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At Tanner & Guin,
we have been representing contractors since
1984. Our Construction Law Practice Group
represents growing construction firms in Alabama
and Mississippi, including the Gulf Coast
regions in both states, and we know construction
law and what is important to contractors.
Following are seven
ways we can assist your construction company in
avoiding problems
and making the most of business opportunities in
a difficult economic environment. If you would
like more information, please contact D.W.
Wilson (205‑633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com) or
Bert Guy (205‑633‑0206 or
bguy@tannerguin.com).
1.
Getting Your
Construction Documents in Order.
A good set of
construction documents will help you avoid
claims and protect your position when claims do
arise. Have your contracts been drafted to put
the responsibility for safety inspections and
environmental claims where they belong? Do your
standard forms require adequate insurance
coverage on the part of your subcontractors and
protect you from claims for payment of
withholding taxes? If you would like to have
your construction documents reviewed and
improved, please call D.W. Wilson (205‑633‑0216
or
dwilson@tannerguin.com).
2.
Reducing Your Environmental
Risks.
Construction
sites are subject to numerous regulations
designed to protect the environment. Erosion
control and storm water runoff are of particular
concern to state and federal authorities.
Protection of wetlands is also a favorite theme
for environmental regulators. Does your company
have a written plan for environmental
compliance? If not, you can contact D.W. Wilson
(205‑633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com) to discuss your
risks and compliance requirements.
3. Filing
Construction Liens.
What do you do
when the architect will not authorize payment or
the owner won’t pay? It is important to know
your lien rights and exercise them promptly in
the event of a payment dispute. D.W. Wilson
(205‑633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com) can assist you in
deciding whether to file a lien and how to
enforce your contract.
4. Providing
Essential Training for Growing Businesses.
Claims by
employees are a problem for businesses of all
sizes. You also have to worry about claims by
third parties on account of what your employees
have done. A good employee training program can
help you avoid claims for discrimination,
harassment, and other types of prohibited
conduct. We have a menu of training programs
for your managers and your hourly employees.
For more information call D.W. Wilson
(205-633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com) or Bert M. Guy
(205-633-0206 or
bguy@tannerguin.com).
5. Guiding
You through the Immigration Law Maze. If
you or your subcontractors use workers who are
not U.S. citizens, you will want to make certain
all of the regulations relating to immigrant
laborers have been observed. Failure to do so
can result in enforcement action by the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and
fines of up to $16,000 for each unauthorized
alien employee. If you need assistance
with an internal compliance audit or just
general advice to get you through the maze of
immigration law applicable to employers, please contact D.W. Wilson
(205-633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com).
6.
Putting Together a
Document Retention Program – How Long Do I Have
To Keep This Stuff?
It is easy to
suffer from information overload these days, as
information is generated in the form of hard
copies, faxes, electronic mail, and computer
files. Storage requirements include paper
files, computer storage, and perhaps compact
discs. If you do not want to be in the
warehouse business simply to preserve your own
records, your construction company needs a well
thought out document retention policy that
applies to both commercial documents and
employee information. If you would like to
receive more information about a document
retention plan for your business, please contact
D.W. Wilson (205-633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com).
7. Know
Your Incentives.
Don't miss out on those government freebies!
Stay in the know about government programs and
incentives, including incentives under the GO
Zone Act, sales tax exemptions, and other
potential savings. If you would like to receive
more information about these incentives, please
contact Jay F. Guin (205-633-0206 or
jguin@tannerguin.com) or D.W. Wilson
(205-633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com).
8. Providing
Wealth Planning for Contractors.
There have been significant changes in the
estate tax laws in recent years. Perhaps your
estate plan has not been reviewed recently, or
your personal or business situation has
changed. You may have a new child or
grandchild, or have added a key employee to your
company. Tanner & Guin’s team of corporate and
estate attorneys can help you plan for business
succession and for the disposition of your
assets so as to minimize estate taxes and
maximize the value to the next generation. For
more information, you can call D.W. Wilson
(205-633‑0216 or
dwilson@tannerguin.com).
We are proud to have served the construction
industry for nearly 25 years. If your company
could use advice from experienced business
counsel, we look forward to hearing from you. |
