Clark Hill Attorney Douglas Folk and Chris Brubaker Co-Authored “Limiting The Unintended Duty to Defend: An Analysis of State Law” for Presentation at Victor O. Schinnerer, Inc. 56th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys in Chicago, Illinois on May 26, 2017

PHOENIX, AZ – Clark Hill attorney Douglas Folk will present a paper co-written with Clark Hill attorney Christopher Brubaker on “Limiting The Unintended Duty to Defend: An Analysis of State Law” to the 56th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys conducted by Victor O. Schinnerer, Inc. on May 26,2017 in Chicago, Illinois.

In contracts for the services of architects, engineers, and other design professionals, indemnity obligations are a significant source of litigation and financial loss that is difficult to insure. Folk, who advises design professionals in legal and risk management matters, will discuss the legal and business risks of implied defense obligations in contractual indemnities. Folk and Brubaker described in their paper trends in court cases and statutory law limiting indemnities from across the United States.

Folk serves business clients in architecture, engineering, geomatics, landscape architecture, construction, and other technology-driven industries as a vigorous advocate and trusted advisor. By drawing on his extensive experience in business transactions and commercial litigation, he developed practice specialties in construction law, professional liability defense, contracts and negotiations, risk management, administrative law, and government relations. Folk’s team at Clark Hill’s Phoenix office has tackled difficult negotiations and litigation involving master-planned communities, commercial and mixed-use projects, destination resorts, medical facilities, factories, airports, mines, and infrastructure projects. He builds lasting relationships with his clients by finding practical solutions for difficult legal problems.

Brubaker concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation and insurance matters.  He regularly provides advice to companies on insurance and cyber risk issues related to transactions and risk management.  He has experience in a variety of subject areas including: insurance coverage and reinsurance, arbitration, appellate work, contract matters, and insurance defense including representation of design professionals in multi-party construction cases. He has also advised companies on regulatory matters involving insurance and environmental laws, rules and regulations. 

Firm Profile

Clark Hill PLC is an entrepreneurial, full service law firm that provides business legal services, government & public affairs, and personal legal services to our clients throughout the country. With offices in Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and West Virginia, Clark Hill has more than 350 attorneys and professionals. For more information on our firm and our services, visit www.clarkhill.com.