ANAHEIM CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION EXPERT WITNESS
DIRECTORY AND CAPABILITIES

GRSM Ranked Among Texas’ 50 Largest Law Firms by Texas Lawyer

August 03, 2026 — Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has been recognized byTexas Lawyer in its 2026 Texas 100 ranking, earning the No. 49 spot among the state’s largest law firms by attorney headcount. The annual report spotlights the continued strength of Texas’ legal market, with firms across the state collectively increasing lawyer headcount by 2% in 2025. “Texas continues to be one of the country’s most thriving legal and business markets, and we are proud to be recognized among the state’s largest law firms,” said Laura De Santos, Regional Oversight Partner for Texas. “Our continued growth shows the confidence our clients place in us, the exceptional talent of our attorneys, and our commitment to delivering seamless, high-quality legal services throughout Texas and across our 50-state platform.” Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

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Construction Liens: Liening for Amounts Not Yet Technically Due Does Not Mean Lien Is Fraudulent

August 11, 2026 — David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal Updates
A 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 Norris
Mr. Adelstein may be contacted at dma@kirwinnorris.com

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Risk Reset: Concerns Top of Mind for Top Construction Law Firms

September 28, 2026 — David McMillin - Construction Executive
In the summer of 2025, contractors were consumed by one major issue: tariffs. Owners, builders and suppliers were trying to understand how shifting trade policy would affect bid pricing and ongoing projects. While those concerns have eased after a Supreme Court ruling, some of the industry’s top legal experts—all of whom practice at some of CE’s Top 50 Construction Law Firms—point to a different set of worries that are keeping their clients up at night and keeping their offices busy. Inflation is not fading away, creating continued price challenges. Artificial intelligence is moving at a breakneck pace, offering potential time-saving benefits paired with major liability concerns. The federal government continues to make surprising policy changes, and contractors remain focused on managing financial risk across increasingly complex projects. Reprinted courtesy of David McMillin, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

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Did You Know: Unique Legal Considerations for Animal Care Facilities

August 24, 2026 — Hannah Skidmore - Construction Executive
Animal care facilities are highly specialized environments that require expertise far beyond traditional commercial or even standard medical construction. Whether designing and building animal shelters, doggy daycares, veterinary clinics or full-service animal hospitals, these facilities operate under conditions that introduce unique challenges related to sanitation, durability, animal behavior and operational workflows. Because of these complexities, projects that fail to account for animal care requirements adequately often encounter costly issues—many of which result in litigation. Below are real-world examples drawn from expert witness work, followed by proactive best practices construction professionals should apply to future animal care projects. Reprinted courtesy of Hannah Skidmore, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved. Read the full story...

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Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/19/26) – Single-Family Housing Investors Worry, Confidence in Multifamily REITs and Construction Backlog Falls

September 08, 2026 — Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
In our latest roundup, U.S. Chamber of Commerce creates Housing Advisory Council, a legal battle develops over new federal rules related to mortgage escrow accounts, hospitality dealmakers pursue ‘bigger, higher-conviction’ M&A, and more!

• In the wake of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act becoming law, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a Housing Advisory Council with the goal of advancing market-driven policies that help increase housing supply and promote affordability. (Julie Strupp, Multifamily Dive)
• Investors in the single-family housing market are increasingly concerned about interest rates, rising insurance and home costs, and the ongoing war with Iran. (Diana Olick, CNBC)
• A legal battle is brewing over new federal rules related to accounts that hold money to pay homeowners’ property taxes and insurance payments. (Sarah Agostino, CNBC)

Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team

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From Dark Data to Building Intelligence

