Talk to me about A&E

WTW

A WTW A&E podcast series focused on risk management for Architects and Engineers. Our host, Dan Buelow, Managing Director of WTW A&E, engages experts across the A&E spectrum on a wide range of critical topics and risk trends impacting design professionals across North America.

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20 episodes
every few months
Avg 35 min
English

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S1 · E44
Monday · 25 min
Good Rebuttals Part Two: Contract negotiation strategies for architects and engineers
In part two of the Good Rebuttals series, Dan Buelow continues the contract negotiation discussion with Michele Kane, Colleen Palmer and Mark Blankenship. The panel examines how architects and engineers can address consequential damages, liquidated damages and dispute resolution provisions while balancing professional liability risk, project fees and client expectations. The episode also explores mediation versus arbitration and practical approaches to rework clauses, including how to distinguish professional error correction from client-directed scope, budget or design changes. Listen to more episodes of Talk to Me About A&E and revisit part one for additional contract negotiation strategies for design professionals.
S1 · E43
October 9 · 35 min
Good Rebuttals Part One: Contract negotiation strategies for architects and engineers
In this special contract negotiation episode of the Talk to Me About A&E podcast series, Dan Buelow, Managing Director of WTW A&E, is joined by three industry experts: Michele Kane, General Counsel (GC) for Hargrove Associates; Colleen Palmer, Risk Manager for Beazley; and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management at WTW A&E. Together, they discuss contract provisions frequently negotiated by architects and engineers, sharing practical negotiation strategies, effective rebuttals and business-focused talking points that can help firms manage risk while supporting strong client relationships. In Part One of the Good Rebuttals series, the panel explores Duty to Defend and Limitation of Liability provisions, along with the fundamentals of effective contract negotiation. Listeners will gain insights into distinguishing deal breakers from deal makers, determining when risk should influence client selection decisions and establishing a consistent framework for evaluating contract language and making informed business decisions.
S1 · E42
Aug 13, 2025 · 45 min
Episode 42: Contract Administration as a Risk Management Tool – Cornerstone #4
In Episode 42 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Contract Administration as a Risk Management Tool – Cornerstone #4, Dan Buelow continues his discussion with Mark Blankenship wrapping up this series with the 4th cornerstone of managing A&E risk with a discussion on construction contract administration. Dan and Mark review the core responsibilities of the design professional when providing CA services and discuss best practices design firms should consider in order to effectively manage their risk when on the job site ranging from important contract considerations, documentation practices and communications with project team members and staff.
S1 · E41
Jun 27, 2025 · 37 min
Episode 41: Communication and documentation – Cornerstone #3
In Episode 41 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan Buelow, Managing Director for WTW A&E is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E, for this discussion of the third cornerstone: communication and documentation. They discuss the importance of establishing and managing client expectations through effective communication practices, offering a range of examples and tips that can mitigate risk of costly claims and client disputes.
S1 · E40
May 14, 2025 · 39 min
Episode 40: Negotiating insurable contracts – Cornerstone #2
In Episode 40 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan Buelow, Managing Director for WTW A&E is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E, for a discussion on allocating risk by contract, which is the second cornerstone of managing design professional risk. The episode delves into the importance of contractual risk management and how it can help design professionals mitigate potential liabilities.
S1 · E39
Apr 3, 2025 · 42 min
Episode 39: Risk identification and evaluation – Cornerstone #1
In this Talk to Me About A&E podcast, Dan is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E for this discussion on risk identification and evaluation. This is the first in a four-part series on the four cornerstones of managing design professional risk and addresses important "go no-go" considerations and risk mitigation strategies every design firm should consider specific to client selection factors, project selection factors, project team evaluation and contracts.
S1 · E38
Jan 31, 2025 · 25 min
Episode 38: AI risks and guidelines for design professionals
In this Talk To Me About A&E podcast, we review the recently released ACEC Guidelines on the use of AI by Design Professional Firms. Dan Buelow is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E and co-chair of the sub committee on AI for the ACEC Risk Management Committee. Dan and Mark discuss the inherent risks of AI when it comes to the design profession and important guidelines firms can adopt in managing this evolving technology – specifically: Governance and Approval Process; Sources and Tools and Guidelines for Practice.
S1 · E37
Nov 1, 2024 · 36 min
Episode 37: Standard of Care – Part II
In Part II of this series on the standard of care, Dan continues his discussion with Colleen Palmer and Lou Gale by reviewing specific examples of where contract language can elevate the standard of care – and advice on how to negotiate this language out of a design professional's agreement to ensure a balanced – and insurable agreement. We also discuss how the standard of care is evolving and what design firms should be prepared for to mitigate their risk.
S1 · E36
Oct 9, 2024 · 31 min
Episode 36: Standard of care – Part I
In Episode 36 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan is joined by Colleen Palmer, Risk Manager for Beazley, and Lou Gale, GC for the architectural firm SCB, on the Standard of Care. In Part I of this two-part series we begin the first question asked when a design professional is accused of negligence: What was the applicable standard of care - and was it met? This discussion will include an overview of what every design professional should know when it comes to the standard of care, as well as how best to educate their clients and manage expectations through effective communication and documentation practices.
