Sam Laurin

Sam Laurin, a partner at Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, is the chair of the firm’s Construction Law Group and a member of the Litigation Group. An American College of Construction Lawyers fellow, Sam focuses his practice on litigating construction, commercial and real estate disputes and on negotiating commercial construction contracts. Sam has served as lead counsel in jury and bench trials in federal and state court, and in several arbitration proceedings, many of which involved construction issues. Sam is also a registered mediator in the state of Indiana.

Honors / Awards

Best Lawyers Indianapolis Lawyer of the Year (Litigation-Construction, 2012, 2017, 2019), (Litigation-Real Estate, 2014, 2016); The Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister Award, 2015; The Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation, 2007-2026), (Construction Law, 2007-2026), (Litigation-Construction 2011-2026) and (Litigation-Real Estate, 2011-2016); Chambers USA (Litigation-General Commercial, 2012-2014, 2016, 2017, 2019); Chambers USA (Construction, 2025); Indiana Super Lawyers (Business and Construction Litigation, 2010-2025); Top 50 Indiana Super Lawyers 2024; AV Peer Review rated by Martindale-Hubbell for more than 20 years

Appearances / Publications

Some of Sam's most recent speeches and articles on commercial litigation and construction issues are listed below. He is also a frequent contributor to the Indianapolis Bar Association's Litigation Case Update.

Speaker:

