CONSULTING & EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

The Consultant and Expert Witness You Can Count On

When questions or disputes arise in the complex world of construction, you need more than just an expert… you need a partner with a deep understanding of the industry, a proven track record, and world class credentials. At Craftsman Collective, we offer a unique blend of hands-on experience and academic rigor, providing unparalleled consulting and expert witness services.

We work with attorneys, contractors, and clients to offer objective third party guidance on issues and resolve disputes between stakeholders. While we can offer support on every facet of building design, construction, or maintenance, our consultancy specializes in quantifying change orders and negotiating claims.

Leveraging the unique background of our founder Dr. Robert Howard, we utilize data science to run scenarios for various potential realities to quantify impacts of deficiencies and interruptions. What is the dollar cost for schedule delays along the critical path? What about the opportunity cost of lost client revenue? Leveraging Dr. Howard’s skill set as a lifelong tradesman and published construction economist, we are able to quantify impacts with methods and authority that other consultants cannot match.

Meet Founder Robert Howard, Ph.D.

Craftsman Collective founder Dr. Robert Howard is a construction expert unlike any other. A lifelong skilled tradesman who, prior to founding Craftsman Collective, became a senior commercial manager for Fortune 100 general contractors delivering multibillion-dollar projects on four continents. From residential construction to commercial, industrial, petrochemical, and the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Howard has extraordinary experience in the construction industry, with a specialization in quantifying and negotiating contract disputes. His expertise spans a wide range of construction issues, from material deficiencies to professional negligence and complex change order claims.

This practical experience is reinforced by an exceptional academic background. Dr. Howard holds a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Construction Economics from the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London, the world's top ranked program for the built environment. Dr. Howard has also published in prestigious journals including the International Journal of Project Management and Journal of Construction Engineering Management and been featured in conferences including the Construction Research Congress and European Management Review.

Dr. Howard’s unique combination of front-line trades, academia, and commercial analysis make him a highly credible and unbiased resource for both plaintiff and defense attorneys as well as any construction organization seeking to navigate a dispute or complex construction issue. That said, Craftsman Collective offers more than just the opinion of a single expert. We make available our full team of construction professionals, including designers, engineers, estimators, and crew chiefs, giving us the ability to:

Offer real-time pricing data and schedule impacts: Our direct involvement in construction planning and execution allows us to provide up-to-date, accurate data that can be critical to your situation.

Identify and assess key details: Quickly and efficiently analyze case files from both senior management and skilled trades perspectives, uncovering crucial information that other consultants miss.

Address all facets of construction: Our diverse expertise means we are qualified to investigate every construction trade and process, providing comprehensive support for your situation.

Consulting Rates

Since consulting is only part of Craftsman Collective’s overall construction business, we offer rates substantially lower than competitors while offering higher quality service. We also provide full transparency in pricing and time logged by team members. Our rates for typical consulting services are below:

Expert Witness Robert Howard, Ph.D.: $250

Consulting Professional Engineer: $150

Consulting Registered Architect: $150

Consulting Estimator: $100

Consulting Site Trades Crew Chief: $90

When you work with Craftsman Collective, you get the support of an entire team dedicated to your project. Dr. Howard's deep knowledge of the industry combined with our Collective expertise offers a level of support you've never experienced before. If you have a construction-related dispute or need any other type of consulting in the built environment, don't settle for a generic expert. Submit an inquiry below and discover the difference a true Craftsman can make!

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Selection of Dispute Resolution Experience

Fireproofing Subcontractor Extension of Time Claim: Due to delays resulting from a lack of timely work front releases, an extension of time claim was submitted by a subcontractor for $2,000,000. On behalf of the general contractor, Dr. Howard performed an initial review and calculated entitlement of $1,600,000. Following a series of meetings, it was agreed that the services would be further delayed until March of the following year, and Dr. Howard’s resulting updated settlement recommendation of $1,900,000 was accepted by all parties which avoided expensive litigation.

Boundary Dispute: Retained by owner of high value waterfront property that included a deep-water boat dock. The owners of the dock adjacent to the property built a second story that aerially encroached over the client’s dock, leading to a dispute. The situation was made more complicated by an impending sale of the encroaching property, whose owners refused to engage in good faith efforts to resolve. Dr. Howard prepared a series of correspondence that effectively halted sale of the property and forced physical removal of the aerially encroaching portion of the neighboring dock.

