Shutts & Bowen LLP’s Tampa Attorney, Carolina Saavedra, and Orlando Attorney, Clay F. Tezel, were featured speakers in a National Business Institute (NBI) webinar on March 13th, 2026.
The CLE-credited course focused on how to prevent construction law disputes, resolve them effectively, and navigate through legal minefields that derail projects. Titled “Construction Law: What Can Go Wrong,” this webinar provided attorneys with practical guidance on drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial leases to protect client interests and minimize risk. Through real-world examples and case studies, the program focused on identifying ambiguous language, addressing high-risk provisions, and preventing costly disputes related to rent, operations, defaults, and lease execution.
During the program, Carolina presented on payment disputes and risk management in construction projects, including nonpayment, retainage conflicts, and pay-if-paid and pay-when-paid clauses. She also addressed mechanics’ liens and bond claims, as well as ethical considerations such as conflicts of interest, evidence preservation, and client fund handling.
Clay’s presentation, “Delay Claims and Damage Battles: Time is Money,” addressed excusable and non-excusable delays, force majeure and concurrent delay issues, and the distinction between liquidated and actual damages. The session also covered risk-shifting provisions, including no-damages-for-delay clauses.
NBI has been a provider of continuing legal education and training since its inception in 1983, providing practical, skill-based CLE seminars and online CLE courses through one of the largest and most diverse catalogs of legal courses available.
About Carolina Saavedra
Carolina Saavedra is a Senior Associate in the Tampa office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she is a member of the Construction Litigation Practice Group. Carolina focuses her practice on complex commercial and construction litigation matters in both state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution settings. She represents general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, suppliers and other parties in matters involving construction and design defects, contract disputes, liens, delays and unforeseen conditions on public and private projects.
About Clay F. Tezel
Clay F. Tezel is an Associate in the Orlando office of Shutts & Bowen, where he is a member of the Construction Practice Group. Clay concentrates his practice in construction litigation in both state and federal courts, as well as in alternative dispute resolution settings. He has assisted in the representation of contractors in complex litigation involving professional malpractice, design errors and disruption claims, among other matters.