Past Programming & Events

The Invisible Divide: Domestic and International Arbitration Compared (November 10, 2022)

Combined Division 1 (Litigation and Dispute Resolution) and Division 8 (International Construction) presentation

Speakers: 

R. Zachary Torres-Fowler

Marcus Salvato Quintanilla

Merra Kurubalan

Patricia H. Thompson

Moderator:

Pasha Ameli

Extreme Winds on Built Environment and Recent Changes in Building Codes (September 13, 2022)

This webinar covers the effects of extreme wind events on buildings and their components with the help of case studies. Extreme winds include hurricanes, tornados, downbursts, derechos, and others. This webinar will also present the changes and additions in the wind load provisions of the 2022 version of the ASCE 7 Stanard. This recently published ASCE 7-22 Standard: Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures will be adopted in the upcoming International Building Code and subsequently in the State Codes. At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the nature of various extreme wind events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, downbursts, derechos

2. Understand the effects of extreme winds on built environment

3. Become familiar with types of wind-induced damage on building components (case studies)

4. Be introduced to process for determining wind loads on buildings

5. Become familiar with recent changes to design standards and codes re. wind loads

a. Tornado load provisions

b. Updated wind speeds map

c. Updates to wind tunnel testing procedure

6. Discussion of how contractors and counsel can address these issues

Speakers:

Michael Lane, Managing Partner, Lane Law Group, New Orleans, LA

Can Simsir, PhD, PE, Senior Consultant, Walker Consultants, Los Angeles, CA

Anurag Jain, PhD, PE, Vice President, Walker Consultants, Los Angeles, CA

Building Results: A Panel for Law Students Interested in Construction Law (March 14, 2022)

Navigating Jury Selection in a Construction Case (March 9, 2022)

This program will discuss both the fundamentals of and strategy considerations associated with jury selection in a construction case. There will be time for Q&A and comments at the conclusion of the program. This event is planned by Division 1 (Litigation & Dispute Resolution) of the ABA Forum on Construction Law. For more resources on this topic and construction trial practice, please review the ABA’s recent publication, Construction Trial Deskbook, which goes through the entire process of trying a construction case. Speakers: Stuart Sobel, Esq., Oliver Morales, Esq., and Galina Davidoff, Ph.D. Moderators: Jason Rodgers-da Cruz, Esq., and Joe Imperiale, Esq. Purchase "Construction Trial Deskbook" here: https://www.americanbar.org/products/...

Charting Your Path to an ADR Practice (July 6, 2021)

Practical Advice to Help You Prepare to Serve as a Construction Arbitrator or Mediator. Most arbitrators on the AAA Construction Panel still maintain a full-time practice. Our panelists will discuss what it takes to be an arbitrator or mediator with the American Arbitration Association’s Construction Panel, give tips for building the type of experience that the AAA looks for and offer insight and advice for building a successful ADR practice. Understanding that parties often seek diverse viewpoints in dispute resolution, the AAA has made a concerted effort to attract and mentor diverse arbitrators and mediators. During this session, the Panelists will discuss the training and continuing education offered by the AAA to its panelists, as well as its mentoring program.

Challenges and Opportunities Women Face within the Legal Profession (June 22, 2021)

The Impact of COVID19 on our Work – Life Balance

Taking the Next Steps (June 22, 2021)

Overcoming Implicit Bias to Improve Diversity + Inclusion in Law Firms (and Law Departments)

How to Build an Antiracist Legal Profession (May 20, 2021)

In this talk, Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig will discuss the obstacles and challenges to developing antiracist law schools and an antiracist professional world in law. In so doing, she will define terms such as “racism” and “antiracism.” She will conclude with suggestions of actions that law schools, law firms, legal organizations, government offices, and public interest organizations can take to build an antiracist legal profession. Speaker: Angela Onwuachi-Willig Boston University School of Law Moderator: Sanjay Kurian

Priorities for Progress: The Challenges of Legal Practice Within and Among the Hispanic Community (April 15, 2021)

Join Forum Member John Vento as he welcomes two members of the Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association, Trish Candamo and Clara Rodriguez Rokusek, to have a conversation about representing Latino clients; including the disparate treatment facing women attorneys and Latinos, and the cultural differences in play when representing Spanish-speaking clients.

International Construction Division's "Bridging the Americas" Series - Episode 2: Damages (April 6, 2021)

Make no mistake - while partially addressed through contract drafting, there remains a number of material differences that industry participants need to appreciate in assessing, claiming, and proving damages in front of a common law or civil law judge, arbitrator, or DRB. Our seasoned panel will draw these differences out, through decades of experiences from Puerto Rico, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

Return on Investment of Construction Claims (April 2, 2021)

How to Best Advise Clients on Legal Strategy in Construction Claims. Division 1 (Litigation & Dispute Resolution) Members Phil Roy, Marc Rosenbaum, and Brenda Radmacher will lead a discussion on how attorneys can more clearly answer the age-old question favored by clients – what is this going to cost me and is the return worth the fight?

