A Message from 2026 CLSA President Henry M. Quillian, III

Dear Fellows, Colleagues, and Friends of the Construction Lawyers Society of America:

As we enter 2026, construction lawyers across the country are navigating a year defined by uncertainty and disruption. Heightened ICE enforcement, evolving tariff regimes, and persistent labor shortages are reshaping projects, contracts, and risk allocation in real time. These pressures are no longer abstract policy issues, they are immediate, practical challenges for our clients and, in turn, for the lawyers who advise them. It is against this backdrop that I write to you as the incoming President of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA).

At the same time, moments of strain demand broader perspectives and inclusive leadership. The construction industry and the lawyers who serve it benefit most when diverse viewpoints, experiences, and professional paths are meaningfully represented and engaged. Ensuring that our CLSA reflects and welcomes that diversity strengthens not only our dialogue, but our ability to address complex legal and business challenges with creativity, credibility, and integrity.

Since its founding, CLSA has dedicated itself to raising the level of construction law by recognizing excellence, fostering professional development, and promoting the highest ethical and advocacy standards in our profession. Our membership of distinguished construction lawyers from the United States and abroad spans the full range of construction practice including transactional, litigation, arbitration, and international matters, and is designed to encourage thoughtful exchange among leaders in the field.

As we embark on this new chapter together, my presidency will be guided by the core principles that have long defined CLSA:

Advancing Professional Excellence
We will continue to strengthen opportunities for educational growth, mentorship, and scholarly engagement through our programs, commentary, and collaborative initiatives, with particular attention to the emerging issues shaping construction law today.

Fostering Community and Collaboration
The Construction Lawyers Society of America is more than a professional network, it is a community of trusted peers who share insights, challenge assumptions, and support one another in service to our clients and the broader legal profession.

Promoting Ethical Leadership and Inclusive Engagement
We are called to lead not only in advocacy and competency, but in the values that shape both the justice system and the construction industry. Our commitment to engagement ensures that excellence and integrity remain hallmarks of our work and our Society.

Looking ahead, we will build on the momentum of our past accomplishments, including our esteemed conferences in Jackson Hole and New York City, our thought leadership, and initiatives that highlight the essential role construction lawyers play in industry and society. I invite each of you to stay actively involved, share your expertise, and help shape the future of the CLSA.

Thank you for the confidence you have placed in me. I am honored to serve, and I look forward to working with you to further our mission and strengthen the CLSA’s role as a leader in the construction law community.

Warm regards,

Henry M. Quillian, III
President, Construction Lawyers Society of America
Principal, Offit Kurman