GRSM Ranked Among Texas’ 50 Largest Law Firms by Texas Lawyer
August 03, 2026 —
Gordon Rees Scully MansukhaniGordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has been recognized byTexas Lawyer in its 2026 Texas 100 ranking, earning the No. 49 spot among the state’s largest law firms by attorney headcount. The annual report spotlights the continued strength of Texas’ legal market, with firms across the state collectively increasing lawyer headcount by 2% in 2025.
“Texas continues to be one of the country’s most thriving legal and business markets, and we are proud to be recognized among the state’s largest law firms,” said Laura De Santos, Regional Oversight Partner for Texas. “Our continued growth shows the confidence our clients place in us, the exceptional talent of our attorneys, and our commitment to delivering seamless, high-quality legal services throughout Texas and across our 50-state platform.”
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Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Construction Liens: Liening for Amounts Not Yet Technically Due Does Not Mean Lien Is Fraudulent
August 11, 2026 —
David Adelstein - Florida Construction Legal UpdatesA 2024 bankruptcy ruling, In re Edgewater Construction Group, Inc., 657 B.R. 668 (S.D.Fla. 2024), touched upon an interesting issue when it comes to construction liens. Is a construction lien fraudulent simply because the lien includes amounts not yet due? Not necessarily.
In this bankruptcy dispute, the subcontractor debtor (that filed for bankruptcy) recorded two construction liens on projects. The general contractor argued in the bankruptcy court that the subcontractor debtor’s liens were fraudulent.
As to the first lien, the general contractor argued that the lien was fraudulent because it included amounts that the debtor knew the general contractor had already paid to the debtor’s subcontractors/suppliers. The bankruptcy court disagreed: “The Court finds that, although the Debtor had been told that [the general contractor] had paid these subcontractors, in light of the ongoing dispute between Debtor and [the general contractor], it was reasonable for the Debtor to demand proof. Debtor’s subsequent filing of a partial satisfaction of lien once the Debtor received the requested proof of payment from [the general contractor] counters any claim of willful exaggeration.” In re Edgewater Construction Group, supra, at 672-673.
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David Adelstein, Kirwin NorrisMr. Adelstein may be contacted at
dma@kirwinnorris.com
Risk Reset: Concerns Top of Mind for Top Construction Law Firms
September 28, 2026 —
David McMillin - Construction ExecutiveIn the summer of 2025, contractors were consumed by one major issue: tariffs. Owners, builders and suppliers were trying to understand how shifting trade policy would affect bid pricing and ongoing projects. While those concerns have eased after a Supreme Court ruling, some of the industry’s top legal experts—all of whom practice at some of CE’s Top 50 Construction Law Firms—point to a different set of worries that are keeping their clients up at night and keeping their offices busy.
Inflation is not fading away, creating continued price challenges. Artificial intelligence is moving at a breakneck pace, offering potential time-saving benefits paired with major liability concerns. The federal government continues to make surprising policy changes, and contractors remain focused on managing financial risk across increasingly complex projects.
Reprinted courtesy of
David McMillin, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.
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Did You Know: Unique Legal Considerations for Animal Care Facilities
August 24, 2026 —
Hannah Skidmore - Construction ExecutiveAnimal care facilities are highly specialized environments that require expertise far beyond traditional commercial or even standard medical construction. Whether designing and building animal shelters, doggy daycares, veterinary clinics or full-service animal hospitals, these facilities operate under conditions that introduce unique challenges related to sanitation, durability, animal behavior and operational workflows.
Because of these complexities, projects that fail to account for animal care requirements adequately often encounter costly issues—many of which result in litigation. Below are real-world examples drawn from expert witness work, followed by proactive best practices construction professionals should apply to future animal care projects.
Reprinted courtesy of
Hannah Skidmore, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.
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Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/19/26) – Single-Family Housing Investors Worry, Confidence in Multifamily REITs and Construction Backlog Falls
September 08, 2026 —
Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law BlogIn our latest roundup, U.S. Chamber of Commerce creates Housing Advisory Council, a legal battle develops over new federal rules related to mortgage escrow accounts, hospitality dealmakers pursue ‘bigger, higher-conviction’ M&A, and more!
