Sam Haagenson

Sam’s clients include owners, developers, design firms, contractors, sureties, and public entities, whom he has advised on more than 200 distressed projects and disputes. He provides in-depth analysis of technical design and construction issues, regularly authors expert reports, and provides expert testimony on complex matters, typically addressing causation, entitlement, and allocation of responsibility amongst project participants, as well as strategies for completion following contractor default.

Sam is currently licensed as an architect in 13 U.S. jurisdictions, licensed as a general contractor, a member of the American Institute of Architects, certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and he is a Certified Construction Contract Administrator and Construction Document Technologist. He has a degree in architectural technology from Lake Superior College and a Doctor of Architecture degree from the University of Hawaii, and he regularly contributes to the industry through presentations at conferences and webinars on topics relevant to construction disputes.

Sam’s professional experience includes:

• Deposition and trial testimony experience related to basis of termination, standard of care, and construction defects in federal and state courts and arbitration hearings.
• Analysis and advisory on construction disputes for U.S. military projects in the U.S. and overseas, including projects for both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command.
• Provided leadership and operational management to a team of 45 construction, surety claim, and forensic accounting consultants across North America.
• Led a team of 20 consultants on the analysis of a $1 billion contractor portfolio default of multi-family residential construction projects after the national contractor abruptly filed for bankruptcy, including initial project assessments, dispute resolution between various parties, financial analyses, and evaluating and executing completion options.
• Authored multiple expert reports and provided testimony in support of a performance bond surety in a $50 million dispute pertaining to alleged construction defects and performance of architectural services on a 400-unit mixed-use multi-family residential project.
• Led the analysis and advisory on a $200 million dispute on a joint U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization missile defense construction project in Europe related to schedule delays, design errors and omissions, and unforeseen site conditions.
• Authored an expert report and provided deposition and arbitration testimony in support of a developer in a $27 million dispute pertaining to alleged construction defects and architect standard of care on a 400-unit multi-family residential project.
• Served as a construction project executive/construction manager on multiple construction completion contracts after termination of the original contractor on projects for private developers and the U.S. federal government, including a hotel, a behavioral health medical facility, a specialized military training center, a multi-family residential complex, and a military enlisted quarters and dining facility.
• Worked as a designer, project architect, construction manager, and construction contract administrator on various project types, including commercial, healthcare, hospitality, education, aviation, and retail.