Michael Rizk – Construction Claims & Change Order Management Expert
With over 30 years of national and international experience, Michael J. Rizk, PE specializes in engineering and construction program controls for large, complex projects. He is widely recognized for his expertise in interpreting contract terms and conditions, overseeing project schedules, managing costs, assessing risks and resolving disputes efficiently.
Michael has successfully analyzed multi-million-dollar claims and built a strong record of resolving disputes at the project level. In one notable case, he developed claims exceeding $50M, resulting in a $28M settlement in international arbitration.
Expertise You Can Rely On
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Cost Planning & Earned Value Management (EVM)
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Forensic Schedule & Cost Analysis (including Time Impact Analysis – TIA)
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Construction Law & Contract Interpretation
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Risk Assessment, Mitigation & Claims Avoidance
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Change Order & Dispute Management
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Custom Program Controls & KPI Metrics
Countering Excessive Changes & Delays
Change orders are inevitable in construction — but excessive or poorly managed changes can derail schedules, inflate costs and trigger disputes. Michael brings deep expertise in identifying, analyzing and countering the impact of excessive changes before they escalate into claims.
A Proactive Approach:
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Early Detection – Monitoring program controls to flag patterns of change that could impact delivery.
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Impact Analysis – Using Time Impact Analysis (TIA) and forensic scheduling to quantify delays.
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Documentation & Protection – Creating defensible records to safeguard client rights.
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Negotiation & Resolution – Resolving disputes at the project level to avoid costly escalation.
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Claims Rebuttal – Developing evidence-based counterclaims to neutralize unjustified requests.
This method minimizes disputes while keeping projects on track, protecting both schedule certainty and cost control.
Added Value of Early Involvement
Engaging Michael early in the project life cycle brings significant added value. By documenting progress, delays and root causes from the start, he helps establish a transparent and defensible record that strengthens credibility when entitlement requests arise. This proactive documentation not only supports recovery of time and cost but also provides powerful evidence during negotiations or dispute resolution. Early involvement ensures that contractual rights are protected, risks are mitigated and projects move forward with greater certainty.
How We Support Your Projects
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Develop Scope of Work (SOW) and Project Execution Plans (PEP) that align with contracting strategies.
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Establish baselines and data collection processes to objectively measure performance.
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Provide quantitative analysis with clear, actionable recommendations for leadership.
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Manage claims, rebuttal counterclaims and negotiations with a proven record of success.
Our services ensure your rights are protected under contract terms while maintaining both schedule control and cost efficiency.
Training & Knowledge Sharing
Michael also delivers training programs designed for project managers and leadership teams:
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Contract Terms & Conditions – 8-hour seminar on legal interpretation and protecting rights.
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Project Planning & Claims Avoidance – 8-hour seminar on preventing disputes from scope changes and delays.