John Bulman

Experience

John Bulman has more than 25 years of experience in construction and commercial trial matters in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and other states. He has served as counsel in trials, mediations and arbitrations in Massachusetts, Florida, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ohio, and other states. John has argued cases before the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the First and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal. John is repeatedly ranked by industry publications as among the top construction and alternative dispute resolution practitioners in New England. His trial and arbitration experience includes both jury and jury-waived matters relating to construction claims, declaratory actions, refinery fire, usury claims, land access claims, non-competition, trade secret, insurance coverage disputes, CERCLA matters, contract indemnity claims, personal injury defense, franchise termination, partnership fraud and other matters. In the construction industry, John has arbitrated and tried cases involving design build issues, differing site condition claims, Eichleay and measured mile claims, specific performance, change order disputes, indemnity claims, disruption claims and surety takeover issues. The subject matters have included hydroelectric turbine operation and stability, structural concrete, wall-systems, metallurgy and FEA analyses, steel fabrication and design issues, pre-cast and post-tensioned concrete structures, micro-tunneling, solar power, biomass generator facilities, caisson and other pile driving issues, most commercial building trades and site work and geotechnical issues. He combines his extensive trial experience with his experience as a neutral arbitrator and court-appointed referee and brings to bear these perspectives in effective evaluation and presentation of cases. John has negotiated construction contracts on behalf of contractors, owners and subcontractors on a nationwide basis and frequently counsels clients on effective risk and claim avoidance.

Work History

Partner, Tillinghast, Collins & Graham 1984-1995 Principal, Little Bulman Medeiros & Whitney, PC 1995-2013 Partner, Pierce Atwood LLP 2013-present

License(s)

Admitted to the Bar: Rhode Island Massachusetts Various U.S. District Courts and Courts of Appeal

Education

Undergraduate: BA Hobart College, 1980 Law School: Georgetown University Law Center, 1984 (Editor, Law and Policy in International Business; Baccalaureate Essay Distinction)

Publications

Co-Author, “What’s the Appeal of Arbitration? Overturning Arbitration Awards and the New Appellate Rules of Arbitration,” ABA Forum on Construction Law 2015 Fall Meeting (2015) Co-Author, “A Tale of Two Lawyers: How Arbitrators and Advocates Can Avoid the Dangerous Convergence of Arbitration and Litigation,” 14 Cardozo J. of Conflict Resolution 683 (2013) Contributing Author, “State-By-State Guide to Architect, Engineer, and Contractor Licensing,” Second Edition, Stephen G. Walker, Editor (2013) Co-Author, “Managing Exchanges of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) in Construction Arbitration,” Dispute Resolution Journal (August/October 2012) Author, “You Have a Friend…Or Do You: Strategic Joint Defense/Prosecution Agreements in Construction Disputes, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (2012) Co-Author, “Strategic Considerations in Construction Litigation: Article 2 of the UCC, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (2012) Co-Author: “Harnessing Your Client’s Wind Power Rights,” Rhode Island Bar Journal (November/December 2010) Co-Author: “The Uniform Commercial Code and Construction Law: The Possible Applicability of Article 2,” Construct!, Vol. 1 (2010) Co-Author: “Taking on Too Much Water”, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (October 2007) Contributing Author: Understanding Construction Delivery Methods in Massachusetts (Lorman Education Services, October 2003) Contributing Author: Public Construction Law Source Book (Commerce Clearing House 2002) Co-Author: “Implied Obligations of Owners Relating to Scheduling,” The Construction Lawyer, vol. 21, no. 3, Summer 2001 Co-Author: “Horns of a Dilemma: Too Much Involvement in Worksite Safety Can Backfire on Design Professionals,” The Construction Lawyer, vol. 21, no.2, Spring 2001 Contributing Author: Fifty State Monograph on the Enforceability of “No Damages for Delay Clauses” (1998 American Bar Association) Contributing Author: State By State Survey of the Economic Loss Doctrine (1996 American Bar Association) Contributing Author: State By State Survey of Statutes of Repose (1994 American Bar Association)

Awards

Best Lawyers in America: Selected for Arbitration, Litigation-Construction, Mediation, 2011-present; Selected for Construction & Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2007-present; Providence Best Lawyers Construction Lawyer of the Year, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2024 Chambers USA: Recommended in General Commercial Litigation, 2006-present Superlawyers: Honored in Construction Litigation, 2007-2020; Named to Top Ten Rhode Island Superlawyers list, 2009, 2010, 2012 IBA-VIAC CDRC Vienna: Mediation & Negotiations Competition Expert, 2016-2019 and 2023 Outstanding Director Award, American Arbitration Association, 2007

