RICHARD WELCH

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Richard J. Welch has over fifteen years experience as a mediator and arbitrator in construction industry disputes. Richard has extensive experience as an advocate in construction industry mediations, arbitrations and in litigating construction industry disputes. Richard is in charge of the civil litigation department at Moses Afonso Jackvony, Ltd. Richard is also a Registered Architect.

EXPERIENCE

MOSES AFONSO JACKVONY LTD., PROVIDENCE – 1999 to Present
Private arbitrator and mediator covering all aspects of construction industry disputes. Court annexed arbitrator for the Rhode Island Superior Court. Represents clients in the mediation and arbitration of construction industry disputes. Represents business clients in mediations and arbitrations involving breach of contract actions, intellectual property issues and business disputes.
Represents private and public owners, general contractors, design professionals and subcontractors on a variety of construction disputes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts courts through trial and appeal.
Advises clients on drafting and amending construction industry contracts, land use, development and bidding and procurement issues on public sector contracts. Drafts and advises clients on a variety of commercial contracts and agreements.

TILLINGAST LICHT & SEMONOFF, PROVIDENCE- 1990 to1998
Represented clients in mediation and arbitration of construction and commercial disputes. Advocated, as a part of team of attorneys and construction industry professions, on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation in the successful mediation of a multi million dollar settlement with the contractor constructing a major bridge over a portion of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island.
Represented private and public owners, general contractors, design professionals and subcontractors on a variety of construction disputes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts courts through trial and appeal.
Drafted and advised clients on construction industry contracts, bidding and procurement issues on public sector contracts and advised clients on a variety of commercial contracts.
Represented clients in commercial disputes involving breach of contract actions, defamation disputes, intellectual property issues and the confidentiality of health care information.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS- 1988 to 1990

Acting Hearing Examiner. Conducted Board of Contract Appeal administrative hearings of construction contractor and designer disputes with the Department. Drafted appeal decisions. Hearings and decisions drafted included legal analysis of Department’s “Blue Book” standard specifications and provisions, analysis of claims for changed conditions and requests for additional time, change order claims on heavy horizontal construction projects, bridge construction and bridge and highway maintenance projects.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS- 1987 to 1988

Attorney in Hearing Examiner’s office.

JUDGE SKELTON SMITH, INC., BOSTON, MA-1985 to 1987
Architect. Responsible for the design, preparation of construction documents, construction observation and oversight of commercial and residential renovations and new construction. Detailed experience analyzing and documenting existing conditions in 19th and early 20th century buildings and the sensitive design of renovations and additions for these buildings. Extensive construction observation and oversight experience during construction of both residential and commercial building renovations and new construction.

RASMUSSEN, INGLE and ANDERSON, SAN FRANCISCO, CA-1984 to 1985
Graduate Architect. Responsible for the development of construction documents, construction observation and oversight of the renovation and expansion of a large suburban shopping complex north of San Francisco. Detailed experience documenting existing conditions of the shopping complex and extensive construction observation and oversight experience during construction.

WRIGHT PIERCE, INC., BOSTON, MA-1982 to 1984
Draftsman and Graduate Architect. Responsible for development of construction documents and construction observation of commercial, educational and industrial projects. Experience documenting existing conditions of historical schools in the Boston area and extensive experience observing and overseeing construction of renovations and new construction.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar. Admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Districts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Member of the American Bar Association Section on Dispute Resolution, Forum on the Construction Industry, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee and the Section of Litigation. Member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Associations.

Registered Architect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Presented seminars on Rhode Island law for design professionals, drafting and amending construction industry contracts, mechanics lien law, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the confidentiality of health care information.

Board member of AS220, a non-juried arts center in Providence. Assisted AS220 in the renovation of the historic Dreyfus Hotel in downtown Providence into affordable artist live/work spaces and the addition of a commercial restaurant on the first floor of the renovated building.

Building and Facilities Committee member, Meeting Street School, Providence.

EDUCATION

University of Notre Dame, 1982, Bachelor of Architecture. Suffolk University Law School, 1987, Juris Doctor