CLSA 2017 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & INDUCTION OF FELLOWS

Terranea Resort
100 Terranea Way Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Phone: (310) 265-2800
HOTEL WEBSITE

Terranea is a land unto itself. When you step onto the 102-acre private peninsula paradise, it's like stepping into a whole new world - minutes from the bustle of Los Angeles. On three sides, you are surrounded by the tranquil waves of the Pacific and across the channel is Catalina Island. The coastal setting of Terranea embraces its Mediterranean heritage and incorporates it into its architecture, from the resort lobby and outdoor gardens to private terraces and inviting courtyards with outdoor fireplaces.

The luxury eco resort offers well-appointed rooms and suites and includes a collection of residential bungalows, casitas and villas. An award-winning nine-hole, par-three golf course, the soothing oceanfront Spa at Terranea, four ocean-view pools and a collection of eight distinctive restaurants, bars, cafes and lounges are available for your enjoyment. As the location of many Hollywood films and television shows, those who come to Terranea feel as though they have walked onto a movie set.

The wide variety of accommodations at Terranea share a warm, spacious residential feel, expertly designed to bring the harmony and natural beauty of the coastal setting into each interior. Enjoy the balconies of the spacious guest rooms and suites or experience resort amenities in the privacy of your home with our bungalows, casitas and villas.

Choose your own adventure by land or by sea and let Terranea serve as your guide. If the ocean has your heart, immerse yourself with breathtaking ocean kayaking or stand up paddle boarding experiences, complemented by endless views of the Pacific. Terranea also offers surfing lessons and extraordinary tide pooling for guests of all ages to enjoy. If land adventures are calling your name, explore the coastal landscape’s flora and fauna with guided hikes and learn about the rich history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. In addition, horseback riding and scenic guided bikes are also available. Lastly, get into the swing of things and play The Links at one of the country’s top-rated championship par 3 golf courses.

Within a reasonable driving distance and surrounding Terranea are countless adventures in and around the Rancho Palos Verdes area as well as that of Los Angeles and Southern California.

Resort Amenities & Services:

• Four heated swimming pools include the Resort pool with 140-foot waterslide, the Vista Pool, Spa pool and adults-only cielo point
• Children's splash zone
• Eight dining options, from full-service to casual fare
• 135,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space
• Full-service business center
• 50,000 square foot spa and fitness center complete with 25 treatment rooms and an oceanfront yoga and Pilates studio
• 228 fire pits and fireplaces
• Tide Pool Kids' Club and Adventure Camp
• Discovery Trail nature walk and hiking trail
• Secluded beach cove
• Bocce Ball, croquet, horseback riding, falconry and other outdoor activities
• Pointe Discovery activity center with land and sea adventures such as horseback riding, ocean kayaking, paddle boarding and watersports
• Tennis at Peninsula Racket Club, complimentary shuttle
• Boutique retail shops
• 24-hour concierge

A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available for this conference. In order to obtain the group rate, please contact the resort directly no later than Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at 855-441-2575. Please specify the CLSA 2017 International Conference & Induction of Fellows to take advantage of the following group rate:

• Run of Resort Room: $350.00 per night, per room (+ Taxes and CA Tourism Assessment Fee)

Rates will be honored five (5) days post-conference, based on availability at time of reservation. Rooms and rates on post-conference dates are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Making your reservation early is strongly suggested.  If room block capacity is reached on or before August 16, the CLSA rate will not be guaranteed and may no longer be available. Any requests for special room arrangements must be made at the time of the call.

If you are unable to reserve your room prior to Wednesday, August 16, please contact Beth Rich at Beth.Rich@constructionsociety.org or 470.303.6005 to be placed on a waiting list in the event of a cancellation.

In addition to the above room rate, a discounted Resort Fee in the amount of $15.00 will be charged per room, per day. The Resort Fee is separate and distinct from the room rate and taxes. Gratuity for bellmen, doormen, and others who render intermittent personal services are not included in the Resort Fee.

