PeopleMichael J. Baker
PeopleMichael J. Baker

  • Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D.)
  • DePaul University, Chicago (B.A.)

  • State Bar of California
  • Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
    • Southern California Chapter (2009-present)
      • Past Chapter President (2013)
      • Board Member (2007-present)
  • CMAA, Southern California Foundation Board
    • Founding Member 
    • Board Member (2010-present)
    • Past Treasurer 
  • Engineering Contractors Association (ECA)
    • Board of Directors (2019)

Presentations

  • "California Construction Law Update," Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Webinar (January 24, 2023)
  • "Contract & Project Issues in the Post COVID-19 Environment," Co-Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Educational Webinar (May 17, 2022)
  • "Limiting Liability and Exposure," Co-Presenter, Structural Engineers Association of Arizona's Risk Management and Ethics for Engineers Seminar (May 14, 2022) 
  • "Construction Cost Impacts Post COVID-19: Cost Escalation and Delay," Presenter, Engineering Contractors' Association (May 11, 2022)
  • “Construction Law Round-Up – What’s New for 2022,” Presenter, CMAA Southern California Construction Law Round-Up 2021 Webinar (February 1, 2022)
  • "Last Chance Last Minute CLE: Alternative Project Delivery," Co-Presenter, California MCLE Webinar hosted by Arcadis and Snell & Wilmer (January 27, 2022)
  • "Awards and Protests," Presenter, American Society of Professional Estimators (December 15, 2021)
  • "Construction Costs Impacts Post COVID-19: Cost Escalation and Delay," Presenter, Engineering Contractors' Association (October 28, 2021)
  • “Rising Construction Material Costs - State of the Industry,” Co-Presenter, Nevada Contractors Association Diversity & Inclusion Council (August 17, 2021)
  • "Effective Management of Construction Projects for Owners/Construction Managers," Presenter,  Construction Management Association of America Webinar (June 23, 2021)
  • “Construction Costs Impacts Post COVID - Cost Escalation and Delay,” Presenter, American Society of Professional Estimators Webinar (June 9, 2021)
  • “COVID-19 Aftermath, Construction Issues Impacting Project,” Panelist, Engineering Contractors’ Association (May 6, 2021)
  • "California Construction Law Update – What’s New for 2021?" Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Webinar (March 3, 2021)
  • "Annual Construction Law Update - What's New for 2021," Presenter, Engineering Contractors' Association Webinar (February 19, 2021)
  • “2020 Legal Roundup – New Laws and Cases of Interest,” Presenter, CMAA Southern California Annual Construction Law Update - What's New for 2021 Webinar (February 5, 2021)
  • “Covid-19 Schedule Delay and Disruption: Navigating the Process,” Panelist, CMAA Southern California (San Diego) Chapter Educational Webinar (June 25, 2020)
  • “Covid-19 Schedule Delay and Disruption: Navigating the Process,” Panelist, CMAA Southern California Chapter Educational Webinar (June 9, 2020)
  • "Dealing with Coronavirus Impacts to Your Construction Project," Presenter, Orange County Bar Association Construction Section Webinar (May 6, 2020)
  • "Everything You Need to Know About CARES Act," Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Webinar (May 5, 2020)
  • "COVID-19 Panel Discussion on Construction, Labor, and Cal/OSHA for Construction Managers, Owners, and Contractors," Panelist, CMAA Southern California Chapter Educational Webinar (April 7, 2020)
  • "Coronavirus: Impact on Construction," Co-Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Webinar (March 24, 2020)
  • "2020 California Construction Law Update," Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (January 28, 2020) 
  • "The Dynamex Decision Revisited," Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (August 29, 2019)
  • "How Far is Too Far? Politics in Public Works Contracting," Presenter, Engineering Contractors' Association Legal Seminar, Anaheim, CA (April 19, 2019)
  • "2019 Construction Law Update," Co-Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (March 7, 2019)
  • "Did Dynamex Destroy the Independent Contractor Model? How Dynamex Affects Your Project," Co-Presenter, CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (October 4, 2018)
  • "Expanded Contractor Liability for Subcontractor Wages & Benefits – Private Works Construction," Brown & Streza, Irvine, CA (February 16, 2018) 
