2023 Webinar: What’s Worse, COVID-19 or Its Aftermath? Force Majeure and Disputes Pre- and Post-COVID

The Construction Law Practice Group presented a complimentary webinar on March 15, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time titled, “What’s Worse, COVID-19 or Its Aftermath? Force Majeure and Disputes Pre- and Post-COVID.” CLE credit is available for this webinar.

Click HERE to view the webinar recording.

Webinar Materials:

• Webinar PowerPoint
• Webinar Agenda

About the Webinar:

As the world moves beyond COVID-19, the aftermath of COVID-19 remains. This presentation will examine the status of current disputes. The presentation will examine methods to manage cost escalation, whether supply chain problems are resolved, and disputes related to additional compensation. Achieving awards of additional compensation for lost productivity and material escalation continues to be the center of disputes, to which force majeure is not always applicable. Further, this presentation will examine developing case opinions regarding COVID-19 as more and more courts have returned decisions on appeals as cases regarding COVID-19 make their way through the pipeline.

Moderator:

KIRSTEN WORLEY is a Partner and Construction Practice Group leader at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack, LLP, ALFA International’s member firm in San Diego, California. Kirsten represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, developers, lenders, sureties, suppliers and businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to local small businesses, and business owners. Her practice spans across the state of California. She was recognized as a Super Lawyer in the San Diego region in 2020 and 2021. Kirsten started her career with the construction litigation boutique firm Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP, having practiced in both San Francisco and Orange County, California, for years. Kirsten received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Panelists:

TODD BLISCHKE is General Counsel at Ballard Marine Construction in Portland, Oregon.  Previously, Todd was a partner at Williams Kastner in Seattle, Washington, where he led a team of attorneys in construction law, and before that, he was a partner at Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP.  Ballard Marine Construction has been working in the heavy civil marine construction industry since the 1970s; provided turnkey infrastructure inspection, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance solutions on projects worldwide since its inception.  At Ballard, Todd oversees all legal operations and, as a member of the executive management team, provides company-wide leadership. 

ADAM COOKE is a Shareholder of Fowler White Burnett, P.A.,  ALFA International’s member firm,. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  He is active in the firm’s  Aviation and Maritime practice groups. He has a background in different areas of Maritime & Admiralty, including maritime lien claims, commercial yacht disputes, ship mortgage foreclosure, cargo claims, collision claims, salvage claims, limitation of liability claims, and Jones Act personal injury actions. He also has experience in insurance defense work, construction litigation, complex commercial litigation and has represented various lenders in litigation and collection matters. Additionally, Adam’s practice includes the representation of domestic and international airlines related to claims and litigation for property damage, personal injury and cargo claims.