People

Joe concentrates his practice in the areas of construction and public contract law. He represents all participants in the construction industry, including public and private owners, general contractors, construction managers, design-build contractors, and trade contractors in drafting and negotiating contracts, providing general counsel, and in all types of performance and payment dispute resolution. Through his practice and his prior experience in the construction industry, he has developed particular expertise in alternative project delivery systems such as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), construction management, both agency and at risk, and design-build.

Joe has been recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer in the practice area of Construction Litigation, 2013-2023. He has received an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell. Joe also received honors for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED, AP), and Outstanding Service Award, City of Indianapolis.

Areas of Specialty
Construction Law
Public Contract Law
Drafting and Negotiating Contracts
Performance and Payment Dispute Resolution
Alternative Project Delivery Systems
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)

Education
Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D.
Purdue University, B.S. Civil Engineering

Admissions
Indiana Supreme Court
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana

Associations
Indiana State Bar Association
• Construction and Surety Law Section, Past Chair

American Bar Association
• Forum on Construction Law
• Public Contract Law Section

Associated General Contractors of America
• Contract Documents Forum, Vice Chair
• ConsensusDocs Content Advisory Council, Member

Associated General Contractors of Indiana, Member

ACE Mentor Program of Indiana, Inc.
• Board of Directors (former)

Indiana Constructors Inc.
• Program Committee

Civic & Community Involvement
ACE Mentor Program
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Joy of Giving
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

Author, “Lien Rights for Material Suppliers . . . To Other Material Suppliers? A Change in Mechanic’s Lien Law,” DSV Legal Blog – 2022

Presenter, “Construction Law; Advanced Issues and Answers,” National Business Institute – 2021

Author, “Off-Site Prefabricator is a Contractor for Purposes of the Mechanic’s Lien Law,” DSV Legal Blog – 2021

Presenter, “Interplay of Insurance Coverage, Indemnification Clauses, and Transfer of Risk in a Construction Context,” IndyBar – 2021

Author, “Order of Precedence Clauses in Construction Contracts,” DSV Legal Insights – 2021

Author, “No, the Law Regarding Recording of Mechanic’s Lien Notices Did Not Change,” DSV Legal Blog – 2020

Presenter, “What’s Up Docs? Best Practice Contracting Under the New Normal/Contract Documents Forum Meeting,” Associated General Contractors of America, webinar, – 2020

Presenter, “Delegated Design v. Design Assist vs. Design-Build: Know the Differences to Avoid Unintended Liability,” Construction Claims Advisor, webinar, – 2020

Author, “COVID-19 and Mutual Responsibility Clauses,” DSV Legal Blog – 2020

Presenter, “Design Assist – Maximize the Benefits while Minimizing Risks,” Associated General Contractors of America, webinar, – 2009

Presenter, “Delegated Design, Design-Assist and the Erosion of he Spearin Doctrine,” Associated General Contractors of America Annual Convention, Denver, CO – 2019

Presenter, “An Assist with Design-Assist: Everybody’s Doing It, Should I?” ConsensusDocs and the National Association of Educational Procurement webinar – 2019

Presenter, “Your Defective Design is Stuck in my Non-negligent Means and Methods,” Associated General Contractors of America Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA – 2018

Author and Presenter, “Addressing Construction Defects and Failures,” Half Moon Education, Inc., Indianapolis, IN – 2018

Presenter, “The New AIA-2017 Contract Documents,” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, IN – 2018

Presenter, “ConsensusDocs Forms: Lean Construction and Design-Assist Addenda for CM at Risk,” Associated General Contractors of America BuildCon Conference, Washington, DC – 2018

Presenter, “The Benefits and Risks of Design-Assist Contracting and Delegated Design,” Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) Fall Owners Leadership Conference, San Diego, CA – 2018

Presenter, “Project Delivery,” Trade Association Professionals, Carmel, IN – 2017

Presenter, “When is the Deal Done and What is the Deal?” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, IN – 2017

Presenter, “IPD, Lean, and Design Assist for the Rest of Us,” Associated General Contractors of America Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV – 2017

Author, “The Contract Challenges of Delivering Projects Using Collaborative Design,” Design Cost Data Magazine – 2017

Presenter, “Where Will Trump’s Policies Lead the Construction Industry,” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, IN – 2017

Author, “AIA Revises Claim Notice Provisions in New AIA A201,” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP Newsletter – 2017

Presenter, “The New AIA Documents: All You Need to Know,” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, IN – 2017

Author and Presenter, “Construction Law: Advanced Issues and Answers,” National Business Institute, Indianapolis, IN – 2017

Presenter, “Change Orders and Constructive Changes,” Assured Partners, Carmel, IN – 2017

Presenter, “Why the Industry Needs More Design-Assist and Lean,” Lean Construction Institute Congress, Anaheim, CA – 2017

Presenter, “Changes to AIA A201 Notice Provisions,” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, IN – 2017

Presenter, “Ethics of the Practice of Architecture,” American Institute of Architects, South Bend, IN – 2017

Author and Presenter, “Construction Contract Workshop,” Half Moon Education, Inc., Indianapolis, IN – 2016

Author, “Termination for Convenience, Remedies and Good Faith, Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP Newsletter – 2016

Author and Presenter, “Construction Law: What Do You Do When . . . ?” National Business Institute, Indianapolis, IN – 2016

Presenter, “Changes and Constructive Changes,” Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, IN – 2016