Modifying AIA Contract Documents: Advanced Strategies for Owners, Developers and Contractors
Recording of a 90-minute CLE webinar with Q&A
This CLE course will provide construction counsel with advanced strategies for amending and modifying standard AIA contract documents, and outline how counsel for owners, developers and contractors can best modify these standard construction agreements--including drafting global riders to ensure consistency--to enhance project profitability and protect client interests.
Outline
- Overview of AIA documents and 2017 revisions
- Common AIA contract issues and gaps
- Advanced drafting strategies
- Revising existing provisions
- Inserting additional clauses
- Incorporation by reference of additional documents
- Cross-referencing
- Global riders
- Examples
- Final considerations
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What are the most common problems with the AIA standard contracts?
- What is missing in the AIA documents?
- What are best practices for modifying and amending these forms?
- In what ways are AIA documents incomplete?
- How can counsel incorporate RFPs and LOIs?
- How can global riders be drafted to modify the standard AIA contracts best?
- What are best practices for ensuring project-wide consistency?
- What practical drafting strategies will reduce the likelihood of disputes and offer significant advantages if disputes arise?
Faculty

Sharon M. Lewonski
Partner
Culhane Meadows
Ms. Lewonski is Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, where she primarily focuses her practice on... | Read More
Ms. Lewonski is Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, where she primarily focuses her practice on assisting clients on matters concerning the financing, acquisition, development, marketing, management, and disposition of income-generating real estate assets. Ms. Lewonski has represented lenders, investors, owners and developers throughout every aspect of the real estate cycle and has closed deals on all sides of the negotiating table. Her extensive experience includes retail, industrial and office leasing, zoning and land use entitlements, master-planned, mixed-use, and resort community development, golf course and private club formation and management, and state and federal sales and marketing regulatory compliance, such as registration under The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act. With over a decade of experience as a seasoned litigator, Ms. Lewonski adds value to every transaction negotiated.
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Anthony J. (Tony) Manhart
Partner
Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios
Mr. Manhart is a partner in the Construction Law Group at Preti Flaherty, and assists clients in contract and... | Read More
Mr. Manhart is a partner in the Construction Law Group at Preti Flaherty, and assists clients in contract and collections issues. He also focuses on bankruptcy and creditors' and debtors' rights, representation of Chapter 7 trustees, and various parties in formal insolvency and collection proceedings and out-of-court workouts.
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Robert J. Olson
Partner
Dorsey & Whitney
Mr. Olson practices in all aspects of real property law focusing on transactions involving the acquisition,... | Read More
Mr. Olson practices in all aspects of real property law focusing on transactions involving the acquisition, development, construction, financing, sale, leasing, and disposition of real estate. He also supports other practice groups in matters affecting real property, including mergers and acquisitions, project development and financing.
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Kenneth E. (Ken) Rubinstein
Director
Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios
Mr. Rubinstein is Co-Chair of the firm's Construction Law group, and a member of the firm's Litigation and... | Read More
Mr. Rubinstein is Co-Chair of the firm's Construction Law group, and a member of the firm's Litigation and Professional Liability groups. He regularly represents public and private clients, as well as insurance companies and their insureds, in complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis on matters involving construction issues and financial professionals. Mr. Rubenstein has practical industry experience in both the construction and financial services industries, having worked at a Manhattan construction management firm and at "Big 6" accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, LLP, before beginning his practice as a civil trial lawyer.
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