July 13, 2026 — Aarni Heiskanen - AEC Business
In this episode, I talk with Mark Sorsa-Leslie, founder and CEO of Auttaa AI, whose team just won first place in Luotea’s inaugural hackathon in Helsinki for turning property maintenance from reactive firefighting into proactive forecasting with AI. Mark is a chartered surveyor with 30 years of real estate data experience, previously the founder of the UK sensor company Beringar. We discuss why so much building data stays dark and siloed, from outdated networking technology to the shortage of people who understand both engineering and property. Mark explains how Auttaa bridges real-time building data with large language models, using what he calls an “influence graph” to surface correlations and causation across previously disconnected systems, such as linking occupancy patterns to CO2 readings to diagnose ventilation problems in minutes rather than days. Read the full story...
Reprinted courtesy of Aarni Heiskanen, AEC Business
Mr. Heiskanen may be contacted at aec-business@aepartners.fi

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Ball Janik LLP Welcomes Construction Defect Attorney and U.S. Air Force Veteran Jake Scott to its Fort Lauderdale Office

June 02, 2026 — Ball Janik LLP
Ball Janik LLP, a leading construction defect and insurance recovery law firm, has welcomed Jake Scott as an associate in its Fort Lauderdale office. Scott joins the Construction Defect Practice Group, bringing experience across construction litigation that includes construction defect, contract dispute, and negligence matters, along with a track record of representing construction professionals through depositions, court appearances, and trial preparation to support the firm's steady growth and client service statewide. "We're excited to welcome Jake Scott to our Fort Lauderdale office and Construction Defect Practice Group," said James C. Prichard, Managing Partner at Ball Janik LLP. "We look forward to the fresh perspectives and legal solutions he will provide for community associations across South Florida." Scott is a results-driven attorney dedicated to providing strategic counsel for complex legal challenges. He has experience managing all phases of a case, from early investigation and discovery through trial preparation and settlement negotiations. Prior to joining Ball Janik, Scott served as an associate attorney in Fort Lauderdale, where he represented clients in construction litigation matters, handled depositions and court appearances, conducted legal research, and drafted pleadings, motions, and briefs. He also worked as an attorney in Tampa, where he represented contractors, subcontractors, and construction firms in defending claims involving construction defects, contractual dispu
Ahlers Cressman & Sleight Nationally Ranked as a 2020 “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®

Haight has been named a Metropolitan Los Angeles Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” and Tier 2 for Orange County by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in 2023

Brian Newberry Accepted into ABOTA

Sometimes You Get Away with Default (but don’t count on it)

Reservation of Rights Letter Merely Citing Policy Provisions Inadequate

Chambers Global 2026 Recognizes Sheppard Practices and Attorneys

Additional Insureds Owed a Defense in Underlying Personal Injury Suit

Construction Lien Needs to Be Recorded Within 90 Days from Lienor’s Final Furnishing

Just Because You Label It A “Trade Secret” Does Not Make It A “Trade Secret”

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (5/29/24) – Megaprojects on the Rise, Agency Guidance for CRE, and an Upbeat Forecast for Commercial Real Estate Investment

Kahana Feld Announces Key Partner Additions Coast to Coast

Court of Appeals Issues Decision Regarding Second-Tier Subcontractors and Pre-Lien Notice

Handling Insurance Claims in the Wake of the Los Angeles Wildfires

A Primer on Insurance for Construction Projects

Federal Court Upholds Uninsured Contractor Endorsement; Finds Duty to Defend Anyway

Expert's Opinions On Causation Leads Way To Summary Judgment For Insurer

New Households Moving to Apartments

Hilary Soaks California With Flooding Rain and Snarls Flights

No Conflict in Successive Representation of a Closely-Held Company and Its Insiders Where Insiders Already Possess Company’s Confidential Information

Builder’s Risk Coverage—Construction Defects

Mediation in the Zero Sum World of Construction

Ivanhoe Cambridge Plans Toronto Office Towers, Terminal

Overview of New Mexico Construction Law

Kahana Feld Receives 2024 OCCDL Top Legal Organizations for DEI Award

Irvine Partner Cinnamon J. Carr and Associate Brittney H. Aquino Prevail on Summary Judgment

