Brad Nicpon is a Partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Infrastructure and Projects Group in Toronto. His practice spans infrastructure development, procurement, construction, energy, real property, and P3s. He has led transactions in Asia, the Middle East, UK, Europe and North America and served as Director of Policy to two Ontario Ministers of Infrastructure. Brad brings unmatched insight into governmental risk allocation and P3 delivery models, combining legal expertise with senior public sector experience.

Lawren Green is Executive Vice President and Head of Kiewit Development Company. Based in Los Angeles, Lawren’s responsibilities include origination, project development, financing, and asset management for Kiewit’s investment and alternative procurement pursuits across North America in both the infrastructure and energy markets. Lawren has over 15 years of project finance and development experience delivering projects across asset classes in the United States and Canada, including education, healthcare, transportation, and social housing projects.

Mr. Conery is a senior legal executive with more than 30 years of in-house experience in the energy and EPC sectors, including manufacturing and industrial distribution. He specializes in complex commercial contracting and risk management, navigating the full lifecycle of major capital projects from bid development through execution. His expertise includes lead negotiations for master services agreements, global supply chains, and large-scale EPC project contracts.

Most recently, Mr. Conery served as General Counsel to an MWBE joint venture that mounts and calibrates Endpoint Reading Transmitters to gas meters. He previously served as Assistant General Counsel and Chief Counsel for multi-billion dollar divisions of international companies, providing legal leadership for EPC Centers of Excellence and complex technical services programs. Mr. Conery has managed a solo practice serving fabrication, control systems, software clients, and project management training for a Fortune 200 company.

Mr. Conery holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Loyola University New Orleans and is licensed to practice law in Texas and Louisiana. His experience across the energy value chain provides a unique perspective on evolving trends of risk allocation in modern EPC contracts.

Gerry Argento, Co-Leader of the Construction Litigation Specialty Group, is a lawyer renowned for his expertise in construction law. He advises and represents a diverse client base, including owners and general and trade contractors, and develops effective strategies in contexts where financial and operational risks are high.

He specializes in construction litigation and contract law, particularly in high-profile technical disputes. Gerry is known for his ability to swiftly identify key issues, develop strong legal arguments, and lead cases with rigour and efficiency.

Born into a family of general contractors, Gerry has a practical and in-depth understanding of construction sites, which he leverages to provide pragmatic, results-driven legal solutions. This dual perspective – both legal and operational – is a valuable asset in managing complex disputes.

Over the years, Gerry has also developed expertise in eDiscovery and the strategic management of large volumes of documents in complex litigation. He regularly publishes articles and speaks on key issues in the construction industry. He also serves on the boards of various construction-related organizations and charities.

Gerry holds an LL.M. and a J.D. in common law from the University of Montréal. He is a member of the Barreau du Québec and the Young Bar of Montréal. His expertise has been recognized in the Lexpert Construction Law Directory (2021–2024), as well as in the special editions for Energy and Mining (2024) and

Infrastructure Law (2024–2025). He has also been named among the Best Lawyers in construction law (2025–2026). This recognition is a testament to his expertise and influence in the industry.

Dr. Ali Ashrafi is a Principal at Thornton Tomasetti and is a licensed civil and fire protection engineer. Ali has extensive experience in designing buildings and facilities across the US and internationally. In addition, Ali is called in to investigate when things go wrong: collapse of a building or bridge, failure of a system or material, problems in design or construction, and identifying the cause of an incident. Dr. Ashrafi has been an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, having taught both Structural Fire Engineering and Earthquake and Wind Engineering. Ali is co-chair of the ASCE Fire Protection Committee.

Toyja Kelley is a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke, representing large corporations in complex commercial disputes with deep experience in renewable energy litigation and risk management. He serves as primary outside litigation counsel for offshore wind energy companies, including regular engagement with the Maryland State Attorney General’s office on regulatory and litigation matters involving projects designed to generate more than 750 MW of offshore wind electricity. Toyja has extensive trial experience managing construction and commercial disputes in the evolving energy sector, and his role as outside general counsel provides strategic guidance on risk mitigation. He previously served as President of the Defense Research Institute.

Salvo Vitale is General Counsel at US Wind, Inc., with over 15 years of experience in corporate governance, business law, international commercial law, and renewable energy. He oversees company strategy, commercial development, operations, financial performance, and all legal matters across US and European projects. Appointed in 2023 to the Maryland Clean Energy Center Board by Governor Wes Moore, he joined the Toto Group in 2011 and previously practiced at Bonelli Erede in Rome. He holds a Masters degree in Law and a PhD degree in Commercial Law from LUISS University.

