"Owning the Contract": Megan Shapiro on Law, Negotiation and Fighting for the Trades

In this episode of Atomic Construction, Kevin Hohe is joined by Megan Shapiro, construction attorney, partner at Rudoslavich Shapiro, and founder of Construction Contract Coach. Megan takes us through her journey from criminal law to finding her passion in construction law and why she chose to represent the trades when so many lawyers side with GCs, owners, or insurance companies.

Megan breaks down the realities of civil litigation, the pitfalls of insurance-appointed counsel, and how the system often stacks the deck against subcontractors. She also shares practical strategies for reviewing and redlining contracts, explains her OWN framework for negotiation, and makes the case for why trade contractors hold more power than they realise at the bargaining table.

This is a candid, eye-opening conversation about law, fairness, and what it takes to protect your business in a litigious industry.

Key Takeaways:

• How Megan carved out a career in construction law despite early pushback
• Why she believes most subcontractors underestimate their negotiating power
• The difference between insurance-appointed defense attorneys and true construction attorneys
• How to spot red, orange and yellow flags in contracts and use them strategically
• Why retention is one of the most harmful practices in construction
• The importance of proactive business setup, not just reacting when things go wrong
• Why treating trades as true partners is the only way forward for the industry
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Megan’s story is proof that contracts are not just paperwork, they are tools of leverage, protection and empowerment.

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Produced by Pineapple Audio Production.

Produced by Pineapple Audio Production

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