- In the wake of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act becoming law, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a Housing Advisory Council with the goal of advancing market-driven policies that help increase housing supply and promote affordability. (Julie Strupp, Multifamily Dive)
- Investors in the single-family housing market are increasingly concerned about interest rates, rising insurance and home costs, and the ongoing war with Iran. (Diana Olick, CNBC)
- A legal battle is brewing over new federal rules related to accounts that hold money to pay homeowners’ property taxes and insurance payments. (Sarah Agostino, CNBC)
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Pillsbury's Construction & Real Estate Law Team
From Dark Data to Building Intelligence
July 13, 2026 —
Aarni Heiskanen - AEC BusinessIn this episode, I talk with Mark Sorsa-Leslie, founder and CEO of
Auttaa AI, whose team just won first place in Luotea’s inaugural hackathon in Helsinki for turning property maintenance from reactive firefighting into proactive forecasting with AI. Mark is a chartered surveyor with 30 years of real estate data experience, previously the founder of the UK sensor company Beringar.
We discuss why so much building data stays dark and siloed, from outdated networking technology to the shortage of people who understand both engineering and property. Mark explains how Auttaa bridges real-time building data with large language models, using what he calls an “influence graph” to surface correlations and causation across previously disconnected systems, such as linking occupancy patterns to CO2 readings to diagnose ventilation problems in minutes rather than days.
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Aarni Heiskanen, AEC BusinessMr. Heiskanen may be contacted at
aec-business@aepartners.fi
Ball Janik LLP Welcomes Construction Defect Attorney and U.S. Air Force Veteran Jake Scott to its Fort Lauderdale Office
June 02, 2026 —
Ball Janik LLPBall Janik LLP, a leading construction defect and insurance recovery law firm, has welcomed Jake Scott as an associate in its Fort Lauderdale office. Scott joins the Construction Defect Practice Group, bringing experience across construction litigation that includes construction defect, contract dispute, and negligence matters, along with a track record of representing construction professionals through depositions, court appearances, and trial preparation to support the firm's steady growth and client service statewide.
"We're excited to welcome Jake Scott to our Fort Lauderdale office and Construction Defect Practice Group," said James C. Prichard, Managing Partner at Ball Janik LLP. "We look forward to the fresh perspectives and legal solutions he will provide for community associations across South Florida."
Scott is a results-driven attorney dedicated to providing strategic counsel for complex legal challenges. He has experience managing all phases of a case, from early investigation and discovery through trial preparation and settlement negotiations.
Prior to joining Ball Janik, Scott served as an associate attorney in Fort Lauderdale, where he represented clients in construction litigation matters, handled depositions and court appearances, conducted legal research, and drafted pleadings, motions, and briefs. He also worked as an attorney in Tampa, where he represented contractors, subcontractors, and construction firms in defending claims involving construction defects, contractual dispu
Ahlers Cressman & Sleight Nationally Ranked as a 2020 “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®Haight has been named a Metropolitan Los Angeles Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” and Tier 2 for Orange County by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in 2023Brian Newberry Accepted into ABOTASometimes You Get Away with Default (but don’t count on it)Reservation of Rights Letter Merely Citing Policy Provisions InadequateChambers Global 2026 Recognizes Sheppard Practices and AttorneysAdditional Insureds Owed a Defense in Underlying Personal Injury SuitConstruction Lien Needs to Be Recorded Within 90 Days from Lienor’s Final FurnishingJust Because You Label It A “Trade Secret” Does Not Make It A “Trade Secret”Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (5/29/24) – Megaprojects on the Rise, Agency Guidance for CRE, and an Upbeat Forecast for Commercial Real Estate InvestmentKahana Feld Announces Key Partner Additions Coast to CoastCourt of Appeals Issues Decision Regarding Second-Tier Subcontractors and Pre-Lien NoticeHandling Insurance Claims in the Wake of the Los Angeles WildfiresA Primer on Insurance for Construction ProjectsFederal Court Upholds Uninsured Contractor Endorsement; Finds Duty to Defend AnywayExpert's Opinions On Causation Leads Way To Summary Judgment For InsurerNew Households Moving to ApartmentsHilary Soaks California With Flooding Rain and Snarls FlightsNo Conflict in Successive Representation of a Closely-Held Company and Its Insiders Where Insiders Already Possess Company’s Confidential InformationBuilder’s Risk Coverage—Construction DefectsMediation in the Zero Sum World of ConstructionIvanhoe Cambridge Plans Toronto Office Towers, TerminalOverview of New Mexico Construction LawKahana Feld Receives 2024 OCCDL Top Legal Organizations for DEI AwardIrvine Partner Cinnamon J. Carr and Associate Brittney H. Aquino Prevail on Summary JudgmentContract Disruption
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