How Ten Key Provisions in a Strong Design Professional Agreement Can Prevent or Terminate a Lawsuit

Donovan Hatem invites you to join us for a discussion led by Ken Walton, on AIA agreements and key provisions in a strong design professional agreement that can provide protection to design professionals. Effective use of these provisions can shield a design professional from potential legal liability or assist in terminating litigation after it has started.

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint

With the holidays fast approaching Donovan Hatem is already considering the upcoming season and our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint.

This year the firm will be planting at least 50 trees with our company’s seasonal e-card. This measure will offset about 50 tons of CO² over the lifetime of the trees. eCO2 Greetings planted 10 trees on behalf of Donovan Hatem last year across a variety of registered forest restoration schemes, and this year we have increased our efforts to diminish the effects of climate change.

Risk Management and Contractual Strategies for E-Communications and Construction Site Accidents

Donovan Hatem invites you to join us for our next Design Professional Roundtable discussion led by Eric A. Howard on how design professionals can manage risk and develop strategies for dealing with issues and claims that may arise as a result of information transmitted in electronic communications such as e-mail, marketing materials and social media. This program will also address how design professionals can manage risk and develop strategies for dealing with indemnification rights, responding to interviews, and OSHA. Attendees will learn about standard contractual provisions including means and methods, site safety, defense and indemnification and additional insured protection for design professionals.

Legislative Initiatives Impacting Design Professionals

Join us for our next Boston roundtable on Thursday, October 22. This panel discussion will be focused on the latest legislative actions impacting design professionals.

Opportunities for Infrastructure Reform: Improving America’s Procurement System

Recently, the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program hosted the first of a series of workshops, with support from insurance company AIG, focused on identifying the biggest challenges and opportunities for America’s procurement system for infrastructure and the built environment. Leveraging real world experience from practitioners in government, finance, insurance, law, and construction, Brookings identified the top four opportunities for smart infrastructure reform. Contributing his knowledge of the industry, Donovan Hatem attorney David J. Hatem was one of the participants in the Brookings workshop.

For more information on the research, read the entire Brookings report, Opportunities for Infrastructure Reform: Improving America’s Procurement System.”

Recent CM-At-Risk Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Decision – What Does It Mean for Project Participants?

On September 2nd, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decided Coghlin Electrical v. Gilbane Building Company v. DCAMM (referred to here as “Coghlin“) involving an issue of first impression in Massachusetts (and throughout the United States), and one of critical importance to the successful utilization of the construction manager-at-risk delivery method (CMR).

Read David J. Hatem, PC‘s entire article published in ACEC Insights, Summer/Fall 2015.

2015 ACEC Fall Conference

Don’t miss David Hatem at the 2015 ACEC Fall Conference!

The Mechanic’s Lien – Are You Protected?

Gregory Paonessa recently had his article “The Mechanic’s Lien – Are You Protected?” published in Thomson Reuters’ Legal Handbook for Architects, Engineers and Contractors: Issues in Construction and Technology, Vol. 31, 2014/2015.

Construction Manager at Risk May Have Design Risk According to Mass. SJC

Yesterday, September 2, 2015, the Supreme Judicial Court released its Coghlin v. Gilbane opinion. Note, the case has been remanded to the Superior Court for proceedings consistent with the SJC’s opinion.

September 3 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Design-Build and P3s: Risk Allocation and Professional Liability Claims Experience

Please join us on Thursday, September 3 at the Boston Harbor Hotel for a discussion led by David J. Hatem on the increasingly popular design-build and P3 delivery methods. Beyond any question, design-build is on the rise as the delivery method of choice for many public owners seeking to contain cost overrun and other project risk exposures. In addition, P3, which combines design-build with private financing, is gaining interest across the United States.

Donovan Hatem Welcomes New Associate

Donovan Hatem is pleased to announce that James Boyce, Esq. has joined the Associate group in the New York office.

June 17 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Please join us on Wednesday, June 17 at the Boston Harbor Hotel for a panel discussion focused on recent court decisions impacting design professionals. Donovan Hatem attorneys will provide presentations on several of their cases in the last year involving professional liability claims against design professionals. Actually, there is much “good” to report!

May 28 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Please join us on Thursday, May 28 at the Boston Harbor Hotel for “Construction Documents, Value Engineering, Shop Drawings, Submittal Reviews and Construction Phase Risks – Can They Be Avoided or Mitigated?”

Donovan Hatem LLP Congratulates Colin M. Black and Daniel C. Poteet

Donovan Hatem is pleased to announce that Colin M. Black and Daniel C. Poteet have been elected partners of the firm. Both will continue to practice out of the Boston Office.

Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Midwinter Meeting

Sue Yoakum, AIA and Dan Klancnik will be presenting Building Information Modeling (BIM) – Risks and Legal Concerns at the upcoming Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Midwinter meeting on January 22 from 1:30-2:15. This presentation will commence with a state-of-the-art BIM presentation by Dan Klancnik and follow with a timely presentation by Sue Yoakum on past, present and future risks associated with the use of BIM on a construction project. They will also address various legal concerns involving the use of BIM, identify “noise” relating to the use of BIM, and provide guidance regarding the handling and avoidance of BIM claims.

Donovan Hatem LLP Welcomes New Associates

Donovan Hatem is pleased to announce that Amy Miller, Esq., Amanda Mathieu, Esq., Daniel Lagosh Jr., Esq., and Gregory Paonessa, Esq. have joined the Associate group in the Boston office.

December 11 Roundtable at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Please join us on December 11 for our last roundtable of 2014! Cheryl Waterhouse, Esq., and Dan Poteet, Esq. will present Practice Requirements for A/E Firms. This roundtable will address various states’ statutory and regulatory provisions that impact the practice of architectural and engineering services through corporate entities. Breakfast and registration starts at 7:30 am in the Wharf Room, we hope to see you there!

Brian C. Newberry unanimously re-elected House Minority Leader

Donovan Hatem LLP is pleased to announce that Brian C. Newberry, a partner has been unanimously re-elected as a Minority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Newberry, representing District 48 in North Smithfield and Burrillville, was elected to lead the caucus for the 2015-2016 legislative session. He was first elected House Minority Leader in 2011 and has been serving the people of District 48 since 2008.

Donovan Hatem LLP Welcomes New Associate in the New York office

Donovan Hatem LLP is pleased to announce that Michael P. Hess has joined the New York office as an Associate in the Professional Practices Group. Prior to joining Donovan Hatem, Mr. Hess was an Associate in a mid-sized law firm in New York handling all aspects of litigation from inception through trial. Notable representations include Pipia v. Turner Constr. Co., 114 A.D.3d 424 (1st Dept. 2014), and Lugo v. Purple & White Mkts., Inc., 104 A.D.3d 435 (1st Dept. 2013).

2014 Massachusetts Super Lawyers

Donovan Hatem LLP, a multi-practice law firm, is pleased to announce that David J. Hatem, Esq., and Kenneth B. Walton, Esq., have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 2014.