Wood Smith Henning & Berman is pleased to announce that Managing Partner Chad Dunigan will serve as a panelist at the 32nd Annual West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar, taking place May 14-15, 2026 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. The premier industry event brings together leading construction, insurance, and legal professionals from across the country to discuss the evolving landscape of construction defect litigation and risk management.
Dunigan will present during the session Winning Together: The New Edge in Effective Negotiations, scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the South Ballroom. He will join fellow industry experts including Lisa Unger, Principal- Unger Insurance and Litigation Services; Ken Kasden, Esq., Kasden Turner Thomson Booth; Craig Meredith, Esq., Law Offices of Craig S. Meredith; and Eric Michna, Senior Construction Claim Advocate, Gallagher Claims and Risk Consulting. The group will discuss modern negotiation strategies that help resolve complex construction disputes efficiently while protecting client interests. They will also explore how collaboration, preparation, and evolving dispute resolution techniques are reshaping negotiations in high-stakes construction matters.
In addition to serving as a speaker, Dunigan has also been nominated for the prestigious Ollie Award, an honor presented during the conference recognizing outstanding leadership and contributions within the construction defect and insurance community.
Dunigan is the Managing Partner of the Orlando office and is nationally recognized for his exceptional results managing all aspects of complex construction litigation. Clients regularly seek his counsel on commercial litigation, catastrophic injury, and environmental matters, where his depth of trial experience and strategic insight consistently deliver favorable outcomes.
"Chad is widely respected for his ability to combine strategic insight with exceptional trial skills," said Firmwide Managing Partner Stewart Reid. "Clients trust him with their most complex matters because he brings both sharp legal judgment and a collaborative approach to resolving disputes. His nomination for the Ollie Award reflects the impact he has made within the construction and legal communities."
A seasoned trial lawyer and legal strategist, Dunigan is known for achieving results through a powerful combination of courtroom advocacy and innovative legal strategy. His commitment to excellence is reflected not only in his extensive trial experience but also in his forward-thinking approach to case resolution.
"The West Coast Casualty Seminar is one of the most important forums for discussing the challenges and opportunities shaping construction litigation today," commented Dunigan. "I look forward to collaborating with fellow panelists to share practical negotiation strategies that help parties move complex disputes toward meaningful resolution."
The West Coast Casualty Construction Defect Seminar is widely recognized as one of the premier educational and networking events in the construction defect and insurance industries, attracting attorneys, insurers, builders, developers, and risk professionals nationwide.
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