In the face of increased tariffs, including a 14.38% tariff on Canadian lumber, the lumber market is undergoing developments that could have substantial implications for construction projects across Texas. It is important to understand how potential cost increases might affect project costs, contractual obligations and risk management strategies.
The Current Lumber Landscape
April 5, 2025 was a seminal day for both the construction industry and the Trump Administration. It was the day reciprocal tariffs on widely used construction materials were to go into effect. The Trump Administration’s stated goals for the reciprocal tariffs are (i) rebuilding the United States’ manufacturing base (including the defense industrial base), (ii)
A decision out of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas[1] showcases the practical challenge in the relationship between workers’ compensation and the pleading standards required to trigger insurance coverage. The underlying facts follow a familiar pattern.
Nautilus Summarized
Blazer Building Texas, LLC (“Blazer”) hired Ranger Fire, Inc. (“Ranger”) to
What’s the deal with inflation and interest rates? Inflation has been, unfortunately, a hot topic as of late. In the wake of COVID-19, inflation has caused rising prices and unpredictable market conditions that affect everyone from individuals to global businesses. Add in rising interest rates and it’s easy to see how the American economy can
The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) is now in full effect, and this comprehensive legislation establishes stringent mandates on how consumer-related personal data of Texas residents should be collected, used, processed, sold and shared. In the construction industry, businesses that market or sell goods or services to consumers, or B2C
For years, there has been a state-by-state push to restrict or prohibit non-compete agreements that limit workers’ ability to take a job with a competitor after leaving their employer. This movement to boost employee mobility and wage growth has now culminated in a controversial nationwide proposal by federal regulators. On April 23, 2024, the Federal
Surprise, surprise Frisco, Texas is booming with no evidence of slowing down. In line with that growth, the Hillwood Communities Frisco Station development started in 2016 is poised to potentially add approximately 410 apartments at an estimated cost of construction $94.2 million deliverable in 2026. According to a recent Dallas Business Journal article by Noor
Last week I had the privilege of attending the Construction Financial Management Association Dallas/Ft Worth Chapter’s monthly membership education luncheon as a prospective member. The educational topic was Cybersecurity and the Construction Industry and presented in a panel format. The panelists were Jon Schildt, Vice President of Technology & Cyber Practice for Hub International
Last month, we delved into the fundamentals of zoning as they relate to developers and builders. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into specialized zoning topics that merit closer examination.
What are legal nonconforming rights?
The legal concept is derived from Section 211.019 of the Texas Local Government Code which states that “[a] person
Broad form indemnities are common in Texas construction contracts, even though indemnifying someone for their own negligence is a tough pill to swallow.
In 2011, Texas passed a law limiting such clauses in construction contracts. Since then, Texas courts have analyzed the statute only a handful of times.
The Rule
In a nutshell, the statute