Organization
Matthew DeVries
Best Practices Construction Law is a legal blog authored by Matthew J. DeVries, a shareholder at Buchalter, a full-service business law firm with offices across several U.S. states. The blog focuses on legal issues and best practices within the construction industry, covering topics such as risk assessment, claims management, contract drafting, project management, technology in construction, alternative dispute resolution, and legal trends. It provides analysis and commentary relevant to contractors, developers, owners, and other stakeholders involved in construction projects, including public infrastructure and commercial developments. The content aims to address practical problems and solutions encountered in construction law and project execution.
482 published works
Best Practices Construction Law
New Dallas Project Illustrates Alternative to Project Financing
The Property Report in the Wall Street Journal this morning featured the $200 million Museum Tower, a Dallas condo project that is touted as the "Exception to the Slump" (sub. req'd). …
Best Practices Construction Law
It’s A Tie! … How BIM is Similar to World Cup Soccer
I grew up with a soccer ball at my feet. So it was no surprise to see me relaxing in front of the big screen this weekend, son by my…
Best Practices Construction Law
Cost v. LEED Certification Debate Continues: One County Finds Middle Ground
It really is impossible to put your arms around the number of green building and energy performance policies and codes that are sprouting up all across the nation. When a…
Best Practices Construction Law
LEED Certification Challenge in Less Than 140 Characters
About a year ago, I wrote a post on the trending topic of LEED revocation or de-certification. That issue has not gone away ... it actually has been brought to the…
Best Practices Construction Law
Lucidity: AIA Revises Bid, Payment and Performance Bond Forms
Lucidity is defined as clearness of thought or style. In its recent revisions to the A310 (Bid Bond) and A312 (Performance Bond and Payment Bond), the American Institute of Architects…
Best Practices Construction Law
Tips for Drafting Commercial Real Estate, Development and Construction Contracts
Noted author and business attorney, Peter Siviglia, once said: "In this world, ... there are two forms of writing: creative (such as novels, plays, and poetry) and expository (such as treatises, letters,…
Best Practices Construction Law
What Are the Benefits of LEED Certification? Some Say Benefits Don’t Justify High Costs
As a follow-up to my post yesterday about the costs of LEED certification, I was not surprised to read the following lead line in a local newspaper in Cary, North Carolina: "Cary wants to be…
Best Practices Construction Law
What Are the Real Costs of LEED Certification? You May Be Surprised.
Most owner and developers would imagine that the most significant costs of LEED certification are the front-end registration and back-end submittal costs. Are they correct? Depends. Environmental Building News prepared a primer…
Best Practices Construction Law
Nashville Flood Recovery: Do I Need A Building Permit for Repairs?
Short answer: Yes. While most of the best practices that I talk about here involve commercial developments, today's post applies both to residential and commercial projects. It's been two weeks since…
Best Practices Construction Law
From Chickens to Contractors: Leadership Lessons from Chick-Fil-A’s Leadercast
Last week I attended Chick-Fil-A's Leadercast, which included some of today's greatest leaders such as Tony Dungy, John Maxwell, Ed Bastien and Dr. Ben Carson. The Leadercast is about developing leaders…