The following services and amenities are included in Terranea’s daily Resort Fee:

• Unlimited in-room high-speed Internet access (hard-wired and wireless)
• Nightly turndown service
• Complimentary in room coffee and tea set up
• Daily electronic newspaper
• Onsite transportation to all venues including 4 sparkling pools and secluded beach cove
• Transportation within 5 miles of resort to include Trump National Golf Course and Los Verdes Country Club, shopping and tennis
• Complimentary local and 800 access calls
• Trained Naturalists for guided tours
• Full access to the Fitness Center, including normally scheduled complimentary classes (subject to class size limitations)
• Access to The Links at Terranea short game practice area
• Pool and beach service (chairs and umbrellas)
  

Guest accommodations will be available at 4:00PM on arrival day and reserved until 12:00PM on departure day.

Please familiarize yourself with Terranea’s cancellation policy as the CLSA is not responsible for any cancellation fees or other hotel charges.  When reservations are made, a deposit equal to one night’s room rate and taxes is required.  This deposit is fully refundable if cancellation is made at least 7 days prior to the scheduled date of arrival. Deposit subject to forfeiture if canceled within 7 days of arrival.

Kenneth R. Baker
HKA
San Diego, California

Kenneth R. Baker, managing partner at HKA, is a registered professional engineer and a licensed general contractor with over 35 years of experience in the construction and engineering industries. His varied, hands-on project experience provides a strong basis for over 180 expert appointments in various delay, disruption and quantum matters.

Mr. Baker has worked as principal engineer, structural engineer, project manager, construction manager and in various leadership roles in the contracting and claims arena. He has been involved in projects across North America, ranging from major infrastructure developments and a wide variety of buildings projects to power, utilities and industrial facilities.

Mr. Baker’s claims-related expertise includes the identification and evaluation of construction and real estate risk; claims related to schedule delay and extended performance, lost productivity and disruption, and acceleration; scope, documentation, and contract performance requirements; general contractor performance issues; construction manager professional practice issues; and construction defect matters. He has prepared and evaluated as planned and as-built schedules, contemporaneous and retrospective delay analyses, productivity impact and acceleration analyses, issue merit and responsibility analyses, construction defect lists and repair cost estimates, and cost and damages claims. Mr. Baker also provides services to clients in the areas of project advisory, risk assessment, and claims avoidance; distressed real estate asset investigations; mechanics lien claim analysis, priority and valuation; construction management, and general contracting services during pre-construction, design, construction and post-construction.

Mr. Baker develops expert reports and provides expert testimony in arbitration, litigation and mediation. He specializes in complex construction claims related to delay, lost productivity, acceleration, disputed contract scope and extra work, professional practice issues, construction defect matters, and claim damages. In support of his extensive expert testimony experience, he has developed graphs, charts spreadsheets, annotated schedules, and visual displays of quantitative information for use as trial exhibits and in expert presentations. He has been cross-examined at arbitration and trial on more than 15 occasions, including concurrent evidence (hot-tubbing).

Mr. Baker has written articles and delivered numerous seminars regarding his specialist subjects. Clients agree that he is a “consummate professional” and that his expertise has been “a key component in being able to reach a negotiated settlement”. Others agree that he “quickly grasped the issues... successfully bridged the gap between the parties” and that he is skilled in “meticulously gathering data and researching... works without bias and in the most neutral manner possible”.

Tamara L. Boeck
Stoel Rives LLP
Sacramento, California

From "concept through completion" or "dirt to done," clients have come to rely on Tamara L. Boeck for her pragmatic business approach and 24 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients in all areas of project development.  Whether it is advising clients regarding development insurance risks and coverage disputes, pre-project and project contracting risk management (RM) advice relating to project development, or dispute resolution in ADR or litigation, she approaches each matter with a focus on the client's goal and best interests, utilizing a broad range of practical knowledge for her client's benefit in mitigating disputes or representing clients in litigation where necessary.  Ms. Boeck's early background representing insurers in coverage claims has also served her policy-holder clients well regarding project protection and coverage disputes.

She routinely advises owners, developers and general contractors primarily in California, Idaho and Nevada. Ms. Boeck works with clients on a wide range of projects including commercial, residential and mixed-use projects, as well as construction-related aspects of oil and gas, mining, food processing, solar, wind, geothermal, biofuel, wastewater treatment and other industrial facilities. In addition to counseling her clients on ways to avoid protracted litigation through thoughtful negotiations and effective contracts, she handles construction disputes from mediation through litigation or  arbitration, which often encompass significant business conflicts, project delay, workmanship and performance deficiency claims, as well as those matters involving lien laws, insurance coverage disagreements with insurers, claims involving toxic tort, product liability and catastrophic injuries. With her depth of experience, she is able to assist and protect her clients in arbitration or trial when a pragmatic business resolution is not available.

