John Swansinger was interviewed by Adam Burroughs in the May 2023 issue of Smart Business
Construction counsel can represent every player on a construction project — from the owner or developer down through contractors, design team, subcontractors, and material suppliers. They get involved before shovels are in the ground on projects as diverse as plant expansions, hospital and school construction, highways and bridges, or the construction of a multi-tenant residential complex or a subdivision. Counsel is there to help stakeholders iron out the fine contract details and manage any disputes that happen along the way.
While some project owners believe they can mitigate these issues on their own, it’s a huge gamble that can lead to serious losses if even a single aspect is overlooked.
“When something does go wrong on a project, the legal fallout could be devastating. It is critical to get counsel involved as early as possible to identify and mitigate those risks,” says John Swansinger, head of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC construction area and the partner-in-charge of its Cleveland office.
Smart Business spoke with Swansinger about the role of construction counsel on a project and how to effectively leverage their experience.