12┃ Colorado Public Works Journal Construction is a complicated business. The stakes are high, the risks are immense, and the money involved is astronomical. Contractors, engineers, owners, and suppliers are just a few of the many legally intertwined entities required to build almost anything. Each is a specialist in one of the necessary skill sets needed to deliver roads, bridges, highways, airports, sanitation, or many other infrastructure necessities. None of them are experts in the endless legal intricacies defining how they must cooperate. “I love being part of the solution for our clients,” says Kate Strauss, a Founding Member of Galvanize Law, which soon joins Fennemore, a national law firm of more than 300 attorneys. “I’ve been practicing for 18 years. I started my career litigating on behalf of construction professionals. As I progressed, I wanted to move into being part of my client’s day-to-day business operations – talking about risk, improving contracts, and informing business strategy.” Founded during the pandemic, Strauss and partner, January Allen, take pride in having built a people-first business through technological efficiency. “We built a strong bench of attorneys focused on working with construction professionals through a team approach. So, there is always someone available and responsive consistently on every account,” says Allen. “Since we started during the pandemic, our business practices have always focused on using technology and software to keep us connected and efficient. Our practice management software is a single-stop shop for everything we do, from tracking time to documentation, research, and billing. Through the merger with Fennemore, we will also be using AI tools to reduce the length of time needed to analyze documents and generate work products.” Representing a swath of the construction industry, Strauss and Allen advise large subcontractors, architects, engineers, and contractors as general counsel across an array of legal matters and their business implications. “Legal concerns we address include regulatory compliance, employment law, setting up new business entities or joint ventures, contract reviews, liens, and collections,” continues Allen. “When it comes to the heavy civil side, the conversations we have with clients are ‘how can Yes Solutions Construction laws impact the industry differently. Who is watching your back? By Sean Vincent O’Keefe
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