Ms. Boeck presently serves as Chair of Stoel Rives’ Real Estate and Construction Development Group, and is a member of Stoel Rives’ Pro Bono Committee and Coaching and Mentoring Committee. Before joining Stoel Rives, she was a Shareholder for eight years at another West Coast regional law firm. She was also one of the founders of that firm’s California offices, its subsequent Nevada offices, and served as Shareholder-in-Charge of that firm’s former primary California office.

Ms. Boeck is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

Eric J. Firstman
Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson, PLC
Oakland, California

Eric J. Firstman is a Principal with Meyers Nave where he is Chair of the Construction and Facilities Practice Group. He focuses his practice on construction litigation, construction project planning, procurement of professional services and contractors, regulatory compliance and facilities plans.

With over 30 years of experience in construction law, Mr. Firstman represents public entities and private companies in large, complex construction projects from project development and contract negotiation, to project administration, dispute resolution and complex trials. His experience includes billion-dollar and larger projects for cities, counties and municipalities as well as hospitals, school and special districts, seaports, airports and other commercial facilities in both bond funded projects, individual projects and capital improvement programs. Mr. Firstman’s complex trial practice has included verdicts, final awards and judgments in cases involving power facilities, irrigation facilities, colleges, libraries and wastewater treatment plants, state court and federal court jury verdicts and court trials and arbitrations.

Before joining Meyers Nave, Mr. Firstman was a Principal at a Construction and Real Estate Law firm in Northern California, where he handled large public and private construction and development matters, complex construction litigation, and virtually every aspect of design and construction projects.

Mr. Firstman also regularly serves as guest faculty in the trial advocacy program at Stanford Law School and several continuing education programs. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Mr. Firstman is AV rated by Martindale Hubble, honored by Northern California Super Lawyers in construction litigation for 2007-2017, and placed on Corporate Counsel’s list of Super Lawyers from 2008-2017. Mr. Firstman received his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1980 and his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1983.

Mr. Firstman is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

Ross Fishman
Fishman Marketing
Highland Park, Illinois

Called “one of the country’s leading experts on law firm marketing” by Lawyers Weekly USA, Ross Fishman is known as one of the legal profession’s most innovative marketers and strategists. As CEO of Fishman Marketing, Inc., he helps law firms, including many CLSA Fellows’ firms, develop powerful marketing and branding campaigns and effective websites.

Mr. Fishman was a commercial litigator from 1985-90 before moving to Winston & Strawn to practice marketing full-time, later becoming marketing partner of Ungaretti & Harris. Called “the creative mind behind a host of law firm campaigns that have redefined the field,” Fishman Marketing has launched revenue-generating initiatives for over 250 law firms from Indiana to Istanbul.

Mr. Fishman’s marketing efforts have received countless international awards, including the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA) grand prize, the Best of Show award, five of the ten times ever presented.  Recipient of a peer-selected LMA 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award, he was the first legal marketer inducted into the LMA’s Hall of Fame. He has conducted more than 300 firm retreats, training programs, and CLE/Ethics presentations on six continents — including once presenting on three continents within 24 hours.

A Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, Mr. Fishman has written over 300 bylined articles, including five monthly columns, and has sat on the editorial board of five national magazines. He was the LMA’s 1998 Vice President, a member of both the Strategic Planning and Best Practices task forces, and member of the 2015-16 Nominating Committee. He has chaired the Legal Marketing Association’s international Ethics Task Force since 2013.

A 1986 member of the Federal Trial Bar (N.D., Illinois), he received his bachelors degree in speech communications from the University of Illinois and his law degree from Emory Law School.

Fishman Marketing is a Diversity Partner of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

Claramargaret H. Groover
Becker & Poliakoff
Orlando, Florida

Ms. Groover specializes in construction law and currently serves on the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law (2017-2020). She is former Chair (2015-2017) of Division 12 Owners & Project Finance for the Forum and chairs the Subcommittee on Construction Transactions of The Florida Bar Construction Law Committee. In addition to her Florida Bar certification in construction law, she is certified as a Circuit Civil and Appellate Mediator and she has qualified as a Florida Arbitrator. Ms. Groover has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyer each year since 2009.