  • "Construction Law Update: What You Need to Know," CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (February 8, 2018)
  • "Keys of Negotiation," CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (October 26, 2017)
  • "Alternate Project Delivery Under California Law," CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (October 19, 2017)
  • "Mechanics Liens - Stop Notices - Bonds: Tools and Concepts to Get Paid " CMAA Southern California Chapter Legal Seminar, Long Beach, CA (October 20, 2016)
  • “Managing Engineering Risk and Ethics Issues,” Faculty, Half Moon Education, Irvine, CA (August 2015)
  • “Limiting Liability and Exposure,” Arizona Society of Engineers Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ (June 2015)
  • “Overview of Public Private Partnerships (P3) Project Delivery,” CMAA Owner’s Roundtable, Long Beach, CA (June 2015)
  • “California Construction Legislation Update,” CMAA Owner’s Roundtable, Los Angeles, CA (February 2015)
  • “Construction Claims Trends and Legal Update,” CMAA Owner’s Roundtable, Long Beach, CA (October 2014)
  • “Negotiating Surety Takeover Agreements,” Owner’s Perspective Panelist, Pearlman Association, Seattle, WA (September 2014)
  • “Ethical Issues in Construction Management,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (February 2013)
  • “Contractor Pre-Qualifications,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (May 2012) and San Diego, CA (November 2012)
  • “Tools and Concepts – Getting Paid,” Legal Seminar, Low Income Housing, Thousand Oaks, CA (November 2012)
  • “Contractor Pre-Qualification,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, San Diego, CA (October 2012)
  • “Contractor Pre-Qualification,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, San Diego, CA (May 2012)
  • “Awards & Protests – Best Value Selection,” Spring Legal Affairs, Airport Council International NA – Airport General Counsel, Charleston, SC (May 2012)
  • “IPD – Myth or Solution,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (July 2010)
  • “Contracting Issues Involved in Complex Projects,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (September 2009)
  • “Legal Risks, Issues in Green Architecture for Architects,” Legal Seminar, Construction Specification Institute, Los Angeles, CA (September 2009)
  • “Integrated Project Delivery – CM’s Point of View,” Legal Seminar, Construction Specification Institute, Los Angeles, CA (September 2008)
  • “The Legal Aspects of LEED,” Legal Seminar, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, CA (May 2008)
  • “Building Information Modeling and Legal Issues,” Legal Seminar, Annual Conference Association of California Construction Managers, Newport Beach, CA (June 2008)
  • “LEED & Green Building - Getting Down to the Real Issues,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Long Beach, California (May 2008)
  • “Change Orders, the Inevitable Reality,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, San Diego, CA (March 2008)
  • “Construction Insurance & Professional Liability of the CM,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (January 2008)
  • “LEED Certification Hidden Pitfalls and Unexpected Costs of Going Green,” Legal Seminar, Annual Conference Community College Facility Coalition, Sacramento, CA (November 2007)
  • “How Design Documents Can Prevent or Cause Construction Claims,” Legal Seminar, City of Oxnard, Oxnard, CA (March 2007)
  • “What You Should Know About False Claims,” Legal Seminars, CMAA, San Diego, CA (February 2007)
  • “How Does the AGC Lump Sum Contract Compare to the AIA Stipulated Sum Contract?,”  Associated General Contractors, Westlake, CA (January 2007)
  • “Construction Insurance & Professional Liability of CM,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (October 2006)
  • “Contractor’s Legal Forum, Written Change Order Requirement,” AALRR Legal Seminar, Cerritos, CA (October 2006)
  • “Construction Management/Design Build In California,” Lorman Education, Los Angeles, CA (August 2006)
  • “Proving & Defending Construction Claims,” Seminar, CMAA, San Diego, CA (May 2006)
  • “How Design Documents Can Prevent or Cause Construction Claims in California,” Lorman Education, Los Angeles, CA (April 2006)
  • “Ways to Limit Liability and Exposure,” National Building Conference, Chicago, IL (December 2005)
  • “Managing the Construction Claim,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (November 2005)
  • “Protecting Your Rights in Contracts,” Southern California Contractors Association (September 2005)
