Joel represents private and public clients in construction transactions and problem resolution. He has broad experience in contracting for both traditional and collaborative project delivery approaches, including Integrated Project Delivery, design-build, CM-at-Risk, multi-prime, and design-bid-build.
Joel is heavily involved with advising clients on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and Lean Construction. He has extensively researched various approaches to incentive programs and risk allocation utilized by international project delivery models. Joel's research on incentives and relational contracting is featured in several recent publications.
Joel also counsels clients on problems involving design firms, contractors or owners. He advises on contract administration and facilitates the legal aspects of the close-out of construction projects. Joel's background encompasses construction-related transactional matters for hospitals and other healthcare facilities, prison facilities, performing arts centers, food processing plants, academic institutions, cultural facilities and office buildings.
In addition to his construction expertise, Joel has significant real estate experience. He has participated in purchases, sales, leases and other real estate activities for both commercial and nonprofit clients. He also has helped with the formation and organization of corporations and limited liability companies to hold interests in real estate. He has conducted research on real estate law, nonprofit entity issues, and construction matters.
Representative Work
Counsel to a major Northern California health care organization. Currently facilitating client's delivery of a multi-billion dollar design and construction program utilizing Integrated Project Delivery and Lean Construction
Special construction counsel to the federal receiver appointed to assume executive management of the health care of California state prisoners. Joel advised the receiver's staff and consultants on the design and construction program to upgrade and expand the state prison medical infrastructure, including the planned use of innovative project delivery methods such as Lean Construction and design-build
Helped prepare the bid documents and negotiate the contract for the $100+ million remediation and deconstruction of a 42-story contaminated office building in lower Manhattan. Extensively involved in contract administration and problem resolution between the owner and contractor during the project
Key player in the drafting and contract administration of an $8.5 million architect agreement and $102 million guaranteed maximum price construction contract for the construction of a new LEED®-certified academic building for a major Manhattan college campus
Publications
"Using a design-build contract for Lean Integrated Project Delivery," Lean Construction Journal (2011)
"Why Your Green Building Project Needs a Commissioning Authority," Construction Newsletter (February 2011)
"Motivation and incentives in relational contracts," co-author, Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction (2011)
"Incentives to Promote Collaboration," Construction Management Association of America College of Fellows, CMAdvisor (March/April 2010)
"Addressing Human Motivation in Construction Contracts," California Constructor (February 2010)
"Rethinking the "G" in GMP: Why Estimated Maximum Price Contracts Make Sense on Collaborative Projects," The Construction Lawyer (Spring 2010)
"Executive Summary of IFOA - Integrated Form of Agreement," co-author Construction Newsletter (2010)
"Integrated Project Delivery: Different Outcomes, Different Rules," 48th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys (May 2009)
"Managing Integrated Project Delivery," Construction Management Association of America (2009)
"A Word to the Wise Construction Lawyer: Read the Specifications," New York Law Journal (June 2006)
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Presentations
"Basics of Relational Contracting for Lean Projects," Lean Construction Institute, Northern California Chapter (August 2010)
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Honors
Outstanding Paper Award, Emerald Literati Network (2012)