1-800-967-8251
Client Service
Business Model
Operational Excellence
Team Spilman
As we wind down our 150th anniversary year, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a wonderful 2015!

Another Perspective

Constructing (and Eating) a Piece of the Energy Sector Pie - An Interview with Melvin Stroble, REM, Project Manager, Energy for Black & Veatch
By Stephanie U. Roberts, Member and Co-Chair of the Construction Group
Everyone likes pie of some sort, especially around the holidays. For those working in the construction industry, the rapidly developing energy sector appears to be an ever-expanding "Job Pie" for contractors designing, managing, supplying, engineering, clearing and erecting projects for participants in the energy sector. For clues on how to follow the pie crumbs to real construction jobs, we turned to Melvin Stroble of Black & Veatch. Here is a slice of the information Mr. Stroble shared. 
 
Click here to read the entire interview.

 
Melvin Stroble, REM

Melvin Stroble is a Registered Environmental Manager and is currently the Project Manager for Energy Projects for Black & Veatch. Mr. Stroble has more than 27 years of experience in the construction and energy industries. He previously served as a supervisor at a mid-size electric utility, and environmental manager for an interstate natural gas company. Mr. Stroble has worked with contractors and consulting firms since 2007. We met Melvin through the United Minority Contractors of North Carolina and wanted to get his insights on construction jobs and the growing energy industry.
Executive Order 13658 Directs Changes to Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors
By Erin Jones Adams, Senior Attorney

Starting January 1, 2015, Executive Order 13658 will increase the minimum wage for workers providing services pursuant to federal construction and service contracts. How will this affect your business? 

Click here to read the entire article.

What's In That Contract Again? Reflections on the Recent Recession
By Travis A Knobbe, Counsel

During and immediately after the most recent recession, construction litigation seemed to hit an apex. New pre-litigation matters to resolve monetary disputes from recession-era construction projects continue to keep many construction lawyers busy. As the economy continues to "normalize," we can look back and draw themes from the work that kept us busy. Perhaps the most common theme that developed was this:  many of the contracts over which disputes arose often heavily favored the side with the most bargaining power.

Click here to read the entire article.

It's Not the Crime, It's the Cover- Up: Equitable Estoppel in Construction Defect Claims
By Bryan G Scott, Member and Co-Chair of the Construction Group

High costs, low margins, and critical path schedules introduce tension into the relationship between contractors and owners, who expect every project to come in on time and under budget. In this environment, incentives are high for contractors (or their subcontractors) to cover up defective work rather than miss interim milestones or completion dates. These cover-ups can have major consequences.

Click here to read the entire article.
Featured Construction Team Member
Michael G. Connelly, Member


Mr. Connelly is co-chair of the firm's Shale Gas practice group and chair of the Pittsburgh Litigation Group. He has a broad range of experience in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on representing energy companies involved in midstream development and exploration and production of natural gas.  Mr. Connelly is recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the representation of oil and gas companies in all areas of development in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays and beyond, including with respect to the development and construction of pipelines throughout the Marcellus and Utica Shale footprints. Mr. Connelly practices in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and obtained his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.
Excellence. Value. Get There.
This is an attorney advertisement. Your receipt and/ or use of this material does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship between you and Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC or any attorney associated with the firm. This e-mail publication is distributed with the understanding that the author, publisher and distributor are not rendering legal or other professional advice on specfic facts or matters and, accordingly, assume no liability whatsoever in connection with its use.

Responsible Attorney: Michael J. Basile