She provides litigation and claims avoidance services to a wide range of large construction owners and their construction manager agents as well as to other industry participants. In almost 30 years of practice she has represented every aspect of the construction industry including owners, architects, engineers, surveyors, construction manager agents, constructors, suppliers, and their insurers and surety companies. Her experience spans from early stage land development, bidding, consultant and construction contracting through contract close-out and claims resolution representation in mediation, arbitration and litigation. She also counsels clients regarding contractor licensing issues and representation before administrative licensing boards.

One-third of her career was spent in-house, first as Director of Legal Affairs addressing design and construction issues for a world class theme park developer in its $2.5B Central Florida park expansion and later as senior legal counsel to the world’s leading general aviation service provider in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. She handled real estate leasing at over 30 domestic airports, construction contracting and claims resolution for various projects including general aviation terminals and airport fuel facilities projects, and  other operational, corporate, and risk management concerns.

Ms. Groover served on the Board of Directors for National Semi-Trailer Corporation (2005-2011), a 35 year old Orlando-based corporation, which is a market leader in overland trailer leasing and sales.

Her early years through college and graduation were spent working in the family construction services, building supply, road-building, and development business enterprises, giving her a unique, firsthand understanding of demands of entrepreneurs in the construction industry.

Ms. Groover is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

James P. Groton
Eversheds Sutherland LLP
Atlanta, Georgia

James P. Groton is a retired partner of the law firm of Eversheds Sutherland LLP, where he formerly led the Construction Practice Group and the Dispute Prevention and Resolution practice of that firm.

As a practicing lawyer during Atlanta’s building boom in the 1960s he began to specialize in construction matters, transitioning from trial lawyer to trouble shooter, to behind-the-scenes counselor, to problem solver, to pioneer in the application of techniques for preventing, controlling, de-escalating, and achieving the earliest possible resolution of disputes.  He has had a remarkable record of success in helping to “keep the peace” on numerous construction projects and in other business relationships and transactions.

Throughout his career Mr. Groton has embraced and used every conceivable ADR process.  He has been a commercial and construction arbitrator since 1970 and has received awards for his service as an arbitrator.  He has taught classes in mediation, and has been recognized for his pioneering in mediation.  He was an early advocate of dispute prevention processes such as partnering and dispute review boards on construction projects.  Over time his experience has convinced him that pre-dispute processes that prevent and de-escalate disputes (such as realistic allocation of risks, partnering, incentives to encourage cooperation, step negotiations and standing neutrals), are the most cost-effective, relationship saving, and time saving of all ADR processes.

In retirement he has divided his time between dispute resolution work as an arbitrator, dispute review board member and standing neutral, and dispute prevention research, writing, training, advocacy, and consultation in the emerging field of proactively anticipating, preventing, controlling and managing problems that might otherwise escalate into disputes.

He devotes a substantial amount of pro bono time to educating business organizations, business leaders and corporate counsel in the principles and methods of proactive prevention of disputes. He has sponsored research into documenting the relative transaction costs of various methods of addressing disputes to provide empirical data for business executives making decisions about selecting the most appropriate methods for dealing with potential disputes.  He is active in the work of the Construction Industry Institute, the National Academy of Construction, the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), American Arbitration Association (AAA), and the European Proactive ThinkTank (PATT).

Mr. Groton is a former President of the American College of Construction Lawyers, an officer of the National Academy of Construction, and he has received many awards and honors for his construction and dispute resolution work.  Since his “retirement” after 47 years of practicing law he has remained as active as ever, enjoying the luxury of freedom to pursue a variety of interests that are an extension of his career-long passion of preventing, mitigating, and finding efficient ways of addressing problems and potential disputes.

His most important current professional activity is his support of the Global Pound Conference Series, which is engaged in an examination of what’s good (and what’s not so good) about current ADR processes, and what should be the dispute resolution processes of the future. He advocates the greater use of pre-dispute and pre-escalation processes that prevent disputes as an important part of the improvement of ADR for the future.

Mr. Gordon is a Fellow Emeritus of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

M. Beth O’Neill
Maynard Cooper & Gale
Birmingham, Alabama

Ms. O’Neill is a Shareholder at Maynard Cooper & Gale, where she represents clients in real estate matters, including acquisition, construction, development, financing, land use planning, zoning, annexation and leasing. She is a member of the following Corporate Practice Groups:  Real Estate; Energy & Natural Resources; Intellectual Property & Technology; Corporate, Securities & Tax; and Health Care.  She was a founder and is on the Board of Directors of Maynard’s Women’s Initiative and chairs the Forum - the professional development arm of the Initiative.

