Law & Mortar

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Law & Mortar is Cotney's podcast to discuss legal, business, and industry news for construction and roofing. Questions? Please contact info@cotneycl.com.

Cotney Attorneys & Consultants


    • May 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 99 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Law & Mortar

    Law & Mortar Episode 100

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 22:21


    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.

    Law & Mortar Episode 99

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 17:24


    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.

    Law & Mortar Episode 98

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 12:58


    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.

    Law & Mortar Episode 97

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 13:28


    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 optimization ✅ The future of robotics in construction and roofing ✅ AI's potential for customer service, logistics, and quality control ✅ Upcoming presentations at industry events, including discussions on AI, maintenance agreements, and legal issues in subcontractingDon't miss this forward-thinking discussion on how AI is reshaping the roofing and construction industries!

    Law & Mortar Episode 96

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 16:59


    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 strategy. Plus, they share insights on preparing for economic uncertainty and upcoming industry events like the International Roofing Expo (IRE) and Women in Roofing. Don't miss this essential discussion for construction and roofing professionals!

    Law & Mortar Episode 95

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 14:07


    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 fraudulent practices and navigating settlement advice.·         Construction Industry Trends: Evaluating the Trump administration's impacts on deregulation, immigration, and labor availability.·         Year-End Financial Strategies: Practical advice for tax planning, employee incentives, and investing in growth to mitigate tax liabilities.Stay informed and prepared for what lies ahead in the industry.

    Law & Mortar Episode 94

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 15:29


    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. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 93

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 16:15


    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 of genuine reviews.Building Trust: Discover how authentic testimonials and word-of-mouth are essential for growing a roofing business.Risk Mitigation Strategies: Gain insights on avoiding common operational pitfalls through effective management.Marketing Strategies: Evaluate the pros and cons of in-house versus outsourced marketing. Join Trent and John for a comprehensive look at the challenges and strategies that shape the roofing industry. Subscribe to stay updated with expert insights aimed at enhancing your business's resilience and success.

    Law & Mortar Episode 92

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 12:35


     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 to leverage technology to stay ahead in the game. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just getting started, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the industry's complexities. Let's get started! 

    Law & Mortar Episode 91

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2024 13:07


    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"!

    Law & Mortar Episode 90

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 16:51


    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 the deep dive workshop in Lakeland, Florida, while Trent highlights their excitement for the upcoming FRSA Expo in Orlando, where they'll reconnect with local roofers and share invaluable insights.

    Law & Mortar Episode 89

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 14:36


    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 and its effects on the market. Whether you're directly involved in roofing or interested in the broader implications of these topics, this episode offers valuable perspectives on navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in today's dynamic environment.

    Law & Mortar Episode 87

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 14:24


    In this episode, Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese LLP and John Kenney from Cotney Consulting Group discuss key takeaways from the International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2024. They delve into the latest trends, innovations, and strategic insights gained from the event, offering listeners a deep dive into what's next in the roofing and construction industries. This conversation is essential for professionals looking to stay updated on industry advancements and predictions for the future. Tune in for a straightforward, insight-packed discussion. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 86

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 13:38


    New Episode 86 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing The State of The Industry for 2024 and upcoming events in the roofing industry.  

    Law & Mortar Episode 85

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 11:51


    Episode 85 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing Fleet Management Best Practices and last-minute tips for 2023. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 84

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 13:16


    Join us in a riveting conversation on Episode 84 of our podcast, where we delve into the transformative world of skilled labor training. This week, we feature two distinguished guests: Trent Cotney, a prominent Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, the dynamic CEO of Cotney Consulting Group.Our in-depth discussion centers around the pivotal movement to lower the apprenticeship age to under eighteen, a crucial step that promises to revolutionize the industry by allowing students to embark on hands-on training with experienced contractors at a younger age.As the year draws to a close, Trent and John also share valuable insights on end-of-the-year planning, offering listeners a glimpse into the strategic minds that have shaped the industry.And, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, our esteemed guests reflect on the year gone by, sharing personal anecdotes and expressing gratitude for the milestones and challenges that have enriched their journey.Tune in to Episode 84 for an enlightening and thought-provoking exploration of the skilled labor landscape, led by two of its most influential voices.

    Law & Mortar Episode 83

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 10:59


    Episode 83 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing what a contractor may overlook in preparing for a sale, the current M&A climate in our industry, AR collections, and more.