Forum Brunch D&I Discussion: Diversity + Inclusion = Influence + Power (March 18, 2021)

Yolanda Cash Jackson, a Shareholder in the Becker law firm, is included in the 2020 edition of INFLUENCE 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in Florida politics. Yolanda is an experienced Government Law attorney who has established a strong reputation in the community for her leadership and commitment to civic, charitable and professional organizations. She has a particular interest in state government funding and appropriations, and actively collaborates with Florida’s leading elected officials and policymakers to shape a better future for the Sunshine State.

Forum D&I Brunch: The Architecture of Inclusion (February 25, 2021)

Keys to Designing, Building a Diverse Equitable Inclusive Workplace. Kelly Bundy and Angela Vallot, an attorney and a nationally recognized DEI consultant with VallotKarp, discuss best practices for law firms seeking to create more diverse, equitable and inclusive environments that will affect lasting, cultural change.

International Construction Division's "Bridging the Americas" Series - Episode 1: Standard of Care (February 23, 2021)

Chair: Richard Wong | Partner, Chair, Construction & Infrastructure Law, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Canada) Panel Moderator and Program Facilitator: Jerry Brodsky | Partner, Director of Peckar & Abramson’s Latin American Practice Amy Phillips | Vice President, Thornton Tomasetti Panelists: Robyn Miller | Senior Vice President, General Counsel, CallisonRTKL Nicolas Saenz | Thornton Tomasetti, Director of Latin America Roberto Hernandez-Garcia | Partner, COMAD S.C. Mexico City Bill Quatman | General Counsel & SVP Burns & McDonnell

Forum D&I Brunch - Building Bridges (January 22, 2021)

A Conversation with The Hon. Victoria Kolakowski, the First Openly Transgender Judge Elected in the U.S.

Critical Conversations: How Social Unrest is Changing the Dialogue About Diversity and Inclusion (November 20, 2020)

Diversity and inclusion efforts have been a focus of most organizations across the country, even prior to the social unrest of 2020. Now, more than ever, the need for authentic and broad corporate diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives is apparent to companies across industry and geography. Join us as DeRetta Rhodes, Senior Vice President of People Capital for the Atlanta Braves, and Tom Garrett, Chief Human Resources Officer for Brasfield & Gorrie, one of the nation’s largest privately held construction firms, share how their organizations seized this opportunity to transform D&I initiatives into a diverse and inclusive culture.

From the South of the Side of Chicago to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (November 19, 2020)

The Keynote Speaker will be Jimmie L. McMillian Senior Corporate Counsel of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mr. McMillian will discuss his journey from the South Side of Chicago, to Partner at an Am Law 100 firm (which was the subject of New York Times Article), and then to the Speedway.

Inaugural Session: Diversity and Inclusion as a Key Factor in Project Management (November 19, 2020)

Our keynote speaker Tewanee Joseph, a member of the Squamish First Nation who served as the Executive Director and CEO of the Four Host First Nations Secretariat for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Forum D&I Brunch: Access and Opportunity (November 19, 2020)

Why the Construction Industry Needs Diversity to Survive and Thrive

Forum Benefits and Building Results Panel (October 20, 2020)

How to Become Involved in the ABA Forum on Construction Law's Division 1 (September 16, 2020)

This video presents the many ways to become involved in Division 1 from attending steering committee monthly Zoom calls to planning a social event at one of the three national meetings to writing for our Division 1 Blog, The Dispute Resolver. Division 1 gives extra thanks to Lexie Pereira who edited and improved this video!

Midwinter 2020 D&I Breakfast (August 17, 2020)

Keynote Speaker: Vicki O’Leary, ENR Excellence Award Recipient 2019

ABA Forum App Guide (July 23, 2020)

Midwinter Meeting 2020 Simon Anderson (July 15, 2020)

Midwinter Meeting 2020 ABA President Martinez

2020 Midwinter Meeting Recap - Tucson, AZ (March 8, 2020)

Photos from the 2020 Midwinter Meeting.

ABA Forum on Construction Law Fall Meeting 2019 Slideshow (December 6, 2019)

The Forum's Fall Meeting in Philadelphia was a historic program focused on diversity and inclusion in the construction industry. The educational and networking sessions were excellent due to the extensive work of the planning team. Here are photos from the Fall 2019 Meeting.

ABA (April 21, 2017)

US Senator Maggie Hassan speaks to the ABA Forum on Construction Law during its 2017 Annual meeting in Washington, DC on matters of diversity.

Fall 2017 Meeting in Palm Desert, CA (February 21, 2017)

The ABA Forum on Construction Law's 2017 Midwinter Meeting was at the J.W. Marriott in Palm Desert, California. The theme of the meeting was on sustainable construction and green building. These are some photos from the meeting.

ABA (February 2, 2017)

Remarks of Nobel Laureate and Former U.S. Secretary Energy Dr. Steven Chu presented to the Forum on Construction Law of The American Bar Association - Palm Desert, CA, February 2, 2017