Among the many effects on the U.S. economy of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction projects that started before it began but were halted in its aftermath may be slow to resume or be abandoned altogether thanks to funding issues. Contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers feel immense pressure to protect and preserve their rights to payment for work performed on their jobs, and one tool they use to ensure they are paid is the construction lien. In my latest article for the Daily Journal of Commerce, I look at several strategies owners and developers can employ to mitigate the risk they face from lien claims. Read the article here.

Originally published as “OP-ED: Ways owners can protect themselves from lien claims in Washington,” by the Daily Journal of Commerce, October 15, 2020.

Photo of Bart Reed Bart Reed

Bart Reed is a partner in the firm’s Seattle office and practices with the Real Estate and Construction group. With extensive experience in complex commercial and construction law, multistate litigation and ADR (representing clients in 28 states), Bart focuses his practice on construction…

Bart Reed is a partner in the firm’s Seattle office and practices with the Real Estate and Construction group. With extensive experience in complex commercial and construction law, multistate litigation and ADR (representing clients in 28 states), Bart focuses his practice on construction and design issues and disputes, representing owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals and sureties, in diverse matters on both public and private projects. His experience covers a wide range of issues affecting design and construction clients, including contract drafting/negotiation, non-payment and surety claims, construction liens and payment bond claims, design disputes, construction defects, and scheduling issues in the defense and prosecution of delay/impact claims.

Click here for Bart Reed’s full bio.