Architectural, Engineering & Design Professional Clients
LePatner & Associates is one of the nation's leading law firms provid-ing legal and business advisory services for architects, engineers, and professional designers across the nation and abroad. Widely respected amongst industry leaders and their insurers, we have built a solid reputation for understanding the construction process and bringing even the most complex disputes to a workable solution.
We work closely with design firm principals to develop successful strategies for structuring the most effective mechanisms for the successful completion of a project, negotiating risk allocation and providing a professional sounding board for resolving complex construction issues.
Business Advisory Services
- Implementing Important Legal Decisions
- New Markets & Services
- Professional Licensing Issues
- Due Diligence of Merger/Acquisition Candidates
- Insurance & Bonding Compliance
- Design/Construction Scheduling
As never before, design firms that expect to survive and thrive in a constantly changing marketplace must conduct themselves in a businesslike manner.
Maintaining profitability, and keeping a healthy balance between long-term client relationships and new business opportunities, must be made an integral part of every firm's strategic business plan.
LePatner & Associates serves many clients as business advisors. Counseling is provided on professional licensing, human resource and compensation issues. Merger and acquisition advice includes performing due diligence on prospective acquisition candidates and structuring the terms and conditions to ensure a successful working relationship for both parties.
Contract Negotiations
- Negotiation of Contract Terms
- Project Insurance Requirements
- Joint Ventures & Associate Relationships
- Structuring Proposals & Negotiating Contracts
Today's complex economic environment demands that architects, engineers and designers become more adept at negotiating contracts that ensure higher fees while minimizing unnecessary exposure.
LePatner & Associates provides a full range of construction contract services. The firm is recognized for its specially crafted agreements that protect the unique legal and business goals of our clients.
Corporate Practice
- Partnership & Shareholder Agreements
- Ownership Transition
- Capital Re-Structuring
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Licensing Issues
- Insurance Requirements
- Copyright Issues
Design professionals must plan carefully for the introduction of new leadership while protecting the financial interests of the current generation of principals. Smart leadership recognizes the need to develop more sophisticated partnership and shareholder agreements, capital restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions, with supportive insurance strategies.
Barry B. LePatner & Associates LLP counsels clients, big and small, with a very hands-on approach by meeting with senior management to design an appropriate business structure that meets the specific professional and business goals of each firm. We provide focused, flexible and future-oriented recommendations that have made a differance for many leaders in steering their organizations towards successful shores.
Litigation and Claims
- Litigation & Arbitration
- Dispute Resolution Alternatives
Barry B. LePatner & Associates LLP can structure dispute resolution alternatives that will be acceptable to a claimant owner or contractor and avoid costly, time-consuming litigation.
When design firms must defend themselves, all options should be explored before committing to the vagaries of litigation. Even the most successful firms are subject to project-related legal disputes.
Where litigation is unavoidable, creative legal strategy is crafted for each matter, drawing support from a wide network of expert witnesses and industry resources. Emphasis is placed on early analysis of a claim to determine the quickest and fairest resolution.
Endorsements from Leaders in the Architecture and Design Community
"As a seminar leader in the program I have given at the Harvard Graduate School of Design every summer since 1990, Barry has provided countless insights into how to constructively manage a practice. He has received well-deserved rave reviews from hundreds of national and international attendees in the program."
A. Eugene Kohn, FAIA, RIBA, JIA
President
Kohn Pederson Fox Associates PC
"Because Barry truly understands the industry, RTKL has turned to his newsletter, the LePatner Report, for over fifteen years as one of the primary sources of information and advice in the design and construction world."
Harold L. Adams, FAIA, RIBA, JIA
Chairman
RTKL Associates
"Barry B. LePatner's expertise in construction claims and his grasp of the nuances and technicalities of the design/construction process are well documented in his book, Structural & Foundational Failures: A Casebook for Architects, Engineers and Lawyers, co-authored with Sidney Johnson, P.E."
Richard L. Tomasetti, P.E.
Partner
Thornton-Tomasetti / Structural Engineers
"Since our inception, Barry has provided us with the vision, strategic planning and a full range of business advisory services that helped us avoid the pitfalls that many firms experience. His advice has been a factor as we've grown to enjoy an international presence."
Todd N. Dalland, FAIA
Principal
FTL/Happold
