Risk Management Archives

Top 10 Contract Red Flags Every Subcontractor Should Flag Before Signing 0

By Christian Fernandez, Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. Winning the job is only half the battle. For many subcontractors, the real risk—and the real potential for lost profit—starts with the contract. Today’s subcontracts are often written to push as much risk as possible downstream. If you’re not reading carefully or pushing back where it matters, you

Contract Risk – Four Things You Can Do to Mitigate It 0

by Doug Reitz – Director, Maxim Consulting Group Over the years, I have seen skilled subcontractors do outstanding work and then not get paid for it. It could be disputes that drag on for months, unforeseen delays, missed contractual deadlines or even a misunderstanding that escalated. For some owners and GCs, holding payment is the

The Law Is Catching Up to Retainage—and Subs Should Take Notice 0

By Claire Wilson, Siteline The math has never been pretty. A general contractor negotiates 5% retainage with the owner, then turns around and holds 10% from its subcontractors. You absorb twice the financial burden for the same project risk—at margins that typically run 3 to 10%. For most subcontractors, the retainage being withheld is most

Is Your Procurement Strategy Ready for the Next Supply Chain Shock?0
- Forcasting, Improving Productivity, Outlook & Trends, Risk Management
- January 27, 2026
By Doug Reitz – Maxim Consulting Group Key Questions in Procurement Procurement is more than purchasing. It is the act of building a stable path through uncertainty. The leadership mindset gets you out of the weeds and asks three questions: Where are we? Where do we want to be? What must we
READ MORE
Why Retainage Remains a Persistent Challenge for Subs Nationwide … and What You Can Do to Manage the Risks 0
- FINANCE, Legally Speaking, Payment, Risk Management
- January 27, 2026
By Eric Travers, Esq., Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter As a construction attorney with over two decades of experience working closely with subcontractors and the American Subcontractors Association (ASA), I can confidently say that retainage has been, and remains, a significant and ongoing challenge for subcontractors nationwide. The concept of retainage originated in the 1840s.
READ MORE
Preparing for Victory in Construction Disputes 0
- Construction in the Courts, Documentation, Legally Speaking, Risk Management
- December 23, 2025
By Todd Nectow, Thomas, Feldman & Wilshusen, L.L.P. Marcus Aurelius (the wise old emperor in Gladiator) said, The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious. Miguel de Cervantes (the guy who wrote Don Quixote) said, To be prepared is half the victory. Aurelius and Cervantes were discussing victory on the battlefield,
READ MORE