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
Green LEEDer of the South: Tennessee Lt. Governor Says State is Committed to the Green Wave
You've read the play on words: LEEDing the way ... In the LEED ... LEEDership ... and even LEEDigation. In an address to a room full of contractors, suppliers, and (a…
Best Practices Construction Law
Magic Carpet Ride: Maryland Court Holds Termination of Subcontractor to Be Improper
Released in 1968, the lyrics from Steppenwolf's psychedelic rock song blare out: "I like to dream, right between my sound machine..." Yep, you remember ... the Magic Carpet Ride! The Maryland…
Best Practices Construction Law
Construction Management Tip: Fix Problem Now, Point Finger Later
When my kids break something in the house, they immediately begin pointing the finger at the "alleged" responsible actor. In the construction world, many times you will need to fix the problem…
Best Practices Construction Law
Vandy Football: “Lack of Knowledge” About E-Verify Is No Excuse
This weekend my eldest son turned six years old. What right of passage does every six-year-old boy celebrate in the South? He goes to a SEC football game. And so we set out on Saturday…
Best Practices Construction Law
Construction Industry Rebounding? One BIM Solutions Provider Says So!
Budgets are being cut left and right. Our family "eating out" budget ... gone! Our community organization "summer party" budget ... gone! I see non-profit organizations struggling to keep pace…
Best Practices Construction Law
Lots of Talk about Building Performance: What Does GBCI Say?
There has been a lot of talk recently about measuring a green building's performance after construction has been completed. Last week, I highlighted what the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) had…
Best Practices Construction Law
Are You Ready to Rumble? USGBC Says Yes! Ready to Tackle Building Performance “Head On”
When discussing the short and long term building performance of a green project, the issue generally comes down to the following question: Is there any identifiable or measurable gap between the predicted…
Best Practices Construction Law
A Little Game of Tag: Contractual Waivers of the Automatic Stay in Construction Contracts
What does a little game of tag have to do with construction contracts? If you ever come by my house on a Saturday afternoon, you will find about 10-15 kids…
Best Practices Construction Law
Nashville Ordinance Seeks to Allow Alternative to LEED Certification
A few weeks ago I tweeted about the local building code in Nashville "under review." Actually, those words were a little weak. What about these words: "Contractor Leads Attack Against Nashville's…
Best Practices Construction Law
First Wisconsin … Now Texas … States Adopt BIM for Design and Construction on Public Projects
In July 2009, Wisconsin (through its Division of State Facilities) became the first state to require BIM on large public projects. The details were highlighted in a previous post. Yesterday, the Texas…