Richard Harris and Aaron Silberman to Speak at ABA Forum on Construction Law 2026 Midwinter Conference, Josh Maltzer to Attend

Rogers Joseph O’Donnell P.C. Construction Practice Group shareholder Richard M. Harris, co-chair Aaron P. Silberman and of counsel Josh A. Maltzer will attend the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law 2026 Midwinter Conference on February 4 – 7 in Dana Point, California. 

Members of the Forum on Construction Law represent all segments of the construction industry: owners, design professionals, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, suppliers, insurers and sureties. The Forum’s mission is to serve the construction industry through education and leadership while “Building the Best Construction Lawyers.”

The theme of this year’s conference is “Changing Landscapes: New and Effective ADR Strategies” and will focus on cutting-edge topics and evolving practices in construction alternative dispute resolution (ADR). 

At the conference, Harris will speak on the Plenary Session panel titled “Facing Long Odds: When to Appeal an Arbitration Award.” He will speak about the legal framework and the practical realities surrounding the appeal of arbitration awards. The session includes diving into why advocates are confident that vacating an award is a high bar, while arbitrators often conduct their hearings as if the threat of vacatur should guide every step. The discussion will provide an overview of the state of local law and include practitioner examples of what happens with appeals (and not always with bad results).

Silberman is one of the marketing liaisons for the conference and will speak on a panel titled “California Lawyers Association – California Construction Law Update – Year in Review.” He will present on federal legal developments impacting California projects, and will also moderate a two-judge lunch program for the Government Construction Division (Division 13) on mediating disputes in publicly funded construction projects. Silberman will co-lead a multistate hot topics discussion at the Division 13 business meeting, participate in the Publications Committee meeting, and showcase the 2025 Forum book, False Claims in Construction Contracts, Second Edition. He will also participate in an event for the Subcontractors and Suppliers Division (Division 9) as a former chair. 

Maltzer will participate in planning meetings for the Forum’s General Contractors Division (Division 5) as a Steering Committee member and the Government Construction Division (Division 13) as a member. 

Harris is a shareholder at RJO and a member of the firm’s Construction and Government Contracts Practice Groups. His practice focuses on construction disputes on both private and public works, representing general contractors and specialty subcontractors on residential condos, heavy highway work (bridges and retaining walls), road construction, and commuter rail projects, among others. Harris has been involved in the Construction Forum since 2018. He is also an active member and frequent presenter with the Associated General Contractors of California (AGCC) Legal Advisory Committee and is currently serving as a director on the AGCC’s Bay Bridge District Board of Directors. 

Silberman focuses his practice on government contracts and construction law, including litigation, representing contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals in the construction, defense, transportation, technology, healthcare, disaster relief, telecom and service industries. Practicing since 1992, he is a former chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Public Contract Law Section and a former Governing Committee member of the ABA Forum on Construction Law, and has chaired several of their committees and divisions. He is also a former chair of the Associated General Contractors of California (AGCC) Legal Advisory Committee and the Bay Bridge District Board of Directors.

Maltzer is a member of RJO’s Construction and Government Contracts Practice Groups and has extensive experience representing contractors in a wide variety of construction claims and litigation. He is also a member of the Steering Committee for the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law’s General Contractors Division (Division 5). Maltzer lectures frequently on construction topics, including contract drafting, delay and disruption, cost claim preparation, change of law impacts, tariff mitigation and insurance recovery.

Learn more about the meeting and view the agenda on ABA’s website.