Overview

This seminar follows an integrated approach by focusing on enhancing expertise in drafting contracts and strengthening negotiation skills. To emphasize practical learning, the seminar provides opportunities to engage in various drafting and negotiation exercises, developed by experts in the field. This seminar is designed for both lawyers who will be drafting and negotiating contracts for their clients and for officials who will be negotiating, drafting, and implementing contracts.

Format

The seminars are currently offered both in-person and online simultaneously, at the choice of the participant. This choice must be indicated at the time of registration. A small number of courses are scheduled to be delivered exclusively in person or online, and are indicated as such in the 2024 schedule. In-Person Only seminars usually start at 9:30 am Washington D.C. time. Daily sessions usually end at 4:00 pm. Breaks (including the lunch break) are allocated as appropriate. Online Only seminars will be delivered through five (for 1-week course) or ten (for 2-weeks course) live online sessions via videoconferencing platform. Each session will last approximately 3.5 hours and will be scheduled to start within a time window of 7:00 am – 8:30 am Washington D.C. time. Hybrid In-Person/Online seminars will start at a time most convenient to both in-person and online participants, and will generally follow the In-Person seminar format. We expect the classes to be highly interactive and can include presentations, case studies and exercises.

Course Outline

• Overview of contract law, including purchase orders, requests for proposals, contract formation and contract interpretation; Professional agreements versus construction contracts; Contract pricing and scope; Review of standard language including insurance requirements, indemnification, liquidated damages, third-party rights, suspension and termination
• Discussion of dispute resolution, including arbitration versus litigation, jurisdiction, choice of law, and remedies
• Analysis of approaches to negotiation
• Analysis of positions, interests, options and developing techniques and skills
• Exploration of power and cultural dynamics • Examination of how to deal with difficult negotiators and overcoming impasse.

Course Advisor

Gail Kelley is a professional engineer as well as a practicing attorney. Her practice focuses on drafting and negotiation of construction contracts and design agreements for both public and private projects, with a specific focus on review and negotiation of design agreements and financing documents for insurability concerns. She also participates in the negotiation of settlement agreements. Ms. Kelley has over 30 years of experience in all aspect of design, construction and development. She has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Cornell University, an M.S. in Construction Management from MIT, and a JD from Washington College of Law. She is the author of “Construction Law: An Introduction for Engineers, Architects and Contractors”.

Dr. Gerhard Botha is the Director of Programs at the International Law Institute in Washington D.C. Previously, he worked for the World Bank as a senior sector specialist in legal and judicial reform and private and financial sector development. Gerhard specialized in labour/employment law and relations, conflict resolution and negotiations, both in private practice and within a large corporate environment in Southern Africa. Dr. Botha has over 36 years’ experience in legal and labour relations practice, and in international development. Gerhard holds B.A. and LL.B degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, an LL.M in labour law, from the University of South Africa and an LL.M focusing on labour/ employment law and alternate dispute resolution, from The George Washington University Law School in Washington DC. He also holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.