Architects, Engineers, And Designers

When a construction project goes wrong, design professionals are rarely the last ones standing. Architects, engineers, and designers are often the first parties scrutinized, regardless of where the actual failure occurred. Your drawings, your specifications, your professional decisions during the design phase and through construction administration: all of it becomes evidence.

At Volpe Law, LLC, we represent design professionals in disputes where their work and their professional judgment are under examination. We also represent clients who have suffered real losses as a result of design errors or professional negligence. These are not the same as standard construction disputes. The legal standards are different, the evidentiary questions are more technical, and the outcomes often hinge on what the applicable standard of care required in a given situation.

You know your craft. We know this area of law. We know how opposing counsel builds these cases, and we know how to respond.

What We Do

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

When a claim is filed or a dispute escalates, we handle every stage of the process in Colorado state and federal courts, in arbitration, and in mediation.

• Professional negligence defense for architects, engineers, and designers
• Claims against design professionals for errors and omissions
• Construction defect claims with a design component
• Disputes arising from construction administration responsibilities
• Contract disputes between design professionals and clients or contractors
• Insurance coverage disputes related to professional liability claims
• Multi-party litigation involving design professionals alongside contractors and owners

Preventative and Transactional Counsel

The best time to address legal risk is before a project begins. We help design professionals protect themselves through better contracts and clearer documentation practices.

• Design and professional services contract drafting and review
• Scope of services definition and limitation of liability provisions
• Subcontractor and consultant agreements
• Review of owner-architect agreements and standard AIA contract modifications
• Advice on construction administration obligations and documentation
• Business formation and operating agreements for design firms

Who We Represent

• Licensed architects
• Civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers
• Interior designers and design firms
• Landscape architects
• Design-build firms with professional liability exposure
• Clients who have suffered losses tied to design errors or professional negligence

Design Professionals Have Specific Legal Exposure. Your Representation Should Reflect That.

Professional liability claims against design professionals move fast. Insurers get involved, positions get staked out, and the technical record gets interpreted by people with their own agenda. The earlier you have counsel involved, the better your ability to shape that record and respond effectively.

If a claim has been filed against you, or if you believe someone else’s design failure caused you harm, call Volpe Law, LLC. The sooner we’re involved, the more we can do.