In the Bay area many construction projects now include many green building features, including LEED certification. There are unique risks, responsibilities and procedures for construction projects seeking LEED certification. It is important for these issues to be...

Many companies and people building homes and offices in California want to ensure that the building is energy efficient and environmentally friendly. There are different ways to ensure this occurs, but one of the most common is to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy...

In San Francisco, throughout California and across the globe, design professionals are given the opportunity to ply their trade and work on a project. These individuals and companies will undoubtedly have a vision in mind. Generally, that will stem from what the...

Design professionals take pride in their work, knowing that they have designed something that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also complies with code. When you design a building, part of the design will include safety features. Unfortunately, sometimes design...

The ongoing health crisis has disrupted just about every industry in our economy. This includes design and construction. In most instances, this impact comes in the form of unexpected delays that can turn out to be costly. Given the expense involved, these delays can...

When a design firm sets out to market its professional services, the information it places on its website may put it at unintentional legal risk. Design professionals and firms have a standard duty of care to prevent property damage or harm to building occupants....

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS II The Risk of Paying More than Your Fair Share Let’s start with the basic premise that the purpose of a contract is to allocate risks, rewards and responsibilities in a way that each party finds agreeable for a particular commercial...

The use of technology in the world of business, including the design business, has exploded over the last 30 years and has provided many wonderful new opportunities. Unfortunately, too many people have instead taken the information revolution as an opportunity to...

The California wildfires have presented heightened challenges for architects designing new homes. The scope of these catastrophic fires has provided further information about how buildings and structures burn under these conditions. Given the lives and property lost...

Construction projects may be large and complex. Building owners and other impacted parties can sue anyone involved in the design and construction of the structure, including design professionals, if something goes or if they are dissatisfied. Design professional...