Description

Lee/Shoemaker: The Standard of Care and Contractual Risk: An Engineer’s Guide to Professional Liability

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Understanding the relationship between the professional standard of care and contractual risk allocation is critical for engineering firms seeking to manage liability and protect their business interests. This webinar will explore how courts define and apply the standard of care, common contract provisions that can unintentionally expand an engineer’s liability, and practical strategies for negotiating fair and reasonable agreements.

Presented by industry legal experts Lee/Shoemaker, this session will provide attendees with valuable insight into professional liability exposures, indemnification clauses, warranties, limitations of liability, and other key contractual provisions. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to identify potential risks before signing an agreement and how to align contract language with the professional obligations expected of engineers.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the legal definition and application of the professional standard of care.
• Identify contract provisions that may increase professional liability exposure.
• Recognize the differences between professional obligations and contractual promises.
• Learn practical risk management strategies for negotiating engineering agreements.
• Explore real-world examples of claims arising from contractual risk allocation.

This program is ideal for firm principals, project managers, engineers, and business leaders responsible for contract review and risk management.