauseSupreme Court of Oregon Affirms Decision in Abraham v. T. Henry Construction, et al.Review the Terms and Conditions of Purchase Orders- They Could be Important!New Rule Prohibits Use of Funds For Certain DoD Construction and Infrastructure Programs and ProjectsPerez Broke Records … But Should He Have Settled Earlier?Time Is Money on Construction Projects and Categories of DelayCalifornia Clarifies Basis for Inverse Condemnation ClaimsEconomist Predicts Housing Starts to Rise in 2014Florida Legislative Change Extends Completed Operations Tail for Condominium ProjectsTexas Law Bars Coverage under Homeowner’s Policy for Mold DamageFix for Settling Millennium Tower May Start This FallInsurer’s Discovery Requests Ruled to be Overbroad in Construction Defect SuitAhlers & Cressman’s Top 10 Construction Industry Contract ProvisionsReal Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/21/24) – REITs Show Their Strength, Energy Prices Increase Construction Costs and CRE Struggles to Keep PaceReal Estate & Construction News Roundup (10/16/24) – Chevron Ruling’s Impact on Construction Industry, New Kind of Public Housing and Policy Recommendations from Sustainable Building GroupsOne Colorado Court Allows Negligence Claim by General Contractor Against SubcontractorWhat ENR.com Construction News Gained the Most ViewsInsurance and Your RoofMediation in Construction Disputes: A Practical GuideOregon Supreme Court Confirms Broad Duty to DefendMeet the Forum's Neutrals: TOM DUNNSometimes You Get Away with Default (but don’t count on it)
