Thoughts on construction law from Christopher G. Hill, Virginia construction lawyer, LEED AP, mediator, and member of the Virginia Legal Elite in Construction Law

Category Archives: Construction

To Require Arbitration or Not To Require Arbitration

Originally posted 2014-12-15 09:00:36. Many, if not most, construction contracts that I review during the course of my practice day include a mandatory arbitration clause.  Most of these refer in a blanket manner to AAA Construction Industry Rules.  The topic for this post is not whether such clauses are enforceable or whether they are one

Changes to Va. Code Section 43-13: Another Arrow in a Subcontractor’s Quiver

As is always the case here in Virginia, our General Assembly has made some legislative changes that affect construction contracting.  One of these changes is an amendment to Va. Code 43-13 found in the mechanic’s lien section of the Virginia Code. This section of the code has always required that any money paid to a

Top Five General Tips for All Construction Contracts

Originally posted 2012-11-09 12:30:29. For this week’s Guest Post Friday here at Musings we welcome Spencer Wiegard.  Spencer is a Partner with Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP.  He is a member of the firm’s Construction Law and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Spencer focuses his practice in the areas of construction law and construction litigation.

Quick Note: Be Careful with Pay if Paid Clauses (Both Subcontractors and General Contractors) (now with a caveat)

Originally posted 2015-06-15 09:00:38. Aside from waiver of lien rights (something that will be illegal in Virginia after July 1, 2015), the most troublesome contractual impediment to payment for a subcontractor or supplier on a project often is the “pay if paid” clause.  As a general rule, in Virginia, these clauses where drafted in the

Accounting for Payments on Projects Became Even More Crucial This Year

I discussed several of the statutory changes affecting the construction industry here at Construction Law Musings in the run-up to July 1, 2020.  One of those changes, an amendment to Virginia Code Section 43-13, may add another arrow to the collection quiver of subcontractors and suppliers.  As part of the previously-linked rundown, I highlighted one