  • “Proving and Defending Construction Claims,” Legal Seminar, CMAA, Los Angeles, CA (August 2005)
  • “Construction Management/Design Build in California,” Legal Seminar, Lorman Education, Los Angeles, CA (August 2005)
  • “AIA Contracts in California - Understanding the Issues,” Lorman Education Institute (February 2005)
  • “Advanced California Construction Law,” National Business Institute, Anaheim, CA (May 2004)
  • “Prevailing Wage Law in Public Works Construction,” City of Riverside, CA (March 2004)
  • “The Challenges Which Lenders Face with Respect to the Recent Mold Phenomena,” American College of Mortgage Attorneys, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV (October 25, 2003)
  • “Emerging Issues In California Indoor Air Quality and Toxic Mold Litigation,” National Business Institute, Anaheim, CA (September 29, 2003)
  • “Legal Aspects for Engineers,” CPEI, California Construction/Design Law, Continuing Education Course Teacher (July 27, 2003)
  • “Mold Insurance Coverage-A Growing Concern,” Real Estate Owned Managers Association (REOMAC) National Conference, Indian Wells, CA (March 17, 2003)
  • “Emerging Issues in Mold and Indoor Air Quality Claims,” CREW (California Women in Real Estate), Speakers Forum, Los Angeles Chapter – Los Angeles, CA (March 11, 2003)
  • “Advanced California Construction Law,” National Business Institute, Anaheim, CA (February 27, 2003)
  • “Emerging Issues In California Indoor Air Quality and Toxic Mold Litigation,” National Business Institute, Los Angeles, CA (January 31, 2003)
  • “Observation and Inspection – Legal Issues and Guidelines,” California Construction Inspectors Association, Los Angeles, CA (November 11, 2002)
  • “Emerging Issues in Toxic Mold Litigation in California,” National Business Institute (September 13, 2002)
  • “Advanced California Construction,” Law Speakers Forum – National Business Institute (July 10, 2002)
  • “Termination: Is It Worth It?” Structural Engineer (February 2002)
  • “Construction Law: What Do You Do When…?” Speakers Forum, National Business Institute (January 30, 2002)
  • “Mediating Multi-Party, Complex Cases: Overcoming the Challenges of Management and Resolution,” Masters Forum, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (October 6, 2000)
  • “The Successful Healthcare Construction Project,” Speakers Forum, California Society of Healthcare Engineers, National Conference, Napa, CA (May 4, 2000)
  • “State Senate Bill (SB) 1953 – The Legal Perspective,” Speakers Forum, California Society of Healthcare Engineers, Los Angeles Chapter (January 27, 2000)
  • “State Senate Bill (SB) 1953 – The Legal Perspective,” Speakers Forum, Architects for Healthcare (AIA) Los Angeles Chapter (January 19, 2000)
  • “State Senate Bill (SB) 1953 – The Legal Perspective,” Speakers Forum, California Society of Healthcare Engineers, Orange County Chapter (September 24, 1999)
  • “State Senate Bill (SB) 1953 – The Legal Perspective,” Speakers Forum, California Society of Healthcare Engineers, Inland Empire Chapter (June 17, 1999)
  • “State Senate Bill (SB) 1953 – The Legal Perspective,” Speakers Forum, California Society of Healthcare Engineers, San Diego Chapter (May 12, 1999)
  • “Architectural Engineering Malpractice Defense,” National Business Institute (1997)
  • “Indoor Air Quality Issues,” National Business Institute (1997)
  • “Homilies for Successful Mediation,” Los Angeles County Bar Association (1997)
  • “Performance Specification Issues and Problems,” Associated General Contractors & Orange County Bar Association (1997)
  • “Architectural Engineering Malpractice Defense,” American Institute of Architects (1996)
  • “Drafting Agreements for Transmission & Use of Electronic Data,” American Institute of Architects (1996)
  • “Professional Liability for Computer-Assisted Mistakes in Design and Construction,” American Institute of Architects (1995)

Publications

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Construction Law, Construction Litigation (2023-2024)
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business®, Construction Law (2008-2019)
  • California Super Lawyers®, Construction Law (2009, 2011)
  • Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Service, State Bar of California (2020)

  • CMAA Southern California Chapter Foundation, Vice Chair of Charity Golf Event 

  • California

  • Supreme Court of California
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, All Districts of California
  • United States Supreme Court