Matthew Flax is President and Co-Founder of Flax & Associates, LLC. As a Florida-licensed general contractor, CPA, and LEED AP, he holds an MBA in Finance from Nova Southeastern University and a BS from the University of Maryland. His prior roles include leadership positions at J.S. Held, CBRE, and FTI Consulting. Matt has extensive national and international experience, and he specializes in construction management, claims, estimating, project controls, and expert testimony on projects ranging from $15,000 to over $3 billion.

Combining experience as a CPA and licensed general contractor, Matt provides a data-driven view of how timing and pricing models impact damage assessments across multi-million-dollar projects. This knowledge qualifies Matt as a panelist, as well as his role in the construction industry as a mid-career general contractor in the United States.

William Underwood is a law partner at Jones Walker LLP, member of its Construction Team, and leads the firm’s Atlanta office. He focuses on construction litigation, dispute resolution, and contract negotiation. William advises domestic and international clients on large industrial and infrastructure projects and has represented them in courts and arbitrations. His experience spans high stakes disputes regarding billion-dollar projects to advising clients about issues related to contract drafting, contract negotiation, risk mitigation, and overall project management. He earned his JD, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University School of Law, and his BA, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University.

As a leading construction litigator handling disputes and advising on risk mitigation strategies, William brings practical and legal insight into how appellate decisions influence damage models in major jurisdictions. This experience qualifies William to speak about construction defect damages. He is a mid-career private lawyer practicing in the United States.

David Ehrlich is Vice President & Chief Legal Officer at Coastal Construction. Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar, he is also a licensed General Contractor, Real Estate Broker, and Insurance Agent. David was named a Top Corporate Counsel by the Tampa Bay Business Journal and is a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America. He holds a JD from Florida State University School of Law, an MBA from University of Central Florida, and a BS from University of Florida.

With deep experience in Florida’s construction industry, David offers legal and practical insight into how recent appellate rulings reshape repair-cost damages in construction litigation. This insight and skillset qualifies him as a panelist. As an in-house lawyer in his mid-career, David practices in the United States.

James Little is the Chair of the Society of Construction Law of North America. He is also a Partner and Co-Chair of the Construction and Infrastructure Practice Group at Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP.

For his expertise and reputation in construction law, James has been ranked by Chambers Global, Who’s Who Legal, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation and Best Lawyers. These rankings are based on comments from his clients recognizing his “keen mind”, his “innovative” strategies, “impeccable” preparedness and “unmatched” work ethic.

As a leading practitioner in his field, James has developed a growing practice where he advises on domestic and international construction disputes, including court proceedings, negotiation, arbitration and other dispute resolution alternatives for a wide variety of construction industry clients. He regularly advises clients on a variety of different types of projects including major national and international infrastructure projects, mining projects, hospitals and commercial construction. James is often called upon to advise on construction projects during the pre-construction, design and construction phases, including advice in respect of risk mitigation, dispute avoidance and claims management. His focus is on providing a high level of service through effective and timely advice and advocacy while managing and resolving disputes.

James is also a committed contributor within the construction bar. He is focused on developing himself as a thought leader by providing perspectives in respect of construction law in Canada through his work on case notes, papers and journal articles.

Joe Guarino’s experience includes all aspects of contract drafting and negotiations, counseling on contract administration, claim preservation and avoidance, and dispute resolution and litigation within the construction industry.

Recognized internationally as a leading quantum and delay expert, Simon has over 25 years of professional experience in the areas of construction consulting, construction and engineering claims, and disputes related to delay, disruption, productivity, and damages.

Steven Kitching is Area Manager and Project Director at Austin Industries based in Dallas, Texas. His experience includes campus development for commercial Class A office buildings as well as large airport expansion projects.

Steven received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University.

David Funderburk’s practice focuses on civil litigation in a wide variety of areas, including construction law in which he represents contractors and subcontractors, personal injury, products liability, contract disputes, and representation of individuals, partnerships, and companies.  In addition to handling litigation matters, Mr. Funderburk has assisted clients in non-litigated contract related matters and overall risk management for businesses.  The majority of his docket has been in the state and federal courts in the Gulf Coast area of Texas.

Tim Vuong is both a Technical Director within the Houston office and a Regional Design Realization Leader for Gensler’s four Texas offices. Tim has more than 30 years of expertise ranging from large-scale architectural design and renovation to the design of innovative architectural detailing. Tim has also become a trusted and sought-after client relationship leader while continuing to embrace the role of technical leader. Specifically, as Senior Project Architect for the ExxonMobil Campus Project, Tim successfully led the overall quality of the project’s technical documentation, as well as interfacing directly and continuously with the ExxonMobil client team. Tim is a USGBC LEED-Accredited Professional, Registered Architect and Interior Designer and earned his Bachelor’s Degree of Environmental Design and Master of Architecture from Texas A&M University.

