CHICAGO, February 2, 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, a leading global law firm with the top-rated real estate practice in the world, announced today that Daniel Brennan, Ty Laurie and Eric Berg, partners in its Chicago office, served as editors and authors on the The Construction Contracts Book: How to Find Common Ground in Negotiating Design and Construction Contract Clauses, a clause-by-clause guide to the most widely-used U.S. form design and construction contracts.
The book, published by the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, analyzes key clauses in the forms, issued by the American Institute of Architects, the Associated General Contractors of America and the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee, used widely on commercial and other real estate projects in the United States. The book also offers unique, alternative language to each of these clauses as options for the contract negotiator.
“This book will be helpful to both those parties who are experienced in negotiating design and construction contracts, and those who rarely if ever deal with them, such as in-house counsel at a company that decides to build its first headquarters.”
“One of our goals was to give insightful analysis of each of the provisions, so that anyone negotiating such a contract can understand the reasoning behind each clause, whose interests are being protected, and what alternative language is available to better protect the interests of other parties to the agreement, such as owners or subcontractors. In addition, we offer suggestions for reasonable compromises when negotiations reach an impasse,” noted Mr. Brennan.
In addition to Mr. Brennan’s role as lead editor and author of the chapter on “Delays”, Ty Laurie served as executive editor and as liaison to ABA publishing and Eric Berg authored the chapter on “No Damages for Delay.” .
The ABA notes that this volume is two books in one. Each chapter is organized by a topic that is addressed in each of the AIA, AGC and EJCDC owner/contractor/subcontractor or owner/design professional agreements. Each chapter is then broken down into three sections. The first section provides general background about the topic, identifying in summary format the critical issues involved with that particular topic. The second section describes the relevant contract provisions in the form contracts that address the topic and compares them to one another. The last section provides alternative clauses for the practitioner to consider in addressing the topic at hand.
The book is available through the American Bar Association at 1-800-285-2221 or online at http://www.abanet.org/abastore/index.cfm?section=main&fm=Product.AddToCart&pid=5570203
