Most construction disputes don’t start in court.

They start with one contract clause nobody paid attention to until cash flow stops, schedules slip, and lawyers get involved.

In this episode of Contender’s Edge Podcast, Zulq sits down with construction attorney Megan Shapiro to break down one of the biggest hidden risks in construction contracts today: cross-default clauses.

Megan explains how this clause allows general contractors to withhold payment across multiple projects when a dispute happens on just one job. For subcontractors and small to mid-sized construction companies, this can create serious financial pressure quickly.

This episode also covers:

• Construction contract risks contractors keep missing • Why notice clauses matter more than most PMs realize • The biggest mistakes subcontractors make before signing contracts • How project managers can reduce claims and disputes • Why unrealistic schedules create litigation problems later • AI in construction contracts, what works and what doesn’t • How contractors should handle RFIs, delays, documentation, and change directives • Why many construction disputes start long before legal action begins

Megan shares lessons from 17 years in construction law representing owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and design professionals across the industry.

If you’re a construction business owner, estimator, project manager, superintendent, or subcontractor trying to protect margins and avoid costly contract mistakes, this episode is worth your time.

Guest: Megan Shapiro Construction Attorney | Contract Coach | Founder of Converge Construction Summit https://meganshapiro.com

Listen to more episodes of Contender’s Edge for real conversations around construction leadership, operations, contracts, scheduling, risk management, and technology in construction.

#Construction #ConstructionContracts #Subcontractor #GeneralContractor #ProjectManagement #ConstructionLaw #ConstructionIndustry #ConstructionPodcast #ConstructionManagement #ProjectManager #RFIs #ConstructionClaims #ConstructionBusiness #CommercialConstruction #Contractors

Every construction project starts with a handshake and a schedule. Then the RFIs pile up, materials get delayed, schedules fall apart, and everyone starts pointing fingers.

In this episode of the Contender’s Edge Podcast, Zulq sits down with construction claims and dispute expert Richard Fogarasi to break down what actually causes construction disputes, delay claims, and project breakdowns on job sites.

Richard brings experience from both the field and the consulting world, from superintendent and project manager roles to becoming a construction delay and quantum expert working on high-level disputes across the industry.

This episode digs into:

• Why most baseline schedules fail within weeks
• The biggest mistakes contractors make during delays
• How RFIs quietly destroy schedules
• What owners and designers get wrong before construction starts
• Why daily reports become legal gold later
• The danger of verbal instructions on site
• How subcontractors can protect themselves during disputes
• Why “we’ll figure it out later” costs companies money
• Contract clauses contractors ignore until it’s too late
• The real reason claims fail in court

If you’re a general contractor, subcontractor, project manager, superintendent, estimator, consultant, or owner, this episode gives you practical advice that can save your company time, money, and legal headaches.

Straight talk from people who’ve lived it in the field.

If you run a construction company and think leadership is about output, this episode will challenge you.

Shaun Dawson, President of GEN-PRO, breaks down what it takes to build a company that people stay at.

Not perks. Not talk. Genuine care for your crew.

From growing up in the business to taking over ownership, Shaun shares how leadership, health and safety, and mental health support directly impact retention, culture, and long-term growth.

Inside this episode:

→ Why employees leave leaders who don’t care

→ How real leadership shows up on and off the job site

→ The role of mental health in construction teams

→ What small and mid-size contractors get wrong about culture

→ How to build a team that stays for decades

This is for construction owners, general contractors, subcontractors, founders, and leaders who want stronger teams, better retention, and a company people are proud to work for.

Experience from the field, from a leader who cares about his people.

#ConstructionLeadership #GeneralContractor #ConstructionManagement #ContractorLife #ConstructionBusiness #SkilledTrades #Leadership #ConstructionCulture