Mechanical Subcontractor Extension of Time Claim: On a large petrochemical project, a subcontractor submitted an extension of time claim for $99,800,0000 stating that it suffered an extension to its contract duration due to delays and disruptions caused by other subcontractors. Dr. Howard was tasked by the general contractor with reviewing the submission and providing an analysis, resulting in a 70-page report calculating an impact value of $70,000,000. While this total was accepted by the client, Dr. Howard subsequently led negotiations on behalf of the general contractor and secured a settlement of $61,000,000.

Cabinetry Payment Dispute: Cabinet maker fabricated $70,000 worth of hardwood cabinets for a speculative developer who requested significant additional services under a time and material contract. The developer went over budget on the project and attempted to deny payment without legitimate cause. Dr. Howard issued several letters on behalf of the cabinet shop and prepared a lien against the property. Over the course of several months of negotiations, Dr. Howard secured full payment for the shop and cleared the lien so the developer could sell the investment.

Force Majeure Impacts: As a result of a force majeure event, a water tank subcontractor experienced an extended inability to access the jobsite, resulting in the submission of a claim in the amount of $31,000,000. Dr. Howard undertook a detailed review of the claim and a previous review prepared by another consultant, ultimately finding fault with both calculation methodologies. The follow-on settlement recommendation of $14,000,000 was accepted by all parties.

Fireproofing Subcontractor Extension of Time Claim: Due to delays resulting from a lack of timely work front releases, an extension of time claim was submitted by a subcontractor for $2,000,000. On behalf of the general contractor, Dr. Howard performed an initial review and calculated entitlement of $1,600,000. Following a series of meetings, it was agreed that the services would be further delayed until March of the following year, and Dr. Howard’s resulting updated settlement recommendation of $1,900,000 was accepted by all parties which avoided expensive litigation.

Boundary Dispute: Retained by owner of high value waterfront property that included a deep-water boat dock. The owners of the dock adjacent to the property built a second story that aerially encroached over the client’s dock, leading to a dispute. The situation was made more complicated by an impending sale of the encroaching property, whose owners refused to engage in good faith efforts to resolve. Dr. Howard prepared a series of correspondence that effectively halted sale of the property and forced physical removal of the aerially encroaching portion of the neighboring dock.

Mechanical Subcontractor Extension of Time Claim: On a large petrochemical project, a subcontractor submitted an extension of time claim for $99,800,0000 stating that it suffered an extension to its contract duration due to delays and disruptions caused by other subcontractors. Dr. Howard was tasked by the general contractor with reviewing the submission and providing an analysis, resulting in a 70-page report calculating an impact value of $70,000,000. While this total was accepted by the client, Dr. Howard subsequently led negotiations on behalf of the general contractor and secured a settlement of $61,000,000.

Cabinetry Payment Dispute: Fine carpentry workshop fabricated $70,000 worth of hardwood cabinets for a speculative developer who requested significant additional services under a time and material contract. The developer went over budget on the project and attempted to deny payment without legitimate cause. Dr. Howard issued several letters on behalf of the workshop and filed a lien against the property. Over the course of several months of negotiations, Dr. Howard secured full payment for the workshop and cleared the lien so the developer could sell the investment.

Types of Construction Disputes & Claims

Construction projects are complex, and disputes often arise from a variety of issues. Here are some of the most common types of claims we handle:

Delay: When a project's completion is pushed back due to factors outside of the contractor's control, such as an owner's actions. These claims often involve analyzing project schedules to determine the cause of the delay and calculating time-related costs.

Acceleration: This occurs when a contractor has to speed up the remaining work to meet the original deadline after experiencing a delay. This can lead to increased costs for labor, materials, and equipment.

Disruption: Claims for disruption focus on how specific work activities—like framing, plumbing, or electrical—are impacted. These issues can increase project costs for labor, subcontractors, and materials.

Change in Scope: When an owner directs a contractor to perform work that wasn't included in the original contract, it can lead to disputes. These claims often involve a mix of time-related and activity-related costs.

Differing Site Conditions: This happens when a contractor encounters unexpected conditions at a job site that are different from what was represented by the owner. Examples include discovering rock formations or buried utilities that weren't disclosed, which can lead to increased project time and costs.

Clients We Serve

We provide expert support for construction arbitration, litigation, and mediation. Our typical clients include:

Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys

Contractors & Subcontractors

Owners’ Representatives

Insurance Claims Adjusters

Subrogation Attorneys

Bond Companies

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Craftsman Consulting is the consulting and expert witness services entity for Craftsman Collective.

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