Her Real Estate and Intellectual Property practices are concentrated in several highly regulated industries, including health care, financial and insurance, and energy and natural resources. Ms. O’Neill leverages her deep industry knowledge and extensive corporate law experience to provide clients with complex transactional and contracting services tailored to meet their business needs.

Ms. O’Neill’s Real Estate practice is uniquely suited to serve the needs of her clients, particularly those in the health care and energy & natural resources industries. She regularly represents buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and developers in real estate matters. Her extensive experience with the regulatory issues facing health care providers allows her to handle real estate transactions and related matters for several hospitals, medical office developers and individual physician groups. Ms. O’Neill represents several mineral, mining and timber clients, and she regularly advises them on all of their real estate matters, including compliance with zoning, land use and mining regulations. She recently has represented several large landowners in negotiations with solar project developers who are taking advantage of the extension of federal tax credits and increasing demand for alternative energy projects. Ms. O’Neill advises real estate development clients on construction matters, including negotiation of construction contracts for general contractors and subcontractors, and architect and construction consultant agreements. She also advises clients on the licensing requirements of the Alabama Board of General Contractors and other corporate matters relating to doing business in Alabama.

Ms. O’Neill’s Intellectual Property practice includes licensing work for clients that own and want to monetize their intellectual property as well as clients that are acquiring intellectual property rights for use in their businesses. Her clients include software and technology vendors, data center operators, manufacturers and several large health care, financial and insurance clients. She uses her regulatory knowledge to assist clients in structuring agreements to license, sell, acquire and protect intellectual property rights while complying with regulations protecting sensitive health and financial information. Ms. O’Neill also counsels clients with e-commerce businesses, including establishing on-line stores and implementing website privacy policies, terms of use and terms of sale. Her practice extends to the analysis and negotiation of intellectual property rights transfers and licenses in mergers, acquisitions and sale transactions.

Clients routinely seek Ms. O’Neill’s assistance to draft and negotiate a wide gamut of business contracts. She frequently assists clients with preparing form contracts and establishing contracting and licensing programs and procedures that further their business goals while protecting valuable intellectual property.

Ms. O’Neill's skills as a lawyer have earned her distinguished recognition by several organizations and industry publications including: Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for Real Estate; The Best Lawyers in America© for Corporate Law and for Land Use & Zoning Law;  Best Lawyers® Women in the Law –"Top Peer-Nominated Lawyer"; and Super Lawyers for Business/Corporate Law.  She earned and continually has maintained an AV-Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell for the last fifteen years. Ms. O’Neill received her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law, and she holds a B.A. summa cum laude from Auburn University.

Ms. O’Neill is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

Peter C. Sheridan
Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP
Los Angeles, California

Peter C. Sheridan, the Chair of Glaser Weil’s Construction Law Practice Group, heads a team of attorneys who focus on construction law primarily and also handle complex real estate, eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases. As a highly respected litigator, Mr. Sheridan has successfully helped clients recover more than $225 million in settlements and judgments.  He represents owners, developers and architects in California, Nevada and internationally.

Mr. Sheridan litigates and tries cases in all courts and before JAMS and AAA on a variety of issues, including construction close-out and defects, design error, delay, and related construction disputes. He has negotiated and renegotiated scores of construction and design contracts for U.S.-based and international clients and has litigated and negotiated all-risk, commercial and project-specific CCIP and OCIP insurance for multi-billion dollar projects. Mr. Sheridan also focuses on complex real estate disputes, including those involving half-billion dollar real estate partnerships and large commercial landlord tenant cases. Mr. Sheridan also represents government as well as landowners in eminent domain and inverse condemnation litigation, including the Los Angeles MTA and a landowner in a dispute with the Freeport Regional Water Authority. Additionally, he has handled multi-district fraud litigation, securities class actions and business interference and defamation in Washington D.C., New York, California and Belgian courts.

Mr. Sheridan’s focus on construction has also allowed him to develop a specialty in construction disputes involving very large hotels, casinos and resorts, such as the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara, Diamond Resorts in Kaanapali, Maui and Poipu, Kauai, City Center in Las Vegas, Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas, and La Quinta Resort in La Quinta, California.

