As the multifamily market rebounds (hopefully) in 2025, potential new tariffs on materials like steel, lumber, and appliances are raising concerns for developers and contractors alike. Many clients question how to address price escalation risks arising from tariffs in their standard fixed price (FP) and guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contracts, including under changes-in-law clauses, allowances, the contingency account, and other contract mechanisms.   For a deeper dive into these strategies and practical examples, my recent article for the Daily Journal of Commerce offers insights to help you navigate these complex issues.

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Key contract clauses to address tariff risks
Collaborative strategies for risk-sharing and early procurement
Practical examples of tariff management in recent projects

Photo of Colm Nelson Colm Nelson

Colm Nelson represents public owners, private owners and developers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, brokers and lenders in a wide variety of construction transactions, construction litigation, procurement and real estate matters. He has more than 10 years of experience in the construction…

Colm Nelson represents public owners, private owners and developers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, brokers and lenders in a wide variety of construction transactions, construction litigation, procurement and real estate matters. He has more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry and negotiates complex construction and design contracts for public and private owners. Colm represents clients in disputes over bid protests, construction defects and property damage, extra work and delay claims, errors and omissions in design documents, tenant improvements, breach of warranty, insurance coverage against insurance companies and mechanic’s liens. He also has substantial experience handling procurement issues for public, quasi-public and private entities and related projects with respect to construction, services and goods.

Click here for Colm Nelson’s full bio.