The American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law recently chose Georgia construction attorney, Mark Cobb, as an editor of a new book to be published. This book will be a practical, legal guide to the mechanics and materialmen’s lien law statutes of the fifty states; and, it’s purpose will be to provide attorneys (and others) with a “one-stop” resource for understanding and complying with each state’s specific lien requirements.
Mark was very pleased to selected as a co-editor of this important publication; last year, he was a co-author on another book published by the ABA Forum’s on Construction Subcontracting. Now, he gets to move into the seat of an editor and work with construction lawyers from all across the country.
The three editors, Julia Hunting, Stephen Gross, and Mark will be writing part of the material themselves; however, they will rely mostly on construction law professionals in each state to provide the bulk of the information. Mark will be a contributor on the chapter related to Georgia’s lien statutes as well as an editor of the overall publication. He will primarily work with the Atlantic states and New England states’ lien law chapters. In addition to the hard-copy publication, the editors intent to create an internet version which is likely to provide a more detailed summary of each state’s lien laws, access to state lien statutes, and a list of ABA Division 7 (Insurance, Surety & Liens) practitioners who participated in this ground-breaking project.
Mark is excited to be engaged with this new project where he can use his decades of lien and commercial construction collection experience to help make this publication useful to other construction attorneys. The editors hope to include information to make this guide an effective and useful practice tool for construction lawyers across the country.
Although this will be Mark’s first editorial debut with the American Bar Association, Mark has written and edited numerous articles including the recently released Georgia Construction Suppliers Lien Collection Handbook. Of course, Mark recognizes the challenges of working with so many authors and writing styles in order to create a cohesive, fundamental legal resource, but he believes that he is up to the challenge.
“It is an honor to be recognized by my colleagues for this position as it confirm the Cobb Law Group’s ability to garner respect among some of our nations leading construction law firms. In fact, the other two co-editors are from large, national construction law firms which underscores our abilities and our reputation for providing the finest legal services even thought we are a small, boutique firm,” states Mark.
Mark has been very active in the ABA’s Forum on the Construction Industry for many years; this particular publication is spearheaded by Division 7 which focus on Insurance, Surety and Lien law issues. The editors have already met and have begin putting together and outline of information to be included by the chapter authors as well as a schedule for deadlines. Examples of the in information which will be included for each state includes the following:
- Preliminary Notice Requirements
- Project Completion Issues
- Deadlines for Filing Liens (for Direct Contractors)
- Deadlines for Filing Liens (for those who lack privity)
- Time Limits for Enforcing Mechanic’s Liens
- Recording Deadlines for Pendency of Action
- Lien Dismissal/Expiration
“We trying to roll this 50-State Lien Law Summary out as soon as possible in order to make sure that it contains the most current, up-to-date information available” promised Mark. Needless to say, this publication will be a welcome addition to every construction lawyer’s legal library.