Mr. Sheridan received bachelor’s degrees in both political science and speech communication from California State University, Northridge, and his law degree, cum laude, from Willamette University College of Law. He is licensed to practice in California and Nevada.  As a much honored collegiate debater, collegiate debate scholarship recipient, adjunct professor coaching debate teams at both CSUN and Willamette, and a Law School Moot Court and Mock Trial Champion, Mr. Sheridan developed early the oral advocacy skills he puts to use litigating for his clients.

Mr. Sheridan formerly headed the Firm’s Pro Bono Program and Recruiting Committee.  Additionally, he has served on several boards for his law school, church and elsewhere and has actively supported numerous charities and outreach programs. Mr. Sheridan has been on the Development Committee at Loyola High School of Los Angeles for six years and has supported educational institutions throughout his professional life.

Mr. Sheridan is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

Barbara G. Werther
Sedgwick, LLP
Washington, D.C.

Barbara G. Werther, head of the Government Contracts and Construction Practice Group in Sedgwick’s Washington, D.C., office, is recognized as one of the leading construction and government contracts attorneys in the United States with more than 35 years of experience in construction and government contracts law. She has been resoundingly and consistently recognized as being one of the top lawyers in construction law. She is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers, recognized by Chambers USA and listed in Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law (2012-2017). Ms. Werther has lectured extensively to clients and various trade associations on a variety of construction law topics. Her expertise and experience is reflected in her comprehensive practice. She is known as an expert on contract terms and conditions for developers and owners, and focuses on contract drafting and negotiation. She also represents owners, contractors and subcontractors in litigation involving scheduling, delays, inefficiencies, changes, differing site conditions, and terminations for default.

In the private sector, Ms. Werther litigates claims on behalf of owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in federal and state courts and before arbitral tribunals. She also drafts and negotiates construction contracts for developers and owners. In the public sector, she routinely represents sureties and government contractors in claims against the federal government. Ms. Werther has represented contractors and sureties in performance and payment bond disputes and has represented government contractors in False Claims Act cases. She also represents government contractors in bid protests and claims at the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims.

Ms. Werther’s trial accomplishments are substantial. Some of her successes include winning the largest jury verdict ever in a commercial case in Jackson County, Mississippi, for a subcontractor on a project that involved the dismantling of a fertilizer-manufacturing facility; settling a nine-figure claim for alleged defective windows where the plaintiff had already prevailed in one trial and sought to enforce that judgment in 38 other lawsuits; obtaining a rare summary judgment on the behalf of a plaintiff contractor in a default termination case against a subcontractor; and securing the first and only case in which the court overturned the Navy contracting officer’s non-responsibility determination and directed an award to a contractor, among many others.

In 2006, Ms. Werther hosted the first Women in Construction Conference (WIC) in Washington, D.C., by women for women in all aspects of the construction industry. Today, in its 12th year, the conference boasts 300 attendees, with an all-day event featuring five panels, a keynote speaker and a speaker/sponsor reception the night before the conference. WIC is a non-profit organization with a Board of Directors that has created a WIC Scholarship to the ACE Mentoring Program.

Ms. Werther excels as a trial lawyer and as a skilled arbitrator (AAA) and mediator. She has completed advanced mediation training with the Center for Dispute Settlement at Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS) and employs uncompromising objectivity in resolving multi-party, complex case disputes where the parties appear to be unyielding.

Ms. Werther is President-Elect of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

H. James Wulfsberg
Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
Oakland, California

H. James Wulfsberg, chair of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP’s Construction Law Practice Group, is a nationally recognized expert in construction law. He has over 35 years’ experience in all phases of the construction process, including design, bid build, design build, engineering procurement construction contracting, construction management at risk, and numerous public works projects. He has assisted EPC contractors, project owners, contractors, architects and engineers, construction managers, and developers in finding procurement and evaluation methodologies, developing all phases of the construction process documents, providing procurement documents, negotiating and drafting contracts, negotiating and administering contract claims, and developing claims avoidance and dispute resolution strategies and procedures.

Mr. Wulfsberg has tried numerous cases to verdict including jury, court trials and arbitration proceedings, with matters exceeding $500 million in dispute.

