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