The Client Edition

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #19 Client management requires consistency, discipline, a focus on shared goals, and managing the path to the successful and claims-free realization of your design. These articles provide a considered and enlightened look at what it takes to mitigate risks when working with clients. My Client Was My Friend, Until […]
Newsletter Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management Clients Risk Management / Mitigation

Every Practice Needs a Lawyer

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #18 IN THIS ISSUE Lawyers Available to Assist Architects One very good way of managing risk is to establish a business relationship with a lawyer who understands your practice and its objectives. Then, should you need help understanding a contract, collecting overdue accounts, responding to challenging or threatening correspondence […]
Newsletter Lawyers

The Apology Act

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #17 IN THIS ISSUE Sorry. Not Sorry. The Apology Act is intended to make it possible for professionals, including architects, to apologize for errors, without necessarily incurring liability. The word “necessarily” is important here, since there are critical exceptions. Danielle Muise of Aird & Berlis LLP discusses the Act […]
Newsletter Apology Act / Apologies Client or Sub-contractor Relationship Management COVID-19 / COVID

Firmness, Calamity and Delight

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #16 In this issue, we discuss three important architectural books* that dig deep into the core of architectural practice: the everyday concerns, risks and rewards. What links these books to Pro-Demnity is their focus on risk. Each book has a distinct perspective on the subject (as do we), and […]
Newsletter Documentation / Contracts Risk Management / Mitigation

Dispute resolution wordings

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #15 In This Issue Dispute resolution wordings – Arbitration can be a good and useful tool, when used appropriately. Unfortunately, some client-authored contracts include clauses related to arbitration that sacrifice the architect’s best interests. John Hackett, Pro-Demnity’s VP Practice Risk Management explains how to recognize and avoid these unhealthy […]
Newsletter Clients Documentation / Contracts
StraightLineNewsletter14_Cover

Architects can retire from practice and from insurance premiums

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #14 Welcome to the 14th issue of The Straight Line, now a quarterly. Why quarterly? Because things in general – liability insurance in particular – seem to be changing more rapidly than ever, even as many of us, stuck in our makeshift home offices, watch time slowly stroll by. […]
Newsletter

David Croft: Architect, Advocate, Adventurer, and Author of Claims Stories

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #13 Message from the President  Some people transcend easy categorization, defining themselves through their broad intelligence, unswerving drive, and confident individuality. David Croft is one of those people.  Over decades of service, David crafted a unique reputation as both a tireless defender of architects and a just source of knowledge […]
Newsletter

Two Risks That You Can Avoid Now

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #12 Pro-Demnity Presents Joanne McCallum as Chair The Pro-Demnity Board is pleased to introduce chair, Joanne McCallum, OAA, FRAIC.  Joanne joined the Pro-Demnity Board in 2017 and was elected Chair in February 2020. Her previous support to the architectural profession includes service on OAA Council; a term as OAA vice […]
Newsletter Risk Management / Mitigation Risks

A Tribute to former President and CEO Byron Treves

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #11 Message from the President At my first meeting with Byron, over breakfast in a small Toronto diner, it was obvious he is a man who knows his stuff. A nice man, a kind man – truly, a gentleman – but not one to be bluffed when it comes […]
Newsletter

Navigating the “new normal”

The Straight Line Newsletter — Issue #10 This is the tenth issue of The Straight Line. Articles cover a broad range of topics that engage Ontario architects insured by Pro-Demnity, other OAA members – whether in practice or engaged in other businesses – and anyone with an interest in the profession. We encourage readers to […]
Newsletter