John Baker has been involved in the construction industry for more than thirty years. One of a handful of architects practicing law in this country, John possesses a rare insider's view of the design and construction process. He has been a lawyer since 1986, focusing his practice on the special problems and interests of our construction industry clients who include project owners, contractors, and design professionals.

Not only does John know how a project is designed and built — he knows who does it. He assists our clients in their construction business matters ranging from record-keeping routines to negotiation of multi-million dollar contracts. In private or public contracting, John is at home with the content and workings of most industry contract forms. He has also developed many special contract forms for a broad spectrum of our clients and their projects.

When trouble brews, John calls on his technical training and hands-on experience to help him guide our construction industry clients through treacherous times. He quickly identifies underlying problems and develops strategies to address them before they become unmanageable. When serious disputes arise, John relies on the same skills to effectively prepare for and conduct mediation, arbitration, and litigation with an excellent record of success in each.

John maintains his deep involvement in construction through his participation in industry trade and professional organizations. He is a regular speaker throughout the region on construction and design topics. He is a past president of the Portland Chapter and was the vice president of legislative affairs for AIA Oregon for nine years. John has served on the national board of the American Institute of Architects as Vice President on the Board of Directors for AIA Legacy, Inc.

Education and Professional Qualifications

Bachelor of Architecture, Cornell University College of Architecture, Art and Planning, 1979

J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, Order of the Coif, 1986

Certified by The Wyoming State Board of Architects

Admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Frequent speaker to design professional and construction organizations on a wide variety of topics including practice management, contracting, and claims and dispute resolution

LEED® Accredited Professional

Memberships and Honors

Vice President, Board of Directors, AIA Legacy, Inc., 2006

Vice President of Legislative Affairs, AIA Oregon, 1997-Present

Director, Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts, 2001-Present

Director, American Institute of Architects, 2001-2004

Chairman, Committee on Licensing, American Institute of Architects, Washington D.C., 2002-2004

Member, Government Affairs Advisory Committee, American Institute of Architects, 2002-2004

President, Portland Chapter, American Institute of Architects, 1994-1995

Director, Portland Chapter, American Institute of Architects, 1992-1994

Member, Oregon School of Architecture and Design Board of Trustees, 1990-1993

Teton County Planning Commission, Teton County, Wyoming, 1980-1983, Chairman 1982-1983

Member, Associated General Contractors

Member, Construction Specifications Institute

Articles

Borrowed Dirt

Collaboration Makes Better Projects

Effective July 1, 2008: New Requirements for Residential Construction

If Defects Aren't Addressed, Owners Absorb Losses Alone

New Law Provides Liability Relief for Designers

Recognizing the Hidden Costs of Arbitration

A Risky Business

Salvaging Unfinished Projects in the Current Credit Market

Who Owns the Design?