In recent years, Owners have been investigating and implementing new and innovative ways to reduce costs, improve productivity, and reduce conflict and adversity in the design and construction process. They are more frequently looking to new methods of delivering A/E/C services, such as IPD and new tools such as BIM. David J. Hatem, PC focused this presentation on a discussion of IPD and BIM covering roles and responsibilities, risk allocation, and professional liability exposures on IPD and/or BIM projects.

Attendees obtained an understanding of the rewards vs. risks in using BIM, contractual and liability concerns to be aware of when using BIM, and an understanding of the benefits of BIM in reducing potential professional liability claims. David Hatem also discussed whether the collaborative design component should extend to a collective final project design responsibility - beyond the design professional; whether the professional liability insurance industry should develop "wrap-up" coverage for design risk exposures for all project participants who collaborate to develop and finalize design in IPD; and explored three principal areas of concern: public law requirements and regulations, private law and contractual risk allocation, and availability and adequacy of insurance coverage for design risk exposure.