S1 · E35
Jul 10, 2024 · 40 min
Episode 35: Managing residential and condo risk
In episode #35 of Talk To Me About A&E Dan Buelow talks to attorney Jeff Coleman from the Minneapolis law firm Coleman & Ericksen, LLC about the professional liability risks associated with residential projects. Residential Projects are considered one of the riskiest project types for design professionals when it comes to professional liability claims. Dan and Jeff review the specific reasons why residential projects are so risky – especially condominium projects – and what proactive measures firms can take to mitigate their exposures to costly claims and client disputes.
S1 · E34
Jun 6, 2024 · 38 min
Episode 34: Seven deadly words
In Episode 34 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan Buelow brings back Dale Munhall for a follow up discussion on their two part CA series, "Why we no longer stamp shop drawings". In this episode Dale reviews his "Seven Deadly Words" and discusses the importance of avoiding specific words in contract documents that imply unauthorized changes by architects and engineers. The CA process is often vague and misunderstood and words can create significant liabilities and misunderstandings in contract administration. Dan and Dale discuss the importance of effective communication and documentation in order to maintain the integrity of the original contract terms.
S1 · E33
Apr 10, 2024 · 33 min
Episode 33: Managing M&A Risk
Whether you are buying, selling, merging, acquiring or closing your practice, there are some important considerations for the design professional when it comes addressing your Professional Liability risks and prior acts exposures. Dan Buelow is joined by Doug Hamilton, head of underwriting for Allied World's A&E division to discuss the pros and cons of the specific insurance coverage options every firm should consider.
S1 · E32
Mar 7, 2024 · 31 min
Episode 32: What's Your Liability IQ? Part II
In Part II of this podcast series on What's Your Liability IQ? Dan Buelow continues his discussion with two former DPIC claim managers, Laura Gualiardo, Managing Director of Design Professional Liability Claims for Travelers, and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E. Dan, Laura and Mark review a number of questions from the DPIC Liability IQ and discuss current trends on a wide range of issues challenging design professionals including risks specific to stamping drawings, defining and managing scope and client expectations, documentation, contract formation, limiting liability, etc. A fun listen for all levels of staff.
S1 · E31
Jan 30, 2024 · 37 min
Episode 31: What's Your Liability IQ? Part I
For this podcast, Dan Buelow has a lively discussion on the DPIC liability IQ with some former DPIC claim managers, Laura Gualiardo, Managing Director of Design Professional Liability Claims for Travelers and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E. The DPIC liability IQ test was based on DPIC's Lessons in professional liability written over 25 years ago. Dan's discussion with Laura and Mark offers some keen insights into a wide range of critical risk management issues still facing architects and engineers today.
S1 · E30
Jan 8, 2024 · 48 min
Episode 30: Emerging contract issues
In this lively podcast discussion, Dan Buelow addresses four specific emerging contract issues design professionals face: withholding of fees, retaining ownership of documents, informed consent and getting named as an additional insured on the general contractor's general liability policy. Dan is joined by Lou Gale, General Counsel for the Chicago based architecture firm, SCB and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW Architects and Engineers.
S1 · E29
Dec 18, 2023 · 33 min
Episode 29: Managing a PL Claim Part II
Dan Buelow continues his discussion on professional liability (PL) claims with Anthony Carolei, Director of Risk Management for Professional Liability for Hanover's A&E program. PL claims are taking longer to settle and costing more to resolve. Understanding the process, including working with defense counsel, alternative dispute resolution and important coverage features and obligations in a design firm's professional liability policy is critical.
S1 · E28
Nov 1, 2023 · 31 min
Episode 28: Managing a PL Claim Part I
Dan Buelow talks to Anthony Carolei about what a design firm can expect and should be prepared for when faced with a professional liability (PL) claim against their firm. Anthony, Director of Risk Management for Professional Liability for Hanover's A&E program, has considerable experience in handling complex PL claims and offers some excellent insight and advice on this process.
S1 · E27
Sep 12, 2023 · 39 min
Episode 27: Insuring Single Projects Part II
Dan Buelow continues his discussion with Ryan Brennan, Specific Project Professional Indemnity Lead for HDI Global Insurance Company in part II of this two-part series of insuring single projects. In this segment Dan and Ryan review the underwriting process that goes into assessing and pricing a PSPL on large complex projects and discuss the history of this coverage, the constriction of the current PSPL marketplace as well as the future outlook for this coverage.
S1 · E26
Aug 31, 2023 · 30 min
Episode 26: Insuring Single Projects Part I
Dan Buelow gets into the weeds with a two-part series on insuring single projects with Ryan Brennan, Specific Project Professional Indemnity Lead for HDI Global Specialty SE. In part I, the discussion includes an overview of specific job excess (SJX) versus project specific insurance (PSPL). Dan and Ryan review the features and benefits of a PSPL from both the design professional's and owner's perspective and why this coverage is an important consideration for certain large project types.
S1 · E25
Jul 26, 2023 · 34 min
Episode 25: Managing Design Risk in a Hybrid Work Environment
Dan Buelow talks to Clark Davis, Partner and Principal Consultant with Cameron MacAllister, respected advisors to architecture and engineering firms. Clark and his group were recently commissioned by WTW A&E to conduct an industry wide survey of design firms across the United States about the impacts of remote/hybrid work on design and technical quality in design practice. Dan and Clark review the results of this nationwide survey from the input of over 200 design firms.

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