Vertex is an Emerald Sponsor of the 2026 Fidelity and Surety Law Midwinter Conference on January 21–23, 2026 at the JW Marriott, Washington, DC. Hosted by the American Bar Association’s Fidelity and Surety Law Committee (FSLC), the conference brings together industry leaders to examine emerging risks, legal developments, and evolving challenges across construction, surety, and fidelity.
Vertex will return this year as a sponsor, exhibitor, and contributor to the program, with several senior leaders participating as panel speakers.
Vertex Speakers at FSLC Midwinter 2026
Vertex leaders will speak across four sessions during this year’s conference, listed below in chronological order.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
1:45–2:30 PM — Beneath the Surface: Differing Site Conditions on Mega Projects
Speaker: James Granstra, PSP, PMP, CCIFP, MBA, Managing Director
This session will examine how differing site conditions create heightened risk on mega projects, focusing on risk allocation under the law, recent legal developments, and best practices for managing and mitigating DSC-related exposure.
2:30–3:15 PM — Scheduling and Accounting Practices for Mega Project Success
Speaker: Jeff Katz, PE, PSP, CCM, CCA, Senior Managing Director
This panel will explore the role of project controls on mega projects, addressing scheduling fundamentals, schedule updates, technology, and accounting practices such as cost structuring, joint ventures, cost tracking, and documentation for damages claims.
Friday, January 23, 2026
9:20–10:05 AM — Investigating the Mega-Claim: Identifying and Building Defenses
Speaker: Mark Degenaars, LEED, GA, Chief Operating Officer
This session will focus on the early stages of mega-project claim investigations, including evaluating surety exposure, coordinating with co-sureties, assessing financial health, identifying potential defenses, and documenting claims to support defensible outcomes.
1:40–2:25 PM — The Surety’s Completion of a Mega-Project
Speaker: William McConnell, PE, JD, MSCE, MBA, Chairman of the Board
This panel will examine how sureties evaluate completion options on mega projects, considering financial, technical, and organizational factors that will influence completion decisions and shape the surety’s ultimate course of action.
Vertex Attendees
In addition to our featured speakers, Vertex team members attending the conference will participate in discussions on construction risk, surety exposure, project delivery, and complex claim dynamics.
- Frank Benway – Senior Managing Director
- Zach Bradshaw, PE, CEP, PSP – Senior Managing Director
- Nick Deeley – Managing Director
- Janet Doherty, PE – Director
- Jonathan Hahn – Senior Director
- Tatum Rhyne – Consultant
Supporting Surety and Construction Professionals Through Complex Matters
As a trusted partner to carriers, attorneys, contractors, and project stakeholders, Vertex provides industry-leading expertise in surety claims consulting, construction risk evaluation, project advisory, delay and damages analysis, and dispute resolution.
From navigating mega-project claims to addressing real-time project challenges, our multidisciplinary teams deliver clarity, technical insight, and defensible analysis across all phases of construction and surety matters.
If you are attending the Midwinter Conference and would like to connect with our team or discuss how Vertex can support your project or claims needs, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
To view the full agenda and event details, visit the official 2026 ABA FSLC Midwinter Conference website.
To learn more about Vertex’s Forensic and Surety Claims Consulting services or to speak with an expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry here.
