When you take on a smaller commercial project, you may feel pressure to move quickly and keep costs down. At the same time, you still need a solid agreement that reflects your scope, risk tolerance, and payment expectations. How to modify AIA A101 for small commercial projects becomes a critical question when the standard form does not fully align with the realities of your deal.
As experienced design and construction counsel, we regularly work with architects, engineers, design-builders, and owners who rely on AIA contracts but recognize that the default language may not fit every project. Many firms modify
Continue Reading How to Modify AIA A101 for Small Commercial Projects
Baker Law - Design & Construction Counsel Blogs
Latest from Baker Law - Design & Construction Counsel
Jeremy S. Baker Appointed to AAA and ICDR Construction Arbitration Panels
We are proud to announce that our founding attorney, Jeremy S. Baker, was recently appointed to the Construction Arbitration Panels of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), marking a significant milestone in the field of construction dispute resolution. If you are an architect, engineer, design builder, or developer facing arbitration, you understand how much is at stake when a neutral decision-maker evaluates your claims. An experienced lawyer could guide you through that process, helping you prepare your case with clarity and precision.
When you are involved in
Continue Reading Jeremy S. Baker Appointed to AAA and ICDR Construction Arbitration Panels
Jonathan Berjikian Earns Appointment to AIA Contract Documents Committee Liaison Role
If you rely on standard form agreements to structure risk on your projects, changes to those documents matter. We are proud to announce that Baker Law attorney Jonathan Berjikian has earned an appointment to the AIA Contract Documents Committee liaison role, joining founding attorney Jeremy S. Baker in this important position, at a time when many architects, engineers, and design-build professionals are watching the next generation of AIA forms take shape. When core agreements evolve, your business operations and risk profile may evolve with them.
For design and construction counsel, you look to experienced attorneys who stay close
Continue Reading Jonathan Berjikian Earns Appointment to AIA Contract Documents Committee Liaison Role
Jeremy S. Baker recognized as 2026 Illinois Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, 8th Consecutive Year
Baker Law Group, LLC is pleased to share that Jeremy S. Baker has been recognized as a 2026 Illinois Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, marking his eighth consecutive year receiving this distinction. For clients who rely on experienced attorneys in design and construction counsel, this recognition reflects a sustained commitment to serving architects, engineers, design builders, and owners with practical, informed legal guidance.
What the Illinois Super Lawyer Recognition Represents
The Illinois Super Lawyer designation is awarded through a multiphase selection process conducted by Thomson Reuters. Attorneys are evaluated based on peer nominations, professional achievement, and independent
Continue Reading Jeremy S. Baker recognized as 2026 Illinois Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, 8th Consecutive Year
How to Defeat Mechanics Lien Claims in Chicago
Defeating mechanics lien claims in Chicago, is often possible for experienced construction attorneys. The smallest error or inaccuracy in the recorded document can void the lien.
Jeremy has defended property owner, developer, and lender clients from dozens and dozens of lien claims. He has identified flaws with many of those liens. Sometimes, this invalidated the liens, and his clients paid nothing to clear title. In other instances, Jeremy’s clients were able to swing the settlement bargaining power in their favor by identifying flaws in the lien claims, securing substantial settlement discounts.
If you need to defeat – or assess
Continue Reading How to Defeat Mechanics Lien Claims in Chicago
How Does Value-Based Pricing for Legal Services Work?
One of my new freedoms – as the owner of a law firm – is the ability to price my services creatively. My billing arrangements are based on what clients consider to be appropriate value-based billing fees. This can be based on time spent or fixed fees, but also on results achieved.
Sure, hourly billing is appropriate at times. But people in the design and construction industry may be reluctant to hire a lawyer with an unknown or open-ended fee structure. I know this well. I have the flexibility to work with clients who need targeted legal advice in Chicago
Continue Reading How Does Value-Based Pricing for Legal Services Work?
Jeremy Baker recognized as 2025 Illinois Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters 7th Consecutive Year
Jeremy has been named among the top 5% of lawyers in Illinois with his inclusion in Thomson Reuters’ 2025 list of Illinois Super Lawyers. Jeremy was recognized for his work in Construction Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, marking his sixth consecutive year as a Super Lawyer. He was honored by Thomson Reuters five times previously as an Illinois Rising Star – an attorney 40 years old or younger or who has been practicing for 10 or fewer years.
This is Jeremy’s 7th consecutive year receiving this acknowledgment.
Super Lawyers are chosen annually through a rigorous process including a survey of
Continue Reading Jeremy Baker recognized as 2025 Illinois Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters 7th Consecutive Year
Intellectual Property Principles and Rights for Architects
Jeremy gave a presentation to AIA Chicago entitled “Intellectual Property Principles and Rights for Architects,” which AIA Chicago described on its website as follows:
Jeremy S. Baker from Baker Law Group LLC will join the Practice Management Knowledge Community (PMKC) Co-Chairs as he examines design professional intellectual property principles and rights. From those beginning to navigate the vast world of AIA Contracts to seasoned firm leaders with specific contract verbiage questions, this session offers invaluable legal insight to protect our creative work. Through the session, Jeremy will review the “anatomy” of an intellectual property clause in an Owner-Architect
Continue Reading Intellectual Property Principles and Rights for Architects
Jeremy Baker Featured on the “Building Scale” Podcast
We are thrilled to announce that Jeremy Baker, founder of Baker Law Group, recently appeared as a guest on the “Building Scale” podcast. In this insightful episode, Jeremy delves into the intricacies of contract negotiation, risk allocation, and the importance of interpersonal skills within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.
