August 29, 2023

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern

Construction:  Alternative Project Delivery in Public Construction: Dissecting the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Contract and Best Practices

This program will introduce municipal counsel to key differences in procurement, contract drafting, contract and claims administration and liability for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery.  CMAR contracts are emerging on the municipal construction landscape as valuable tools in the public owner’s toolbelt.  As public owners turn to these project delivery models, municipal officials will turn to municipal counsel for answers.   Learn both the subtle and gaping differences in the procurement and contract models, since this is not your grandparent’s low bid procurement.  Program participants will learn effective two-step procurements for CMAR, best-value procurement and how to protect your municipality with tried and tested revisions to standard form industry contracts.  The program wraps up with our signature “Traps for the Unwary.

Speaker: Steven “Tip” Torres 

Steven A. Torres is a Partner with West Group Law PLLC and a member of the firm’s Municipal Infrastructure Team. Attorney Torres has 25 years of experience in municipal law, including construction and public-private partnerships and has been a project advisor and chief legal counsel who has managed in excess of $1.5 billion in project value in the areas of utilities, water and wastewater, transportation, building construction and renewable energy. Attorney Torres has significant knowledge and experience in state, federal and local regulatory practice including zoning, land use planning, and building and environmental permitting. His range of experience in state and federal regulatory permitting, enforcement, compliance and litigation includes work under the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, National and State Environmental Policy Acts, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act among others.  Attorney Torres is also an author, editor and lecturer for various national, international and regional government or industry trade groups, and co-edited the Second Edition of MCLE’s “Massachusetts Municipal Law”. Attorney Torres has had several essays published in the areas of labor law, international law, municipal law and constitutional law.. Prior to joining West Group Law PLLC, Attorney Torres served for thirteen years as a city attorney for four consecutive mayoral administrations in two cities. He was Corporation Counsel for the City of Fall River, Massachusetts and City Solicitor for the City of Taunton, Massachusetts. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree cum laude from Suffolk University Law School.