Legal Corner
Construction law insights and updates from May 2026
By Emma Peterson. Staying ahead of joint employer rules, bid liability, cost escalation language and more. For many contractors, managing the legal and operational side of their roofing businesses often takes a back burner to their passion for their trade and craft. However, this can cause problems down the ...
Protecting choice: Reflecting on PEPA's legislative victory for vinyl siding in Washington state
By Heidi J. Ellsworth. How industry advocacy helps preserve material choice, affordability and innovation in exterior construction. The conversation around building materials continues to evolve across North America as lawmakers, regulators and local governments weigh sustainability, affordability and performance. For manufacturers, contractors and homeowners, maintaining access to a wide range of building ...
Trent Cotney: Lawyer, educator, advocate and leader
By Emma Peterson. How Trent Cotney supports the roofing industry from the courtroom and beyond. Just last year, Trent Cotney was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 edition for his construction law and litigation work. This recognition places Trent in the top 5% of lawyers in the ...
ED releases final Workforce Pell Rule
Institutions considering Workforce Pell participation should begin reviewing program eligibility, workforce alignment documentation, state approval processes and implementation timelines under the finalized framework. The U.S. Department of Education has released its Final Rule implementing the Workforce Pell Grant program authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The Final Rule ...
Keeping up with Cotney
By Emma Peterson. The latest Cotney Brief shares April 2026 construction law insights and updates. For contractors working in roofing and construction, the Cotney Briefs are an invaluable resource to keeping up with legal and regulatory changes affecting the industry. These briefs are written by Trent Cotney, a lawyer and ...
Understanding federal material requirements
By Jesse Sanchez. How federal infrastructure rules affect material sourcing and compliance across publicly funded projects. Federal infrastructure spending comes with clear guidelines designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing and project accountability. These guidelines are also very clear when it comes to where construction materials are made. These requirements are well ...
Legal takeaways from March 2026
By Emma Peterson. Trent Cotney dives into legal updates for contractors in the latest Cotney Brief. As we move further into 2026, it becomes clear that the uncertainty of the past few years is still very much with us. From geopolitics impacting supply chains and international trading to domestic ...
Last-minute tax strategies before the filing deadline
By Jesse Sanchez. A one-month tax countdown highlights key steps taxpayers can take before filing. As the April 15 tax deadline approaches, many taxpayers assume the opportunity to make meaningful financial adjustments has already passed. Financial professionals at Exit Stage Left Advisors say that assumption is often incorrect. In the ...
Spring 2026: In-depth industry and compliance update
By Midwest Roofing Contractors Association. From employment law to OSHA compliance, get updated on the roofing legal landscape from the MRCA general counsel. Since 1949, the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) has worked to support contractors in all parts of their careers and professional lives. They do this by "being a contractor ...
New year, new legal updates
By Emma Peterson. Trent Cotney breaks down the legal changes and predictions from January 2026. Everyone is hitting the ground running this year, and that includes legal institutions and structures! It is important to make sure you are staying up to date on all the changes that are happening, ...
