Law & Mortar

In Episode 112 of Law and Mortar , Trent Cotney and John Kenney discuss two topics that are top of mind for contractors: emerging opportunities in data center construction and the rising challenge of insurance renewals and risk management . As data centers and warehouses continue to drive construction activity, Trent explains why contractors should capitalize on these opportunities while recognizi...

In Episode 111 of Law and Mortar , Trent Cotney and John Kenney shift from market pressure to industry perspective—covering rising fuel costs, workforce discussions in Washington, and the importance of preserving roofing history. Trent shares insights from Roofing Day in DC, where conversations centered around immigration, affordable housing, and OSHA regulations—issues that continue to shape the...

Law and Mortar – Episode 110 In Episode 110 of Law and Mortar , Trent Cotney and John Kenney take a hard look at the current state of the construction and roofing markets. Contractors across the country are still busy—but as John explains, busy doesn’t always mean healthy. Over the last six months, warning signs have begun to appear in the form of declining margins, delayed project decisions, and...

Law and Mortar – Episode 109 In Episode 109 of Law and Mortar , Trent Cotney and John Kenney break down the latest Supreme Court ruling on President Trump’s tariffs and what it means for roofing contractors and construction businesses moving forward. While the ruling may have been unfavorable in some respects, tariffs aren’t going away. Trent and John discuss why contractors should stay discipline...

Welcome to Episode 108 of Law and Mortar with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This episode covers AI’s growing influence on roofing operations, practical safety protocols, and the need for contractors to adapt their business models in an evolving industry. 🔎 Topics Covered:  ✅ How AI is transforming estimating, scheduling, inventory,...

Welcome to Episode 107 of Law and Mortar featuring Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This episode explores two essential topics for roofing business owners: succession planning and the responsible integration of AI in operations. 🔎 Topics Covered:  ✅ Why every contractor needs a succession plan—even if retirement feels far off  ✅ How...

Welcome to Episode 106 of Law and Mortar featuring Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This episode covers the current landscape of the construction industry—offering practical strategies to help contractors navigate economic pressure, backlog slowdowns, and rising costs. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ Shrinking backlogs, a quiet storm season, and...

Welcome to Episode 105 of Law and Mortar with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this episode, they explore how AI and automation are reshaping the roofing and construction industries—from estimating to operations and beyond. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ Real-world applications of AI in estimating, scheduling, and communication ✅ Why AI is a...

Welcome to Episode 104 of Law and Mortar with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this episode, Trent and John dive into emerging legal and operational issues in the construction industry—from AI and data privacy to workplace marijuana safety. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ The evolving role of AI in construction, estimating, and admin operation...

Welcome to Episode 103 of Law and Mortar featuring Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This episode covers urgent updates on tax reform, contractor insurance, and the increased risk of immigration audits and ICE raids. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ The “Big Beautiful Bill” and what it means for contractor taxes ✅ What’s changing with pass-through...

Welcome to Episode 102 of Law and Mortar with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This episode focuses on one of today's most urgent threats facing the roofing and construction workforce: immigration enforcement and its immediate and long-term impact on labor availability. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ Why up to 40% of the roofing workforce i...

Welcome to Episode 101 of Law and Mortar with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This week’s episode delivers a candid discussion on the critical role immigration plays in the construction workforce, especially in roofing, and what contractors need to know to navigate evolving enforcement and compliance challenges. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ T...

Welcome to Episode 100 of Law and Mortar , a special milestone edition featuring Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this commemorative episode, Trent and John reflect on the podcast's origins, evolution, and the industry challenges they've covered over the years. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ The podcast's journey from a pandemi...

Welcome to Episode 99 of Law and Mortar with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. This week, Trent and John break down the current political, economic, and labor uncertainties in the construction industry, including how tariffs, immigration, and automation are shaping contractor operations. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ Political changes and their...

Welcome to Episode 98 of Law and Mortar, featuring Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this episode, Trent and John discuss the construction sector's economic challenges and uncertainty. 🔎 Topics Covered: ✅ The potential recession and how contractors should prepare ✅ Budgeting strategies and maintaining a strong financial positi...

Welcome to Episode 97 of Law and Mortar , featuring Trent Cotney , Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney , CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this episode, Trent and John explore the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in the construction and roofing industries . They discuss:  ✅ How contractors are using AI for email management, proposal writing, and process opt...

Welcome to Episode 96 of Law and Mortar , featuring Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this episode, Trent and John break down the latest policy shifts affecting the construction industry, including executive orders, immigration policies, and tariffs. They discuss the impact of these changes on labor costs, materials, and business stra...

Law and Mortar- Episode 95: Roofing Legal Issues, Trump-Era Construction Impacts, and Year-End Financial Planning  Join Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, for an insightful discussion on the roofing and construction industry's latest challenges and opportunities.  This episode covers:  ·         Roofing Legal Issues: Analyzing fraudu...

Dive into Episode 94 of 'Law and Mortar,' where hosts Trent Cotney and John Kenney dissect the latest current affairs, political climate, and more topics and effectiveness in the roofing and construction industry. 

Dive into Episode 93 of 'Law and Mortar,' where hosts Trent Cotney and John Kenney dissect the latest FTC rulings, discuss building trust through authentic testimonials, and explore effective risk mitigation in the roofing and construction industry. This episode covers: FTC Ruling and Legal Insights: Learn about the implications of new FTC rulings on roofing companies and the importance...

 Welcome to Episode 92 of "Law and Mortar" with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In this episode, we dive deep into the latest trends in the roofing industry, discussing crucial developments that every contractor needs to know. We talk about the impact of recent regulatory changes, best practices for risk management, and how t...

Welcome to Episode 91 of "Law and Mortar" with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. Today's episode explores the evolving roofing industry, focusing on Supreme Court Decisions and Qualified Immunity, a live disaster preparedness Estimation Workshop, and more.   Stay tuned for all this and more on "Law and Mortar"!

Welcome to Episode 90 of "Law and Mortar" with Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. In today's episode, we dive into the evolving roofing industry, focusing on automation, the role of manufacturing, and the future dominance of private equity-owned installing companies. John previews his upcoming estimating training course and...

Welcome to Episode 89 of our podcast! Get ready to dive into the construction world with our special hosts Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. Join us as we dive into the highlights of Roofing Day in DC, discussing the key takeaways and the impact on the industry. We will also share their expert insights on the current political climate an...

🎙️ Welcome to Episode 88 of our podcast! Get ready to dive into the world of construction with our special guests Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group. Together, we'll explore the hottest topic in the industry: Subcontractors. Tune in as we unravel key insights and expert perspectives that are shaping the landscape of construction today...