Schnader Attorneys Speak at Construction SuperConference 2014

Schnader partners Jeanne Barnum, Kevin Coleman, and Ronald Cusano will be panelists at this year’s Construction SuperConference, to be held December 1-3, 2014, in Las Vegas.

On Tuesday, December 2, at 9:30 a.m., Mr. Coleman will explore “When Insolvency Comes to the Project Site.” Panelists will examine insolvency in the construction industry, and its impact on construction and actual project financing. Topics include: when a GC is entitled to become a priority over a construction lender, and necessary protections; possible consequences of a GC’s insolvency; and whether bonding companies are friend or foe.

Ms. Barnum will participate in an afternoon session beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, discussing “Shifting the Risk/ Sharing the Load/ Balancing the Interests: (Ethics).” The panel will address the ethical and strategic issues involved in the interactions between an insurer, surety, and the insured, including the ethical implications associated with insurance issues arising in the context of 1) risk transfer, including insurance procurement, indemnity and additional insured agreements; 2) the duties owed to different parties when retained as trial counsel, coverage counsel, and counsel for the surety under a tender of defense; 3) dealing with trial counsel, client, in-house and insurance counsel in settlement negotiations, counsel selection and representation under reservation of rights; and, 4) considerations in bringing declaratory judgment or breach of contract actions. 

On Wednesday, December 3, at 8:30 a.m., Mr. Cusano will be part of a panel exploring “Green Build/PNC LEED Platinum.” Participants will address current green building initiatives and legal issues related to obtaining green building status and will discuss the satisfaction of those requirements by the PNC headquarters in Pittsburgh, which is the largest commercial building to exceed LEED Platinum. The session will also include a discussion of innovation and collaborative project delivery and will draw on real world projects as examples.