Yogi Sheth earned is Master of Applied Science ( Structural Engineering ) from University of Toronto. Mr. Sheith spent 5 years in Consulting Engineering before getting exposed to the Glass and Glazing Industry in 1980. Initially, he worked for a Fortune 500 company as a Project Manager and went on to manage a nationwide Custom Architectural Metals program involving Design, Engineering and Fabrication of Custom Curtainwalls for projects across the US. Eventually Mr. Sheth started his own Glass and Glazing Company in 1989 completing projects in various states. After retiring the company in 2017, he now provides Business Management consulting to Glass and Glazing Contractors.

Amy Peevey is a Managing Director with Secretariat’s Houston office. She has over 25 years of experience assisting owners, contractors, designers, manufacturers, and other construction professionals with the successful implementation of building-related performance requirements during project planning and design, construction, and post-occupancy. She routinely provides consulting services to mitigate project risk, overcome problems, and evaluate building science/enclosure and structural design, construction, and related performance to yield successful project outcomes, as well as provides litigation support.

James Dierking is Assistant General Counsel with Fluor Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company that delivers engineering, procurement, management, and construction services to governments and private clients worldwide. James oversees and manages Fluor’s worldwide dispute resolution activities.  Prior to joining Fluor, James co-chaired the international construction practice group at a Cleveland-based law firm and taught law and international business classes at a UK-based university.  James is licensed to practice law in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.  He earned a L.L.M. from the London School of Economics, and J.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of San Diego.

Dr. Sellers is a Principal Engineer in the Materials & Corrosion Engineering Practice at Exponent, Inc. As a Licensed Professional Chemical Engineer, she helps clients understand how system design, material selection, and operating conditions interact to ensure reliability and safety across complex industrial operations. Dr. Sellers has provided expert testimony in litigation and arbitration, including in relation to design, construction, and operating issues at refineries, offshore platforms, chemical manufacturing plants, and other process facilities. She is a long-standing member of the Society of Women Engineers and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Equal Representation for Experts (ERE) initiative.

Ben Westcott is the Co-Managing Shareholder with Andrews Myers PC, a Texas-based corporate law firm, and is based in their Houston office. Ben Westcott’s practice focuses on both transactional and dispute resolution aspects of construction law.

Ben is a graduate of Rice University and received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, where he has served as an Adjunct Professor in the Basic Construction Law course. The prestigious legal directory, Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, has recognized Ben as a leading construction lawyer for 18 consecutive years.

As Legal Counsel at Graham Construction & Engineering, Tara McCarthy provides strategic legal guidance across all aspects of operations and throughout the lifecycle of projects.  She advises on commercial contracting matters, including project pursuits and subcontracting matters.  She also provides project execution support to resolve claims and disputes of varying complexity. She supports matters through alternative dispute resolution processes, as well as through litigation.  She has experience assisting with a broad range of claims including builders’ lien, delay, insurance and bond claims.

Prior to joining Graham, Tara practiced law at a global law firm focusing on commercial litigation.  She has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia Okanagan.

Jocelyn Turnbull Wallace is a commercial litigation Partner and the Co-Lead of the Calgary Project Disputes Group at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Jocelyn maintains a broad practice in corporate commercial litigation and arbitration, both domestic and international. She frequently appears as counsel in trials, appeals, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and quasi-judicial proceedings.

Through her specialized practice in the construction and energy industries, Jocelyn advises clients on complex infrastructure and construction projects, deals with contractual disputes, delay claims, deficiencies, and builders’ lien issues. Additionally, Jocelyn’s experience includes municipal law and planning matters, expropriation disputes, zoning and development permit issues, and subdivision appeals.

Logan has over 20 years of experience in commercial management and construction project management. Logan’s areas of expertise include estimating, project scheduling and forecasting, project controls, operations, financial management and reporting, stakeholder relationship management, process improvement, risk management, claims and litigation, and contract review.

Logan has been appointed as an expert witness and has testified on numerous mandates as both an expert and a fact witness for high-profile projects ranging in value from $1M to over $1B. He has significant experience in construction arbitration, litigation, and dispute resolution, specializing in issues such as delay, disruption, and quantum.

Jordan Bierkos is a partner in the Litigation Group in Calgary with a significant focus on construction disputes. He is a trusted advocate and strategic advisor to owners, contractors, and developers facing complex construction issues, including delay and deficiency claims, contractual disputes, project interruptions, and matters involving significant financial or reputational risk. Jordan is the Co-Author of Prompt Payment, Adjudication, and Construction Liens in Alberta.