Mr. Wulfsberg has represented clients in mediation, arbitration and litigation. He has represented EPC contractors, public and private owners, architects, and engineers in a variety of major private-public works, and power process projects throughout the United States, Latin America and the Middle East.

Mr. Wulfsberg graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California in 1966 and received his JD from the Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, in 1969. Mr. Wulfsberg is admitted to all courts in California and several federal district courts in other states. He has been specially admitted in several jurisdictions.

Mr. Wulfsberg is a fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers.   He has been designated as one of the leading construction litigation lawyers in The Legal 500: United States and has been rated by the BTI Client Service as an “All Star” attorney. Mr. Wulfsberg is a member of the International Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the San Francisco City and County Bar Associations, the AAA Large, Complex Construction Case Panel of Arbitrators and the AAA Construction Mega Project Panel, and a certified arbitrator of the California State Construction Contract Arbitration Committee.

Mr. Wulfsberg is a frequent lecturer and has spoken before a wide variety of public and private forums. He frequently counsels clients, providing in-house seminars on claims evaluation and claims avoidance.

Mr. Wulfsberg is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.

Approximately 8 hours of MCLE credit has been or will be requested, including at least 1 hour of ethics credit.  Certificates of Attendance will be provided to each attendee at the conclusion of the General Session.

If you have any questions regarding MCLE credit, please contact Julia Land at Julia.Land@constructionsociety.org or 470.303.6005.

Please contact Beth Rich at Beth.Rich@constructionsociety.org or 470.303.6005 for sponsorship opportunities.

Reconnect with nature and live like every day is a special occasion at our Southern California resort spa. When you unwind at The Spa at Terranea, you'll remember how true relaxation and comfort feels. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Palos Verdes coastline, The Spa embraces the natural beauty and energy of its Southern California setting. Spanning over 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, The Spa contains 25 treatment rooms, a fitness and wellness center, a Spa Café for seasonal healthful fare, and a full-service salon built to restore, rejuvenate, and realign. In addition to three luxurious VIP suites, separate indoor and outdoor spa lounges include saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, cold plunges, and fire pits. Take a yoga class, plunge into the outdoor spa pool, workout in the expansive gym, and enjoy locally inspired massages and skin-care treatments all at this incredible spa in Southern California. 

The Spa at Terranea has generously extended a 5% spa discount (excluding gratuities, salon services and merchandise) to CLSA conference attendees and guests. (Please note discount applies to spa services only and may not be used in conjunction with any other specials or on already discounted menu pricing.) You must advise that you are with the CLSA at the time of booking in order to receive the discount. Due to the high demand for the resort’s state-of-the-art spa facilities, you are strongly encouraged to make arrangements in advance.  Please call 310.265.2740 to schedule a spa appointment.

Please click here to view the spa menu.

*For your convenience, A 20% service charge is automatically added to all spa and salon services.

Hours

The Spa at Terranea: 6:00AM to 8:00PM

Fitness and Wellness Center:
Monday - Friday: 5:00AM to 8:00PM
Saturday & Sunday: 6:00AM to 8:00PM

SPA RECOMMENDATIONS & GUIDELINES:

• Please arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your appointment.
• The Spa offers full changing room amenities and the complimentary use of a Spa robe, slippers, and digital lockers.
• The Spa suggests guests enjoy a warm shower before treatments.
• Bathing suits are required in all outdoor areas.
• In Spa treatment and relaxation areas, please refrain from cell phone usage.

CANCELLATION, CHANGES & NO-SHOW POLICY:

• Please allow at least 6 hours notice for cancellations or changes.
• Cancellations and changes made less than 6 hours in advance will result in a 50% charge for the scheduled treatment.
• No-shows will be billed at the full treatment rate.
• Late Arrivals result in the guest receiving the remainder of their allotted treatment time. Your treatment will end at the scheduled time, so that the next guest will not be inconvenienced. The value of your full treatment will be applied.

ARRIVING BY AIR

Terranea Resort is located 17 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Please contact the concierge desk at 310.494.7891 to inquire about transportation options and fees.

ARRIVING BY CAR

100 Terranea Way Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Please click here for driving directions.

Parking

Valet parking required.

LCA Discounted Rate for Resort Guest Parking: $20 USD per vehicle, per night

Non-Resort Guest Parking:
Saturday and Sunday Valet: $20 ($10 with validation)
Monday - Friday Valet: $10 ($5 with validation)