We are pleased to present our 2023 WTW A&E webinar schedule along with program summaries and registration links. Please register for each program by clicking on the registration link below each summary. Registration links will be added as they become available.
Contact wtwae@willistowerswatson.com with any questions.
Upcoming WTW A&E Webinars
- June 12: Health Safety & Welfare Training for Architects and Engineers
- July 10: Demystifying ESG for Design Firms
- August 14: Claim Stories Around the Campfire
- September 11: Design-Build Public Infrastructure Projects – Risks and Challenges for Design Professionals
- October 31: Halloween Special – Contracts from the Dark Side!
- November 20: It’s Your Call – What Risk Management Topics are Important to You?
- December 11: Pre-Construction Services – Cure or Curse?
Previous WTW A&E Webinars
- January 9: The Four Cornerstones of Risk Management
- February 14: Valentine Special – Are We in Love? Client Selection and Project Evaluation
- March 13: Why We No Longer Stamp Shop Drawings
- April 10: Design Liability in a Changing Climate
- May 8: Ethics for the Architect and Engineer
WTW A&E Webinar Details
The Four Cornerstones of Risk Management
January 9, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
We kick off the 2023 WTW A&E webinar series with a heavy dose of the critical basics of risk management principles for architects and engineers. In this program, we will review WTW A&E’s Four Cornerstones of Risk Management:
- Risk identification and client selection
- Contract negotiation strategies and integration of subcontracts
- Best practices for quality assurance/quality control procedures including guidelines for documentation, and
- The final phase: Contract administration including project close out
This is valuable program for all levels of staff!
Valentine Special – Are We in Love? Client Selection and Project Evaluation
February 14, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
Love is in the air once again for our annual WTW A&E Valentine Special. Every year we spice this program up as we consider the critical and evolving “Go/No-Go” decisions every design firm must make when evaluating new project opportunities and prospective clients. This is a great time of year to think about relationships, and who you want to spend your time and firm’s valuable resources with. Some firms are kind of loose when it comes to entering prospective relationships and often end up singing the blues, while others take a more methodical approach. Join us for an interactive discussion around critical “Go/No-Go” considerations when it comes to evaluating prospective projects, project team capabilities, financials, contracts and client relationships.
Why We No Longer Stamp Shop Drawings
March 13, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
Seemingly mundane documents such as Shop Drawings and Requests For Information have been around for as long as designers have been designing and builders have been building. But costly misconceptions, risks and errors surrounding these basic construction administration procedures still abound. In the decade since the AIA published the provocatively-titled Best Practices article “Why We No Longer ‘Stamp’ Shop Drawings”, its architect-author (our special guest!) is still fielding surprising questions from designers, contractors and their attorneys. In this webinar, we will explore the standard of care, contractual risks and practical applications of what it really means to “review” and “approve” submittals, RFIs and related construction phase documents.
Design Liability in a Changing Climate
April 10, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
The world around us is demonstrably changing and challenging our built environment. The change and challenge exists both at the extremes of heat, cold and storms, and in the day in day out experiences of water access, energy limitations and changed “mean” conditions. This program will look at both the extreme and everyday challenges of this “new” environment to identify the professional challenges and risks to design professionals and will provide strategic solutions in contracts and project delivery drawn from both claims and successful projects to build a model for success and even expanded services in this arena. This program qualifies for 1.5 HS&W credits as well as LU’s.
Ethics for the Architect and Engineer
May 8, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CT
Would you like to earn some coveted ethic CE credits and be updated on this very important topic? What are the ethical obligations of the design professional when it comes to the health, safety and welfare of the general public? Jeff Coleman, from The Coleman Law Firm, will be presenting his very popular program to address this very question. What are the potential risks and liabilities to the design professional surrounding accessibility, energy efficiency, issues relative to conflicts between existing codes and client requests? What steps should you take in the event an error or omission is discovered? This promises to be a lively discussion that will address all of these questions as well as the rules and regulations governing the A&E practice.
