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Recent Articles from Stephen Kelly
OP-ED: Public contracting code reminders
The Oregon Public Contracting Code is a detailed, often-amended statute with many moving parts, and these complexities pose a challenge for public agencies and private developers working with agencies on […]
Dear owner: Have you protected your project design?
The owner’s rights to use project design documents can be overlooked during contract drafting and negotiation. Standard form design contracts, however, often contain design document terms that weigh heavily in […]
OP ED: Insurance, bond issues require asking right questions
Because contractors often have limited liquid assets, insurance and bonding are often the best resources available to an owner to protect against contractor default or defective work. However, not all […]
OP-ED: Project owners ought to close the loop
During a busy development project, it’s often difficult for an owner to take time to manage all the details related to the performance of its contractor or designer. Tackling […]
OP-ED: Five ways to coordinate architect and contractor agreements
In the flurry of a development project launch, it’s common for owners to not consider whether their architect and contractor agreements fit together well. These agreements are often […]
Five tips to prepare for delay
Timing, as people say, is everything, and the success of a development project often hinges on when it will be complete. Whether it’s a new business, a new school […]
Five tips for defending a lien claim
Lien claims can be disruptive. Schedule is often critical to a project’s success, and liens can prevent stores from being leased, condominiums from being sold and project sales from closing. […]
General contractors: how鈥檚 your subcontract?
By definition, general contractors are caught in the middle between their owner-clients and their subcontractors: owners hold them responsible for their subcontractors’ work, and they must make sure that their […]
6 questions you should ask before terminating a contractor鈥檚 contract
Not all construction projects end happily, and sometimes it’s best for the owner and contractor to part company. But when a contractor’s contract is terminated, a project can suffer delays […]
4 questions for owners to ask about a design-build contract
For owners, design-build projects can make a lot of sense. With one party responsible for the whole process, communication is simplified and less finger-pointing occurs when problems arise. On the […]
Owners, the clock is ticking on your claims
In Broom v. Morgan Stanley DW Inc., the Washington Supreme Court ruled recently that state statutes of limitations didn’t apply to a contract’s arbitration clause. The court found that because […]
5 questions to ask about a contract
When negotiating construction contracts, people tend to focus on the big stuff: the schedule, the scope of work and, of course, the price. Beyond these basic deal points, only a […]
News
- $960,000 office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 10, 2026
- Two projects in historic districts in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 10, 2026
- 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
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
