Contracts for the Architectural Woodworker

2/8/2013

Dear Friends of the Virginia Chapter of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI), this is the first of several notifications of our next meeting.

I am looking forward to seeing you on March 20th in Charlottesville. Per the memberships’ request, we have prepared a wonderful program on Construction Contracts. We are honored to have attorneys Mr. Richard Smith and Mr. Brian Vella share their knowledge of construction law. Both gentlemen have extensive experience with this subject. Brian will speak on contracts and will instruct us on building a contract “check-list”. Richard will discuss arbitration and mediation as an option for the woodworker. I have attached copies of their resumes for your information.

This meeting starts at 11:00 sharp. We will begin with a short bit of chapter business. I am putting forth a proposal to change our chapter name to the Virginias Chapter to include our members to the west; and I am asking to vote on a revision to update the chapter by-laws and make them concurrent to contemporary practices. The current by-laws stipulate that changes must be announced 21 days prior to the meeting. I have attached the proposed changes for your review.

At this meeting, boxed lunches from the hotel will be catered, and the price for this event, with lunch, is only $25. Please choose your meal from the list below:

  • Roast Beef and Provolone on Kaiser Roll with Horseradish Mayo
  • Roast Turkey and Swiss on Spinach Wrap with Cucumber and Red Onion
  • Chicken Salad Croissant
  • Seasonal Veggie Wrap with Hummus and Harvarti Cheese

You may pay at the meeting, but please pre-register by e-mail to me if you plan to join us. Please note that space is limited for this meeting.

At this meeting, there will be opportunities for vendor tabletop presentations at $100 per display. Again, I ask that you pre-register if you want to have a display.

Please feel free to call me with any comments or questions regarding the chapter. I look forward to seeing you again at the meeting on Wednesday, March 20th.

Remember: AWI is about “Doing things together that we cannot do alone.”

Thanks,


Bruce Cody

Chapter President

Location of meeting:

Courtyard Marriott

1201 West Main Street

Charlottesville, VA 22903

Phone (434) 977-1700

Fax (434) 977-2600

Brian J. Vella

Member: SMITH PACHTER MCWHORTER PLC

Practice Focus Construction Contracts and Claims Government Contracts and Commercial Litigation.

Representative Experience Mr. Vella’s practice is concentrated on heavy construction and commercial construction matters. For over 25 years, Mr. Vella has represented contractors and owners in construction related disputes, including matters involving defective specifications, differing site conditions, variations in estimated quantities, design changes, constructive changes, mechanics liens, payment and performance bond disputes, contract interpretation issues, payment disputes, insurance and warranty issues; acceleration, delay, and inefficiency claims; and schedule and costs analysis of contractor claims.

In addition to representing contractors and owners in litigation, arbitration and mediation, Mr. Vella counsels clients regarding contract formation and interpretation issues, and in developing strategies for risk analysis and avoidance. In matters involving construction disputes, Mr. Vella has extensive experience in factual analysis; claim organization, preparation and presentation; work with engineering and design consultants, technical experts, scheduling experts, and cost and pricing experts.

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Richard F. Smith

Lecturer
LL.M., George Washington University Law School, 1973
LL.B., University of Virginia School of Law, 1969
B.S., Wake Forest University, 1966

Richard Smith is founding partner and senior counsel at Smith Pachter McWhorter PLC. He earned a B.S. in 1966 from Wake Forest University, an LL.B in 1969 from the University of Virginia, and an LL.M in 1973 from George Washington University. He is a former partner in Wickwire Gavin and Lewis, Mitchell & Moore. He served in the United States Air Force JAG Corps at Wright Patterson AFB and on the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.

Smith is a fellow of and formerly served on the Board of Governors of the American College of Construction Lawyers. He is also a fellow in the College of Commercial Arbitrators. He has been on the Governing Committee of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, and in 2010 won the Cornerstone Award, the highest award given by the Forum. He has twice been Chair of the Virginia State Bar Construction & Public Contracts Law Section and is currently on the Council of the Virginia Bar Association Construction & Public Contracts Law Section.

Smith is a contributing author to the ABA Construction Law Textbook and is a contributing author and editor of the VACLE Virginia Construction Law Deskbook.

He has lectured on government contracts at the William & Mary Law School and the University of Richmond Law School. He has also taught business law in the Averett University MBA program.