Insurance and Bonding for the Construction Industry

Michael S. Blackwell has been with the firm since 2019 and was named partner in 2020. Michael represents a variety of clients, ranging from general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, insurers, and sureties in construction and labor issues, to companies involved in sales, acquisitions, corporate governance matters, commercial disputes, and other challenges arising in the commercial arena. He has engaged in significant contract negotiation, corporate formation, structuring, and governance matters,

sales and acquisitions of assets and ownership interests, contract negotiation and drafting, construction disputes involving delays, terminations for default, payment, asset seizure, fraud, labor, and employment issues, and a variety of other disputes that arise during construction. Michael regularly lectures on matters affecting construction clients, engineers on ethics and liability, and construction managers and public entities on changes in Louisiana construction law.

Among other acknowledgments, Michael has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. Michael has served as the Chairman of the Construction Law Committee for the New Orleans Bar Association since 2017. Every year since 2016, Michael has been selected as a “Rising Star” in the field of Construction Litigation by Super Lawyers publication.

Jonathan S. Forester is a partner with the firm. Mr. Forester represents contractors, owners, insurers, self-insureds, and subcontractors in complex property damage and injury claims. Mr. Forester has represented clients in claims relating to commercial buildings, highways, bridges, theaters, airports, and various other construction sites relating to contractual breaches, delay and disruption damages, and construction defects including moisture intrusion, roof damage, structural defects, construction vibration damage, and fire or explosions. He represents and advises construction-related entities and other businesses through contract negotiation and drafting, as well as the filing of liens and recovery of funds owed pursuant to the Louisiana Private and Public Works Acts and the federal Miller Act. Mr. Forester is adept in the trial courtroom and also argues appeals. He regularly gives seminars regarding all facets of construction law. In addition, he has served on the Federal Bar Association’s Younger Lawyers Division Board of Directors since 2016. Mr. Forester has been selected for six years (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020) as a “Rising Star” in the field of Construction Litigation by Super Lawyers publication and was a finalist for the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel’s 2017 Maraist Award.