subcontractors Archive

Many in the industry commonly utilized the AIA documents, often with significant revisions. The core of many of these documents are the AIA General Conditions (A201) with the parties frequently using the 2007 version as a starting point. AIA typically modifies its contract documents every ten (10) years and released its latest edition of the […]

Subcontractors are often asked to sign a subcontract giving the general contractor the right to, in its sole discretion, choose arbitration or litigation to resolve subcontract disputes. Many view these clauses as unfair, and whether such clauses are even enforceable is not settled, which means that state and federal courts across the country have come […]

“Pay-if-paid” clauses are finding their way into subcontracts with increasing frequency. These clauses tie the subcontractor’s right to payment to the contractor’s receipt of payment from the owner. Federal projects require the contractor to post a “Miller Act” payment bond guaranteeing timely payment to subcontractors and suppliers. A recent case out of Virginia has answered […]

Payment is the lifeblood of any contractor, subcontractor or supplier. Yet many myths adversely affect your ability to timely secure payment. Here is my personal top ten. 1. “Don’t worry about it, we can always lien.” While lien rights are important, they are not a substitute for good credit practices. Lien rights only attach to any […]

A construction project can be “a problem in progress.” What separates successful owners, contractors and subcontractors from the others is their ability to effectively manage those problems. Practitioners advising the construction industry frequently consult the relevant contract documents when dealing with these problems, but there are several key statutes that trump the contract that counselors […]