By Jonathan C. Shoemaker, Esq.
Before joining a team to submit a proposal on a design-build project, it is important to understand the risks to the design professional’s firm associated with participating on a design-build team – including risks that arise even before the design-build team is awarded the project!
This paper provides a framework for the “old hands” and novices alike to understand, assess, and minimize the risks associated with participating on a design-build team (and, in turn, maximize profits). By considering how to choose the right partner, how to determine the right contractual structure for the design-build team, and how to manage the risks allocated to the design professional, the prudent design professional will be better equipped when considering the pros and cons of participating on a design-build team.