Contract Disruption
GOP, States, Industry Challenge EPA Project Water Impact Rule

With Wildfires at a Peak, “Firetech” Is Joining Smart City Lineups

White and Williams LLP is Proud to Host the 20th Anniversary Virginia Barton Wallace Award and Reception

This New Indicator Shows There's No Bubble Forming in U.S. Housing

Pennsylvania Superior Court Fires up a Case-By-Case Analysis for Landlord-Tenant, Implied Co-Insured Questions

Labor Shortage Confirmed Through AGC Poll

Action Needed: HB24-1230 Spells Trouble for Colorado Construction Industry and its Insurers

The Importance of a Notice of Completion to Contractors, Subcontractors and Suppliers

Four Ways to Master the Twists and Turns of Construction Project Change Orders

Determination That Title Insurer Did Not Act in Bad Faith Vacated and Remanded

'Perfect Storm' Caused Fractures at San Francisco Transit Hub

Mixed Reality for Construction: Applicability and Reality

Part I: Key Provisions of School Facility Construction & Design Contracts

Disruption: When Did It Start and Where Will It End?

Connecticut Gets Medieval All Over Construction Defects

California Supreme Court Rejects Insurers' Bid for Horizontal Exhaustion Rule in New Montrose Decision

West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar Announced for 2014

Colorado statutory “property damage” caused by an “occurrence”

What to Expect From the New Self-Retracting Devices Standard

White and Williams Lawyers Recognized by Best Lawyers

Five Snell & Wilmer Partners Named to Utah Business’ 2026 Legal Elite

Before Collapse, Communications Failed to Save Bridge Project

Environmental Due Diligence - What's The Hold Up?

Michigan Claims Engineers’ Errors Prolonged Corrosion

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Strikes a Deathblow to Substantial Factor Causation in Most Cases; Is Asbestos Litigation Next?

School District Settles Over Defective Athletic Field

Two Architecturally Prized Buildings May be Demolished

Let the 90-Day Countdown Begin

Insurer Motion to Intervene in Underlying Case Denied

Fifth Circuit Finds Duty to Defend Construction Defect Case

Professor Senet’s List of 25 Decisions Every California Construction Lawyer Should Know:

Not a Waiver for All: Maryland Declines to Apply Subrogation Waiver to Subcontractors

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reaffirms Validity of Statutory Employer Defense

If You Don’t Like the PPP Now, Wait a Few Minutes…Major Changes to PPP Loan Program as Congress Passes Payroll Protection Program Flexibility Act

2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!

NY Construction Safety Firm Falsely Certified Workers, Says Manhattan DA

Construction Up in Northern Ohio

Candis Jones Named to Atlanta Magazine’s 2024 “Atlanta 500” List

Hawaii Supreme Court Finds Subcontractor Has No Duty to Defend Under Indemnity Provision

Chris Konzelmann Appointed to NASP Board of Directors

Sixth Circuit Lifts Stay on OSHA’s COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Standards. Supreme Court to Review

General Contractor Supporting a Subcontractor’s Change Order Only for Owner to Reject the Change

New York Court Finds Insurers Cannot Recover Defense Costs Where No Duty to Indemnify

Bidders Shortlisted as Oroville Dam Work Schedule is Set

Construction Law Client Alert: Hirer Beware - When Exercising Control Over a Job Site’s Safety Conditions, You May be Held Directly Liable for an Independent Contractor’s Injury

Washington State May Allow Common Negligence Claims against Construction Professionals

Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal Secured by Lewis Brisbois in Coverage Dispute Involving San Francisco 49ers’ Levi Stadium

Flood Policy Does Not Cover Debris Removal from Property

Construction Litigation Roundup: “A Less Than Valiant Effort”

Taking Advantage of New Tax Credits and Prevailing Wage Bonuses Under the Inflation Reduction Act for Clean Energy Construction Projects