Health Safety & Welfare Training for Architects and Engineers
June 12, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
This program will provide guidance for keeping architects and engineers safe at work, both on the jobsite and while at the office. The program will discuss
- An overview of OSHA requirements (including applicability of the construction standards), how to create a job hazard analysis and a site-specific safety plan
- Guidelines for fall protection and confined space rules
- Ergonomics and work from home recommendations
- As travel accidents represent the most significant workers compensation exposure for design professionals, defensive and distracted driving rules are covered.
This program qualifies for 1.5 HS&W credits as well as LU’s.
Demystifying ESG for Design Firms
July 10, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
Simply put, ESG is an acronym that stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, and is a framework for financial institutions to understand better a company’s sustainability profile and their risks. But what exactly is measured within the categories of E, S and G and what are the challenges that companies face today in preparing for the future and anticipating business impacts? Make no mistake, with the global financial sector and regulatory bodies driving ESG momentum at a fast pace, now’s the time for design firms to double-down on sustainability and evolve business models and practice standards to align and capture the opportunity. This program qualifies for 1.5 HS&W credits as well as LU’s.
Claim Stories Around the Campfire
August 14, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
Summer is here and it’s time to gather around the campfire and tell some scary claim stories. Join us as for an interactive discussion on claim trends and specific risk management tips A&E firm’s should consider in order to mitigate their risk from costly claims and client disputes. Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E, will moderate a discussion between two seasoned A&E claim campers: Anthony Carolei, VP of A&E Claims for Hanover Insurance Company and Chicago attorney, Newt Marshall. Join us for a lively panel discussion on some actual claims and valuable lessons learned. A great program for the all levels of staff!
Design-Build Public Infrastructure Projects – Risks and Challenges for Design Professionals
September 11, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
David Hatem returns for an update on managing Design-Build (“DB”) risk. Design-Build (“DB”) continues to progress as the delivery method of choice for many public owners – federal, state and local on infrastructure projects. Those owners find attractive the ability to (a) contract on a fixed price basis with a design builder who is responsible for both design and construction and (b) transfer substantial risk, traditionally retained by the owner, to that design-builder. Many Design Builders respond to Owner DB RFPs with aggressive pricing proposal and sometimes unrealistic assumptions and expectations as to the details of (post-award) final design development details and construction cost. What do these owner objectives and Design-Builder practices in DB procurement and contracting mean for the professional liability risk of Design Professionals engaged as (the “Design Professional”) subconsultants to the Design-Builder?
Halloween Special – Contracts from the Dark Side!
October 31, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
Put on a scary outfit and join us for our annual WTW A&E Halloween webinar special – Contracts from the Dark Side! We will be taking another look back at some of the scariest contract clauses our A&E clients have been spooked with over the last year. This special webinar promises to scare you straight and prepare you for that next horrific Owner drafted contract. Once again, we will discuss some practical tips on how to negotiate fair and insurable professional agreements. This program will be presented by three scary dudes: Dan Buelow, Managing Director of WTW A&E, Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E and Doug Palandech, from the law firm Foran Glennon Palandech. Join us if you dare!
It’s Your Call – What Risk Management Topics are Important to You?
November 20, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
In this webinar, the participants will set the agenda in real time by selecting the risk management topics via multiple-choice polling questions. Join Beazley’s Colleen Palmer for this interactive session where we will discuss numerous topics based on what the audience selects on the day of the webinar. That’s right – you tell us what you want to discuss! Possible topics include the fundamentals of contract negotiation, document retention policies, client and project selection, risks associated with performing construction phase services, discussion of specific contract provisions that are the subject of difficult negotiation, risks of employee moonlighting, dispute resolution options, and dealing with consent to assignment documents.
Pre-Construction Services – Cure or Curse?
December 11, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT
Third-party review and comment on any design professional’s work product can be uncomfortable. It exposes the design to critique, second guessing, and “alternative” views. However, it can also validate and improve the design before any deficiencies lead to economic harm and consequences. Drawn from real-life cases in the media and courts, this program will highlight the potential risk and risk management opportunities emerging from third-party pre-construction design review by other design professionals, contractors, and construction managers. In addition, it will offer corresponding strategies to help you successfully engage in those processes as the designer or the reviewer.
