Blaine S. Schwartz, partner and member of Lippes Mathias' real estate practice team, joined Jim Christian, host of the Behind the Barricade podcast and founder and CEO of Cornerstone, to discuss why the best construction contracts stay in the drawer. Schwartz shared insights on getting the owner, contractor and architect on the same page early, being realistic about cost and schedule amid tariffs and labor shortages, and structuring liquidated damages that are large enough to matter and small enough to be reasonable. The conversation also covers AIA vs. custom contracts, how an attorney can build or destroy trust, and where AI helps, and doesn't, in contract review.