The ABA Forum on Construction Law will host its 2026 Annual Conference from May 6–9, 2026 in Chicago, celebrating the Forum’s 50th Anniversary. The event will reflect on five decades of leadership in construction law while exploring the future of the practice through forward-looking discussions and industry perspectives.
The conference will feature a series of plenary sessions and retrospectives led by distinguished speakers, focusing on the evolution of construction law, lessons learned from major projects, and shifting perspectives on legal and ethical standards. These sessions aim to provide both historical context and practical insight for today’s construction professionals and legal practitioners.
In addition to serving as a Gold Sponsor, VERTEX will participate as an exhibitor at Table 33, engaging with attendees throughout the conference and supporting discussions across the construction law community.
Speaker Highlights
VERTEX experts from Technical Claims & Disputes (TCD) and Commercial Damages & Investigations (CDI) team will be in attendance at the event, both to share insights and to connect with colleagues.
On May 8, Senior Managing Director and Practice Area Lead Dayna Anderson, CMA, CFE will speak during Plenary 7: “Dollars and Sense: Maximizing End Results by Staying on Top of the Budget” from 11:25 AM – 12:25 PM, contributing insight into cost management and financial oversight in construction projects.
Senior Managing Director Christopher Abel, CHMM will participate in the Division 7 & 11 Lunches & Networking session held at 12:30 PM on the same day.
Additional VERTEX attendees include:
- Senior Managing Director Zachary Bradshaw, PE, CEP, PSP
- Managing Director James Granstra, PSP, PMP, CCIFP, MBA
- Senior Managing Director Grant Hoey, MBA, CCM
- Director Micheal King, PE
- Senior Managing Director Sashi Mahtani, CCP, CFE
Through participation in events such as the ABA Forum on Construction Law Annual Conference, VERTEX continues to support industry dialogue and contribute to conversations shaping the future of construction law and project delivery.
For additional information about the event, please visit: https://events.americanbar.org/event/23bbd024-f74b-4f5c-b5ce-21f2c9a36fcb/agenda
To learn more about VERTEX’s Commercial Damages & Investigation (CDI) and Technical Claims & Disputes (TCD) services, or to speak with an expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry.
The Author
Dayna Anderson
CMA, CFE
Senior Managing Director and Practice Area Lead, Commercial Damages & Investigations
Dayna Anderson is a Certified Management Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner. She has testified in federal court, as well as arbitration, related to economic damages. Dayna has also assisted counsel at mediation.
The Author
Zachary Bradshaw
PE, CEP, PSP
Senior Managing Director, Claims, Disputes and Forensics
As a Senior Managing Director with VERTEX Litigation Support, Zachary Bradshaw has assisted in preparing over one hundred fifty construction defect, insurance, and delay claims.
The Author
James Granstra
PSP, PMP, CCIFP, MBA
Managing Director, Commercial Damages & Investigation
James Granstra is a Managing Director in the Austin office of VERTEX. James assists companies and their legal counsel avoid and resolve business disputes. James is experienced in critical path method (“CPM”) delay analysis and analysis of economic damages in the construction and government contract industries. He has analyzed contractor and owner claims arising from delays, productivity loss, disruption, force majeure events, payment disputes, and environmental impacts.
The Author
Grant Hoey
MBA, CCM
Senior Managing Director, Claims, Disputes and Forensics
Grant Hoey has a strong background in construction management with an emphasis in construction disputes, planning, scheduling, design, change management and cost analysis.
The Author
Michael King
PE
Director, Commercial Damages & Investigations
Mike helps companies and their legal counsel avoid and/or resolve business disputes. His experience includes construction project controls and the investigation and resolution of complex disputes, primarily related to the construction, energy, and utility industries.
The Author
Sashi Mahtani
CCP, CFE
Senior Managing Director, Commercial Damages & Investigation
Sashi Mahtani is a Senior Managing Director at VERTEX. Sashi specializes in the investigation and resolution of business disputes, primarily related to the construction and government contracts industries. He has also provided construction oversight and management services for on-going construction projects. Sashi has consulted on behalf of construction companies, government contractors, subcontractors, owners, program managers, architects, engineers, and insurance companies.