Ken Michael is both an attorney and a registered architect. Prior to attending law school, he practiced as a registered architect and intern architect for over eight years in Florida and Texas. During those years, he was involved in all architectural phases of a variety of commercial, governmental, educational, institutional, health care and residential projects. Since becoming an attorney, he has merged his background in architecture and law in the practice of construction law. Most of his practice involves representing owners during contract negotiations and other construction phases, in which his practical construction experience is of considerable value. He advises owners, developers and specialty construction firms on project delivery choices in construction, including design-build, cost plus (with or without a guaranteed maximum price), procurement, traditional design-bid-build, and real time project counseling. Ken focuses on resolving disputes, as efficiently and effectively as possible, through negotiation and mediation, but also is an experienced advocate if the matter escalates to a binding dispute resolution proceeding.
Publications
- Construction Industry Standard Form Contracts, North Carolina Construction Law Deskbook
- North Carolina Construction and Design Law
- North Carolina Section of ABA State Survey Project
- North Carolina Construction Law, The Credit Manager's Survival Kit
- North Carolina Construction Law, North Carolina General Practice Deskbook (N.C. Bar Foundation)
- Design Professional Liability: Third Party Actions By Tenants and Users, The Construction Lawyer Vol. 14, No. 3
Professional Activities
- North Carolina Bar Association, Construction Law Section
- Florida Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Forum on the Construction Industry
- Registered Architect, Florida; Certified Construction Specifier, The Construction Specifications Institute
- Former member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
- Past President, Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Winston-Salem
Experience
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- Represent numerous hospital facilities and senior care assisted living and retirement communities on construction projects with project delivery, design and construction contract drafting and negotiation, procurement, real time project counseling and resolving disputes as efficiently and effectively as possible.
- Represent local governments in efficiently and effectively managing disputes during an ongoing utilities project; in settling millions of dollars in claims in mediation arising over the construction of a government center and a county jail; and in settling millions of dollars in claims in mediation arising over the construction of a public landfill project.
- Represent public and private education institutions for new and renovation school projects and student housing preparing and negotiating design and construction contracts including real time project counseling during all phases.
- Prepare and negotiate design and construction contracts for several large multinational pharmaceutical companies.
- Represent design/build specialty contractors in the metal building, precast concrete, and commercial energy sectors in contract and dispute resolution matters throughout the US.