Jeremy’s extensive experience with international projects provides a unique perspective on common pitfalls in AEC contracts and the crucial role of specialized attorneys. He also discusses effective dispute-resolution strategies and the pivotal role of mediators in resolving conflicts.
“Building Scale” is a podcast dedicated to exploring how successful
Continue Reading Jeremy Baker Featured on the “Building Scale” Podcast
Flat Fee Residential Contracts
Why Is It Crazy to Start a Home Improvement Project without a Good Contract?
Why Are Good Construction Contracts Essential to Completing Projects on BUDGET?
Why Are Good Contraction Contracts Essential to Completing Projects on SCHEDULE?
Why Are Honest Contractors Sometimes Forced to Misuse Propect Owner’s Money?
What’s the Biggest Financial Mistake Owners Make on Construction Projects?
The Most Important Decision for Project Owners: Who SHould Hire the Architect?
Why Create a Flat Fee, Process-Driven Method of Preparing Good Residential Construction Contracts?
What Does our Flat-Fee Process Driven Method of Preparting Residential Contracts Entail?
The post Flat Fee Residential Contracts
Continue Reading Flat Fee Residential Contracts
Is It Worth Pursuing a Construction Claim in Chicago?
This article first appeared in Thompson Reuters Construction Accounting & Taxation, July/August 2009 – Vol.19, No. 4, and is reprinted with permission.
Is it worth pursuing your construction claim?
The decision to proceed may not be clear-cut. This post analyzes some factors potential claimants should consider when determining whether to file a lawsuit or demand for arbitration.
I wrote the article below (published article available here) during the last major downturn, around 2009, but many of the same thoughts and principles apply in 2020.
The recent economic downturn has left many in the construction industry wondering whether it is worth
Continue Reading Is It Worth Pursuing a Construction Claim in Chicago?
Understanding The New Role of the AIA Forms Digital Practice Documents
The AIA’s 2013 Digital Practice Documents play a prominent – yet little understood – role in the AIA’s newest Contract Documents. While previously optional, Digital Practice Document use is now expressly required by the unedited standard form language of the Owner-Architect Agreement (B101-2017), Owner-Contractor Agreement (A101-2017), General Conditions of the Contract for Construction (A201-2017), Contractor-Subcontractor Agreement (A401-2017), Architect-Subconsultant Agreement (C401-2017), and other AIA contract forms. This post identifies the AIA’s Digital Practice Documents – the E203-2013, G201-2013, and G202-2013 – and describes practical considerations for their use.
The Digital Practice Documents
Most people in the design and construction industry are
Continue Reading Understanding The New Role of the AIA Forms Digital Practice Documents
Business Considerations for Owners and Architects Regarding AIA B101-2017 Documents
The AIA’s “new” B101-2017, the latest version of its flagship Owner-Architect Agreement, carries over concepts from its widely-used predecessor, B101-2007. Users of the 2007 form will find the 2017 revision familiar. But the new B101-2017 is different in important and subtle ways, and some of its changes may be controversial. Architect and Owner users of the B101 form may, therefore, wish to reconsider and refresh their contracting strategy for the next decade.
Biggest Change: Mandatory Digital Practice Document Use
The B101-2017 and other 2017 AIA B101 Contract Documents require use of the AIA’s 2013 Digital Practice Documents (unless that requirement
Continue Reading Business Considerations for Owners and Architects Regarding AIA B101-2017 Documents
Considerations for Drafting Contractual Dispute Resolution Provisions in Chicago
Written by Jeremy S. Baker –
Dispute resolution clauses in contracts should be drafted to promote the negotiated resolution of disputes in a fair, timely, and cost-effective manner before the parties must resort to binding dispute resolution methods, such as arbitration or litigation, which are expensive and hurt business relationships.
This article summarizes considerations for drafting contractual dispute resolution provisions.
Continuation of Work During Dispute
Purchasers should consider inserting dispute resolution clauses to require vendors to continue to provide goods and services while a dispute is pending. This can help to avoid further exacerbating the dispute and the issues to
Continue Reading Considerations for Drafting Contractual Dispute Resolution Provisions in Chicago
What are the Advantages of Private Arbitration Over Public Court Litigation?
Discover the advantages of private arbitration over litigation in a court of law. Private arbitration provides several benefits, including its predominantly private nature. Unlike public court litigation, arbitration ensures confidentiality without leaving behind a public record of filings, preserving the privacy of the involved parties. Explore the advantages of arbitration and how it offers a favorable alternative to traditional litigation.
Arbitrators Know Design and Construction
Arbitration enables parties to use expert decision-makers familiar with construction industry norms to resolve their disputes. Construction arbitrators are typically knowledgeable about construction law and practice and are more likely to produce high-quality decisions than
Continue Reading What are the Advantages of Private Arbitration Over Public Court Litigation?
101 Ways to Defeat – or Screw Up – Illinois Mechanics Lien Claims
Someone once told me Illinois mechanics lien claims are the second leading cause of legal malpractice claims in the State of Illinois. I do not know that to be true. But it is easy to believe.
In fact, I intended to title this post “1,001 Ways to Screw Up an Illinois Mechanics Lien Claim.”
No foolin’ – this tome is not even close to an exhaustive list of ways to get it wrong.
I just ran out of time… so 101 ways to defeat Illinois mechanics lien claims it is!
Don’t Be Fooled: Illinois Mechanics Lien Claims Are Complex
The
Continue Reading 101 Ways to Defeat – or Screw Up – Illinois Mechanics Lien Claims