•'Does Your Builder's Risk Coverage Have LEGS?' (ABA Forum on Construction Law Division 7, May 2024)
•'Pursuing Insurance Coverage for Construction and Design Defects.' (ABA Forum on Construction Law Webinar, May 2024)
•'Construction Defects: Claims and Defenses' (ABA Forum on Construction Law Webinar, October 2023)
•'Analyzing the Products Completion Operation Hazard in a CGL Policy' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Hot Topic, June 2023).
•'Indemnity and Insurance: Must Know Provisions of Industry Form Construction Contracts' (ABA Forum on Construction Law Regional Meeting Indianapolis Indiana, December 2022.
•'Insurance Issues in the Construction Industry: A Potpourri of Issues of the ‘Big Four': E&O, CGL, Builder's Risk, and Additional Insured/Indemnity' (Chair, Speaker and Author, The Brave New World of Insurance Law Seminar, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, May 2021).
•'What if Defective Workmanship or Design is a Factor in a Claim under a Builder's Risk Policy?' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Hot Topic, April 2021).
•'The Past is Prologue: How Insurance Coverage Issues over Construction Defects Can Provide Guidance for Litigating Business Interruption Claims over COVID-19' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Hot Topic, June 5 2020).
•'Evidentiary Trends and Courtroom Use of Unique Evidence' (Indianapolis Bar Association, May 14, 2020).
•'The Things You Want to Know About Real Estate Insurance Provisions but Were Afraid to Ask' (Bose McKinney & Evans, August 2019 Client Seminar).
•'What is the Applicable Statute of Limitations for Claim against Design Professionals? '(Division 3 [Design] of the ABA Forum on Construction Law, July 2019).
•'Evidentiary Foundation Issues: How to Get Exhibits In, Keep Them Out and Make Them Count at Trial' (Chair and Speaker, Indianapolis Bar Association, July 2019).
•'In-House/Outside Counsel Panel: A Match Made in Heaven' (Indianapolis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, June 2019).
•'Can an Insurer Disclaim Coverage For Lack of Notice Without Establishing Prejudice?' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Hot Topic, April 2018).
•'Additional Insureds and Indemnity Clauses' (ABA Forum on Construction Law Regional Meeting, Indianapolis, November 2017);
•'Analyzing the New AIA Contracts' (Chair, Speaker, and Author; Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, November 2017);
•'The New AIA - 2017 Insurance and Bond Exhibit' (Indiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting, Construction & Surety Section, September 2017);
•'A Risky Proposition: The Ever Changing Role of Insurance in the Current Construction Climate - Need-to-Know Trends for In-House and Outside Counsel' (Speaker and Author, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law Annual Meeting, April 2017);
•'War Stories: Tales from the Trenches, Lessons Learned and Practical Pointers in Insurance Coverage' (Indianapolis Bar Association and Insurance Coverage Sections Meeting, May 2016)
•'Subrogation Tips' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Hot Topic, November 2016)
•'Contract Negotiations & Philosophy of Risk Shifting' (ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Regional Meeting: Construction Contracts Finding Common Ground in Drafting and Negotiating Design and Construction Clauses, March 2016);
•'Litigation Trial Skills Series: Am I In the Right Court? Venue and Personal Jurisdiction' (Indianapolis Bar Association Litigation Trial Skills Series, February 2016);
•'The Obscure, the Handy and the Important: Legal Principles Worth Knowing' (Indianapolis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, June 2015);
•'Pipe Lines, Pipe Liens and ... Pipe Dreams?' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, Mid Winter Meeting 2014, Speaker and Author);
•'The Seven Degrees of Subrogation' Continuing Legal Education presentation on Current Construction Issues (Indiana State Bar Association, Construction & Surety Law Section, April 2014);
•'How Big is the Blanket? The Issue of Additional Insureds' (Chair, Speaker, and Author; ICLEF, December 2013);
•'It's Miller (Act) Time' (Speaker and Co-Author, ABA Forum on Construction Law, Mid Winter Meeting 2013);
•'Cyber Attacks and Postings: An Overview of Key Issues for Lawyers and Their Clients' (Indianapolis Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, June 2013);
•'Additional Insurance: How Big is the Blanket?' (Indiana Continuing Legal Education Workshop, Advanced Insurance Law, October 2012);
•'E-Discovery: Ethical Considerations For In-House Counsel and Their Advisors' (Bose McKinney & Evans CLE Seminar, September 2012);
•Interviewed by Law 360on Trial Tips and Techniques, June 2011;
•'Lien and Bond Claims Against Federal, State and Local Projects' (Speaker and Author, Mechanics Liens and Claims Against Construction Projects - Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum Workshop, September 2010);
Author:
•Construction Trial Desk Book, Co-authored chapter on Jury Selection (ABA Forum on Construction Law 2021)
•The 2017 A201 Deskbook co-authored Chapter 11 'Insurance and Bonds' (ABA Forum on Construction Law, October 2017).
•It is time to Consider Risks not Addressed in Construction Contracts (Engineering and News Record, Midwest Edition February 2022).
•Coverage Under a Builder's Risk Policy When Defective Workmanship is the Initial Cause of Property Damage (ABA Forum on Construction Law Division 7 Newsletter, October 2021).
•Viewing Mediation Success From Both Sides of the Equation (Indiana Lawyer, April 28, 2021)
•The 'Professional Services' Exclusion' in a Design Professional's Commercial General Liability Policy: Considerations for Contract Negotiations and Coverage Disputes'(ABA Under Construction Newsletter, Spring 2020)
•Delegating design raises importance of construction contracts (Indiana Lawyer, November 2017);
•Construction Lawyers: Be Aware: The 'Duty to Cooperate' May Apply to an Insured's Affirmative Claims (Under Construction, quarterly publication of the ABA Forum on Construction Law, Spring 2017);
•The Downside of Drones(Construction Today Magazine, February 2017);
•Liquidated Damages Provisions: Enforceable or a Penalty? (Indiana Lawyer, April 2016);
•Equitable Subordination: A Longshot, But Nonetheless a Shot (ABA Forum on Construction Law Division 7, April 2015 Newsletter);
•Well-crafted Contracts can Avoid Subrogation Disputes (Indiana Lawyer, October 22, 2014);
•A Construction Lawyer's Top 10 Additional-Insured Considerations (The Construction Lawyer Fall 2010)