On September 22, 2026, the IRS issued Notice 2026-55, requesting public comments on whether qualified opportunity funds (QOFs) and qualified opportunity zone businesses (QOZBs) that develop and sell single-family homes should be permitted to defer tax on gains from interim inventory sales when those gains are timely reinvested in qualifying opportunity zone activity. Comments are due November 23, 2026.
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Why Sports-Centric Mixed-Use Districts Demand a Different Playbook
One of the most common misconceptions surrounding sports-centric mixed-use districts is that they are simply traditional mixed-use projects built around a stadium or arena. In reality, these developments operate very differently. Rather than functioning as a collection of independent uses, sports-centric districts must coordinate hospitality, event operations, security, branding, sponsorship activation, and public infrastructure across…
250 Years After Independence: Why the U.S. Built a Better System for Planned Communities
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, most commentary will focus on politics—independence, representation, and the formation of a new nation. But there is another story of divergence that receives far less attention: how the United States ultimately departed from English legal tradition in structuring and governing private communities.…
The Rise of the Sports-Centric Mixed-Use District
The role of the stadium and arena is evolving. What was once viewed primarily as a venue for game-day activity has become the foundation for a broader, year-round destination that integrates hospitality, entertainment, residential, academic, medical and commercial uses. For universities, professional sports organizations, developers and public entities, sports-centric mixed-use districts are creating new opportunities…
P-13 Wells in Texas: Who Bears the Cost When a Converted Oil and Gas Well Fails?
A P-13 water well is a former oil or gas well converted for freshwater production through a process administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). The arrangement can serve both the operator and the landowner: the operator avoids some of the expense of plugging the entire well, and the landowner obtains a comparatively inexpensive…
Buzzer Beater: Rethinking Liquidated Damages for Stadium and Arena Projects
Quantifying the Risks of Delays
Liquidated damages are often among the most heavily negotiated provisions in construction contracts for stadiums, arenas, and other sports venues—and for good reason. Unlike many commercial developments, a delayed sports project can trigger losses that extend far beyond increased construction costs. As such, when establishing liquidated damages for a stadium…
Who Pays for Luxury? Allocating Design Evolution Risk on High-End Hospitality Projects
Luxury hospitality and mixed-use developments rarely follow a straight line from concept to construction. Owners refine the guest experience, hotel brands and operators provide input, interior designers develop finishes and furnishings, and specialty consultants coordinate increasingly detailed systems. Even after major design milestones have been approved, the design may continue to evolve.
That evolution is…
Winstead Construction Team Earns National Recognition in 2027 Best Lawyers® Rankings
Winstead’s Construction Practice continues to receive national recognition, with attorneys across multiple offices honored in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch®.
Leading the honors is Michelle Rieger, who was named 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law. This prestigious distinction is awarded to…
The Leaders Club at the WNBA Dallas Wings Game
Winstead Shareholder Ashley Cummings and Associate Dakota Brewer joined The Leaders Club for the Dallas Wings vs. Toronto Tempo game alongside leaders from across the sports and entertainment industry.
Before tipoff, attendees heard from Katina Kenyon, Co-Founder of Applaudo, who shared insights from her experience building and leading a global technology company. The evening continued…
Welcome to Winstead Construction Counsel
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,…
