Welcome to Winstead Construction Counsel, a construction law blog designed to provide insight on the legal and business issues that matter most to owners and developers. The construction industry has always demanded adaptability, but today’s environment requires owners and developers to navigate unprecedented challenges. Projects are becoming larger and more complex, supply chains remain unpredictable, technology is reshaping how projects are designed and built, and legal and regulatory developments increasingly influence decisions long before the first shovel hits the ground.
For owners and developers, these challenges are unique, as every decision has implications that reach far beyond the jobsite. Those decisions affect financing, tenant and stakeholder relationships, client and project reputation, long-term asset value, and more. Yet much of the conversation surrounding construction law focuses on contractors or industry participants generally, rather than the business and legal priorities of those who own and develop projects.
This blog is intended to change that conversation.
Winstead Construction Counsel is dedicated to the issues and perspectives that matter most to the people who own, invest in, and develop projects. Our focus is practical rather than theoretical. We will explore strategies for allocating risk, discuss significant court decisions and legislative developments that will have a real-time impact on your development, examine emerging trends in project delivery and contracting, offer perspectives on avoiding disputes before they arise, and provide practical insights for resolving claims efficiently and strategically when they are unavoidable. Most importantly, this blog reflects the perspective we bring to our clients every day: construction lawyers should do more than react to problems—they should help owners and developers anticipate challenges, make informed decisions, and position projects for success.
Ashley Cummings represents owners and developers on a variety of commercial developments, with an emphasis on complex sports, hospitality, and entertainment developments. Her experience spans industrial developments, hotels, high-end health and wellness facilities and clubs, multi-family and mixed-use developments, residential condominiums, sports and entertainment facilities, office buildings, and more. Whether advising on cutting-edge sports venues, luxury hospitality projects, or mixed-use developments, Ashley brings national experience and a solutions-oriented approach to resolving the sophisticated issues that accompany large, multifaceted developments.
Kristen Sherwin is the Chair of Winstead’s Construction Practice Group. She advises owner and developer clients with respect to construction, design, and professional services contracts, contract administration, lien and bond claims, and project close-out. Kristen’s representation of clients spans the entire lifecycle of a project. Her approach to handling complex transactional and disputed issues is informed by years of representing owners and developers – as both plaintiffs and defendants – in a variety of complex construction disputes. She brings extensive construction-industry experience across a broad range of project types, including healthcare, multifamily, mixed-use, and residential condominiums, along with hospitality, industrial, data center, aviation, office, and entertainment developments.
Monte James has extensive experience advising owners, developers, and other project stakeholders on major construction projects and high-stakes disputes. His strategic perspective and deep industry knowledge help clients navigate challenging legal and business issues while keeping project goals at the forefront.
Chris Dunn focuses on construction law and commercial litigation, representing owners and developers in contract disputes, claims, and other complex construction-related matters. Chris combines thoughtful legal analysis with practical solutions designed to protect clients’ business interests.
Dakota Brewer represents owners and developers in the planning, development, and construction of sophisticated commercial projects across a broad range of industries, including sports venues, hospitality, entertainment, mixed-use, multifamily, warehouse and manufacturing facilities, land development projects, and special purpose districts. His practice emphasizes proactive risk management through the strategic negotiation of design and construction contracts and the efficient resolution of construction disputes.
Looking Ahead
We view this blog as more than a source of legal updates. It is a forum for discussing the issues that will shape the future of construction and development, all from the unique perspective of the project owner or developer. Our hope is that these conversations help owners and developers think differently about risk, opportunity, and the role that legal strategy plays in delivering successful projects. We look forward to sharing our perspectives and engaging with the industry as these issues continue to evolve.
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