Suzanne H. Harness

Ms. Harness is one of the presenters for Workshop W11, “Contractors’ Emerging Professional Liability Exposures,” on Wednesday afternoon. Ms. Harness is risk management consultant for Zurich Commercial Markets, providing risk management services for design professionals and contractors insured by Zurich. The services include reviewing contracts, presenting risk management workshops and webinars, writing articles, and assisting Zurich and its insureds with risk management issues on a variety of matters.

A licensed architect and construction lawyer, Ms. Harness has worked in the design and construction industry for more than 25 years. She is a risk management consultant with ConstructionRisk, LLC, and also the president of Harness Project Solutions, LLC, a consulting practice she founded to provide procurement counseling and other professional services as an arbitrator, mediator, project neutral, expert witness, and trainer. She also provides legal services through her firm, Harness Law, PLLC. For 6 years prior, Ms. Harness was on the management team of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), where she was responsible for the content of AIA Contract Documents.

Before earning her law degree, Ms. Harness practiced several years as an architect in private firms before working an additional 10 years directly for owners. After obtaining her law degree, Ms. Harness joined the construction group of a national law practice where she provided services to contractors, owners, and design professionals. Ms. Harness received a juris doctor from the George Washington University Law School and master of architecture from the Catholic University of America.