Kenneth I. Schumaker

Kenneth Schumaker’s practice focuses on all aspects of construction law, which includes the representation of contractors, developers, owners, subcontractors, and design professionals on public and private projects.  Ken’s construction practice includes contract drafting/negotiation, licensing issues, bid protests, in-project consultation, and focused representation and counseling of clients through mediation and litigation/arbitration (including state and federal venues). Matters frequently involve issues concerning contract claims, change orders, differing site conditions, delays, construction defects, mechanics’ liens, stop payment notices, and bond claims.

Ken is an AV Peer Review Rated lawyer, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability and ethical standards. He was named in the 2023 and 2024 editions of Northern California Super Lawyers for excellence in construction litigation. He was listed in Sacramento/Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers list in 2016 and 2021 through 2024. Ken frequently speaks to construction industry groups on various legal topics, including construction law updates and contract/claim issues.

Ken received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1995. While in law school, he served as an Articles and Book Review Editor for the Boston University Public Interest Law Journal. Ken graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992 with Bachelors Degrees in History and Political Science. He was admitted to practice in California in 1995, and was also admitted to practice in Nevada in 2000 (inactive).

Speaking Engagements

• “Legal Updates – Insurance Practice Group Meeting,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (September 5, 2024)
• “2024 Construction and Employment/Labor Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (February 14, 2024)
• “Legal Updates – Insurance Practice Group Meeting,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (August 17, 2023)
• “2023 Construction and Employment/Labor Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (February 2, 2023)
• “Supply Chain Disruptions and How to Minimize Your Risk,” CFMA Northern California Regional Conference, Napa (November 8, 2022)
• “2021 Construction and Employment/Labor Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (February 2, 2021)
• “Back to Business: A Refresher on 2020 Construction Law Changes in the COVID-9 World,” CFMA – Sacramento Chapter (virtual) (June 18, 2020)
• “COVID-19 and Construction: What to Expect?” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (virtual) (May 6, 2020)
• “2020 Construction and Employment/Labor Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (January 30, 2020)
• “Construction Contract and Claim Primer,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (September 25, 2019)
• “Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask About the Federal False Claims Act,” CFMA Annual Conference, Lake Tahoe, (September 18, 2019)
• “2019 Construction and Employment/Labor Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (January 24, 2019)
• “2019 Construction Legal Update,” Construction Summit, Sacramento (November 6, 2018)
• “Construction Contract Primer,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (October 18, 2018)
• “Construction Contract Basics and New Laws,” CFMA – Sacramento Chapter (July 19, 2018)
• “2018 Construction and Employment Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (January 25, 2018)
• “2017 Construction and Employment Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (January 18, 2017)
• “Hot Topics in Construction Law and Insurance,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (July 12, 2016)
• “2016 Construction and Employment Law Updates,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (February 17, 2016)
• “Construction Law Updates,” CFMA – Sacramento Chapter (January 2016)
• “California Public Works Primer: Key Issues from Beginning to End of a Project,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (June 23, 2015)
• “A Construction Claims Primer: An Auditor’s Impact on the Claims Process,” 2015 National Association of Construction Auditors’ Annual Conference (March 31, 2015)
• “How to Manage Construction Claims,” CFMA Sacramento Chapter (October 23, 2015)
• “California Public Works Primer: Key Issues from Beginning to End of a Project,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (June 23, 2015)
• “A Construction Claims Primer: An Auditor’s Impact on the Claims Process,” 2015 National Association of Construction Auditors’ Annual Conference, Las Vegas (March 31, 2015)
• “What’s New? Construction Law Update and Legal Trends,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (March 4, 2015)
• “Payment and Performance Bonds: The Fundamentals,” National Association of Women in Construction, Sacramento (February 12, 2015)
• “Are You Going to Vegas . . . Or Out of Business?: How to Get Paid on a Construction Project,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (August 28, 2014)
• “A Construction Claims Primer: What Do You Do When A Good Project Goes Bad . . . Or A Bad Project Gets Worse?” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (May 22, 2014)
• “You Signed What?  Issues Every Contractor Should Know . . . Before Signing the Contract,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (March 20, 2014)
• “And the Winner Is . . . How to Maximize Your Opportunity for a Contract Award,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (February 6, 2014)
• “Problematic Construction:  Close Look at the Issues Facing Today’s Contractor,” CFMA – Sacramento Chapter (October 28, 2013)
• “You Signed What?  An Overview of Indemnity Language, Contract Clauses, and Claim Issues,” Insurance Broker Presentation, Sacramento (April 25, 2013)
• “Risk Management Primer: What Do You Do When A Good Project Goes Bad . . . Or A Bad Project Gets Worse?” In-House Contractor Presentation, Sacramento (April 12, 2013)
• “Indemnity and Contract Clauses,” CFMA – Sacramento Chapter (January 18, 2013)
•  “Legal Issues, Claims and Dispute Resolution,” Bonding Workshop (December 6, 2012)
• “Managing Construction Claims: What Do You Do When a Good Project Goes Bad, or a Bad Project Gets Worse?”; 2012 National Association of Construction Auditors Annual Conference (September 17, 2012)
• “A Construction Claims Primer: What do you do when a good project goes bad…or a bad project gets worse?”; Construction Financial Management Association, Sacramento Chapter (March 16, 2012)
• “California Construction Contracts: ‘Battleground’ Clauses,” Construction Financial Management Association, Sacramento Chapter (September 16, 2011)
• “The 2012 Mechanics’ Lien/Collection and Insurance Primer: Stay Ahead of the Curve,” Sacramento, CA (September 15, 2011)
• “Survive & Thrive: New Legal Tools For Your Toolbox,” Presentations for San Ramon, CA (July 27, 2011), Stockton, CA (May 11, 2011), and Sacramento, CA (January 27, 2011)
• “Public Works Construction: The Successful Project Primer,” Placerville, CA (March 1, 2011)
• “Federal Construction Contracting: The Basics,” Sacramento, CA (April 13, 2010)
• “Inside Counsel’s Guide to Preparing for and Managing Unexpected Legal Challenges and Emergencies,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Sacramento Chapter, Sacramento, CA (April 16, 2009)
• “California Public Works Construction Projects,” Dublin, CA (April 15, 2009)
• “California Employment Laws & the Construction Industry,” Sacramento, CA (March 24, 2009)
• “California Employment Laws & the Construction Industry,” Sacramento, CA (November 11, 2008)
• “Construction Law and the Receiver,” Presenter, Sacramento Receivers’ Forum, Sacramento, CA (November 29, 2007)
• “California Public Works/Construction Contracts from Bidding to Completion,” Panelist, Lorman Seminar, Sacramento, CA (2005-2009)

• Named in Northern California Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation (2023-2024)
• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Named in Sacramento/Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers List, Construction (2016, 2021-2024)
• Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
• 2016 CFMA Sacramento Chapter Associate Member of the Year

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