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Recent Articles from Colm Nelson
Addressing tariffs in a construction contract: a lawyer’s perspective | Opinion
The specter of new tariffs is raising anxiety levels. Steel, lumber and appliances, for instance, are commonly imported. Consequently, clients have begun asking how to address tariffs when negotiating construction contracts.
Preconstruction services, project savings, and great expectations | Opinion
When a contractor is hired for preconstruction services and then for the project itself, the contractor is creating the very baseline against which its own performance will be measured.
OP-ED: Ways to guard against insolvency risks
Headlines such as 鈥淯S set for recession next year, economists predict,鈥� from the June 12 edition of the Financial Times, are a reminder insolvency risks are real and should be top of mind when moving forward with new construction projects. But there are ways to mitigate the risks.
OP-ED: A key battleground: material price escalations and supply chain disruptions
Material price escalations and supply chain disruptions are hot topics in the industry, with many clients inquiring about their rights and how these risks should be shared. Some have even questioned whether their projects should proceed given the volatility in the market.
OP-ED: When to have the hard talk about setting liquidated damages
A liquidated damages clause is one of the top five heavily negotiated (and litigated) ones in a construction contract 鈥� at least in my experience.
OP-ED: When a contractor refuses to perform work without a change order
What is an owner to do when disputes arise and the contractor refuses to proceed with the changed work?
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