Panels

American Arbitration Association: Member, Large Complex Case Panel; Member, Master Mediator Panel; Member, National Mediation Panel; Member, National Commercial and Construction Arbitration Panel; Member, Construction Arbitrator Master Panel

Associations

Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers: Board of Governors (elected 2013- 2016); Secretary (2019-2021); President-elect (2021-2022); President (2022-2023); Immediate Past President (2023-2024) International Mediation Institute Certified Mediator American Arbitration Association: Board of Directors (elected 2002, re-elected 2006 & 2010); Executive Committee, Board of Directors (2010-2014); Practice and Management Committee (2010-present); Chair (2010-2014) American Bar Association: Member, Forum on Construction Law; Roger Williams University: Vice Chair, Construction Management Professional Advisory Board (2018-2020)

Miscellaneous

Speeches, Panel Discussions, Seminars What Counsel and Witnesses Do That Drive Arbitrators Nuts!, Construction SuperConference (Palos Ranchos Verdes, CA), 2019 How Arbitrators Evaluate the Testimony of Schedule and Damage Experts, Construction SuperConference (Las Vegas), 2018 Modern Challenges and Ethical Dilemmas at Arbitration, Construction SuperConference (Las Vegas), 2016 Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget, AAA Construction Conference (Miami), 2016 The New AAA Construction Industry Rules, Construction SuperConference (San Diego) 2015 What’s the Appeal of Arbitration? Overturning Arbitration Awards and the New Appellate Rules of Arbitration, ABA Forum on Construction Law Fall Meeting, (Austin), 2015 A Litigator’s Guide to Arbitration: Best Practices to Maximize the Benefits of Your Next Arbitration, ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference (New Orleans), 2015 Point-Counterpoint: Litigation or Arbitration, MSU and Montana State Bar 10th Annual Construction Law Institute (Bozeman), 2014 Stories Mediators Tell: The Bad (and Ugly), AAA Mediation Week (Providence), 2014 Maximizing Efficiency & Economy in Arbitration: Challenges at the Preliminary Hearing, AAA Arbitrator Continuing Education (Providence), 2013 Managing the Arbitration Process for Efficiency & Economy Following the Preliminary Hearing, AAA Arbitrator Continuing Education (Providence), 2013 Optimizing Your Client’s Construction Arbitration Hearing, American Arbitration Association Construction Conference, (New York), 2012 Comparative Evolution of Arbitration in the United States and Australia, 4th International Construction Law Conference (Melbourne, Australia), 2012 You’ve Got a Friend, or Do You? How Do the Delivery Systems and Party Postures Impact Litigation Strategy and Procedures in Multi-Party Construction Claims?, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (Las Vegas), 2012 Building the Construction Arbitration Process to Optimize its Advantages, 26th Annual Construction Superconference (San Francisco), 2011 Practical and Procedural Considerations in Mediation, Arbitration, and Litigation (Including Getting the Right People to the Party), Montana State Bar 7th Annual Construction Law Institute (Bozeman, MT), 2011 AIA A201 vs. ConsensusDOCS: A 10 Round Bout to Determine which is the Fairest Contract of Them All?, Associated General Contractor’s 92nd Annual Convention (Las Vegas), 2011 Chairing an Arbitration Panel, American Arbitration Association (Boston), 2010 Not on My Watch: How to Properly Manage a Construction Arbitration Case, American Arbitration Association (Orlando), 2010 Chairing an Arbitration Panel, American Arbitration Association (Providence), 2010 Maximizing ADR Advocacy for Today’s Economy, American Arbitration Association (New York & Los Angeles), 2009 Taking on Too Much Water, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (Newport), 2007 Chairing an Arbitration Panel, American Arbitration Association (Ireland), 2005 Arbitration Do’s and Don’ts, American Arbitration Association, 2005 Mediation Dos and Don’ts, RI Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2004 Disclosure, National Forum on Conflict Management in the Construction Industry, 2004 2004 Ethics Rules, American Arbitration Association, 2004 Construction Delivery Systems In Massachusetts, Lorman Education Services, 2003 Managing Complex Arbitrations, American Arbitration Association, 2003 Case Management, American Arbitration Association, 2001 Worker’s Compensation Construction Issues, RI Department of Labor, 1999 Public Contracting, RI Associated General Contractors, 1994 Accountant Liabilities, Rhode Island CPA Society, 1994 Design Build Contracting, National Association of College & University Attorneys, 1991