How to Avoid the Trainwreck: The Value of Legal Contracts in the Construction Industry with Wendy Veniot and Shelly Ewald

Get the kNACk : A National Academy of Construction Podcast

Get the kNACk : A National Academy of Construction Podcast
How to Avoid the Trainwreck: The Value of Legal Contracts in the Construction Industry with Wendy Veniot and Shelly Ewald
Apr 02, 2026 Season 6 Episode 6
National Academy of Construction

In this episode of Get the kNACk, host Jerry Eyink is joined by leading construction attorneys Wendy Veniot, Boston Office Managing Partner at Cozen O’Connor, and Shelly Ewald, Partner at Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP. Drawing on extensive experience with complex disputes across the U.S. and internationally, they share practical insights on avoiding unnecessary conflict. They describe contracts as the foundation of any project that establishes expectations, allocates risk, and serves as a roadmap from start to finish. Wendy and Shelly outline strategies to ensure a successful project, emphasizing the importance of fully understanding contract terms, training teams on key conditions, and proactively addressing issues through open communication and collaboration. At its core, the conversation highlights that strong collaboration among all parties is essential to preventing the trainwreck and delivering successful project outcomes.

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