On what attendees should expect at the inaugural conference:
“The 2016 CLM National Construction Conference will feature dynamic keynote and general session presentations by leaders in the construction industry. The majority of the conference will consist of breakout sessions, during which speakers present case studies or outlines designed to encourage comprehensive discussion amongst the participants. The breakout sessions are interactive, so if you are attending the conference, be ready to participate and share ideas. We don’t want the attendees to just sit and listen to the speakers like so many other conferences.”
On what makes this conference different from other construction events outside the CLM:
“The focus of the 2016 National Construction Conference will include all risks associated with construction. It is not limited to construction defect or property damage claims. Many panels will discuss construction site accidents and bodily injury claims. Additionally, some panels will have a national focus, while others will zero in on specific regions. This is the first all-inclusive construction conference to address issues at both the national and regional/state levels. The panel topics include residential or commercial construction, owners/developers, general contractors, subcontractors, products or materials suppliers, design professionals, bodily injury/job-site injuries, contract drafting and interpretation, experts, trial/arbitration/mediation, venue issues, claims management, litigation management, coverage issues, policy forms and endorsement, London and non-U.S. insurers, and future trends on coverage, litigation, and the economy.”
On how attendees can maximize the effectiveness of the conference:
"Attendees should expect thought-provoking, dynamic panels that will expand their knowledge and proficiency no matter what their involvement with construction litigation and claims. We have a full schedule of networking events to complement the education portion of the conference. Only half of the attendees will be attorneys, so we have many industry professionals attending. My advice to all attendees is to make an effort to meet new people. Don’t just hang out with those from your own companies or firms. In fact, make an effort not to do that. I never understand why attorneys from the same firm seem to travel in packs at conferences. This is the one conference where you can and should make many new contacts!”
In addition to this year’s National Construction Claims Conference, CLM also is launching a new publication this month called Construction Claims magazine. Published on a quarterly basis, the magazine will address all aspects of construction-related claims, including construction defect, site accidents/injuries, insurance coverage, subcontractor issues, and new technologies that address both national and regional/statewide audiences. Articles are written by some of the top leaders in the industry, and the publication will be distributed to more than 6,000 professionals in the construction claims industry—all of whom are members and fellows of the CLM. Want to subscribe? Log into your CLM account, click “My Profile,” then “Additional Information,” in order to start receiving Construction Claims magazine