    Law & Mortar Episode 82

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 14:12


    Episode 82 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing the immigration issues, what is happening at the Western States Roofing expo, and more in this week's podcast. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 81

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 17:02


    Episode 81 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing the construction outlook for the remainder of 2023 and an advanced look at what we can expect in 2024, safety incentive plans, and more in this week's podcast. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 80

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 13:06


    Episode 80 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing how to handle reputation management, field leadership study, and the future workforce, and more in this week's podcast. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 79

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 13:37


    Episode 79 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing contract terms to watch out for, capital impacts, cash flow, employee retention, and more in this week's podcast. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 78

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 13:27


    Episode 78 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing Florida's New Immigration law, the possible default on the debt limit, and their effects on business in this week's podcast. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 77

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 18:35


    Episode 77 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this week's podcast. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 76

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 15:37


    Episode 76 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing Cal/OSHA's new lead standard, Florids's new law on statute of limitations, what's new at RT3, and more. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 75

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 16:24


    New Episode 75 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discuss OSHA providing work visas to illegals, deep diving into the possible challenges of 2023, the IRE, and more. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 74

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 16:07


    Episode 74 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, Safety Preparation, and Culture, Issues for contractors loaning or leasing their equipment to other contractors, and more. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 73

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2023 18:23


    Episode 73 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed rule prohibiting Non-Compete Agreements, Florida Insurance Market and Business Operations, and the Labor Shortage.  

    Law & Mortar Episode 72

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 10:48


    Episode 72 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing year-end preparation and collections, reviewing this year's goals set and the results, and setting goals in 2023.  

    Law & Mortar Episode 71

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 13:16


    Episode 71 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing increasing contractor bankruptcy cases, payment issues on insurance claims, and more.  

    Law & Mortar Episode 70

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2022 13:47


    Episode 70 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing The Independent Contractor Rule, Insurance Do's and Don'ts, and a look into the use of augmented reality for training in the construction and roofing industry.  

    Law & Mortar Episode 69

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 13:35


    New Episode 69 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing hiring and using non-compete agreements in our industry. They also discuss what's coming at the Western States Roofing Expo and more. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 68

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 13:13


    Episode 68 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing how the EPA considers classifying discarded PVC plastics as hazardous waste. They also discuss the industry's top issues as we head into the last four months of 2022 and more. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 67

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 12:39


    Episode 67 features Trent Cotney, Partner at Adams and Reese LLP, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussing 1099 sales agreements, insurance work, subcontractors,  industry employee recruitment, and retainage, and more. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 66

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 12:39


    In Episode 66, Trent Cotney and John Kenney discuss the recent 100th anniversary FRSA Expo, industry uptick with problems collecting money and what you can about it, operational tips, upcoming travel and industry events, and more.

    Law & Mortar Episode 65

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 12:44


    In Episode 65 Trent Cotney and John Kenney discuss the forced labor protection act, current conditions, recent infrastructure air travel announcement, workforce, recruitment-retainage, and more.

    Law & Mortar Episode 64

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2022 12:38


    In Episode 64 Trent Cotney and John Kenney discuss the economy and outlook, collections, The International Federation For The Roofing Trade (IFD), and more.

    Law & Mortar Episode 63

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 15:56


    In episode 63 Trent Cotney and John Kenney discuss workplace violence issues, skilled labor and materials issues, and a Floridas special session on homeowners insurance and more.

    Law & Mortar Episode 62

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2022 12:10


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent & John discuss the new Corporate Maintenance for your Business, coatings, and slip-resistant underlayments.    

    Law & Mortar Episode 61

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 13:20


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent & John discuss the new Mental Health Awareness and Safety in your Company, Contractor License Issues, the Economy, Inflation, and the Future Outlook.

    Law & Mortar Episode 60

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2022 12:27


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent & John discuss the new OSHA Expansion of the Electronic Recordkeeping Rule, the New EPA Proposal to ban the ongoing use of Asbestos, and the never-ending supply chain issues.   

    Law & Mortar Episode 59

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 9:00


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent & John discuss their plan at IRE 2022, update on vaccine mandate, tips for contractors regarding the collection, and come up with the best way of negotiation to release funds when you have a holdback.

    Law & Mortar Episode 58

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 17:42


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, John greets special guest Kelly Tanner, Client Engagement Manager at Cotney. Kelly tells John about her experience at Durn-Last Inc. in Nashville. John & Kelly discuss clients' feedback about Cotney subscription plans and how plans can help your business. John is interested in what Kelly thinks regarding Cotney's estimating training and how it benefits your standing point in the roofing industry.

    Law & Mortar Episode 57

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 13:20


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John talk through updates regarding new OSHA ETS, licensing-related issues, upcoming speaking engagements such as TARC, Chicago Trade show, and IRE. John gives a brief overview of the new Project Management Program and Cracking the Code training from ShopCotney.com. In addition, the speakers discuss how to measure the revenue per crew.

    Law & Mortar Episode 56

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 13:56


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John discuss the damage from recent storm disasters in Kentucky and Tennessee, the repercussions of material shortages, cardinal change in the construction industry, and the difference between Gross Profit & Net Profit in the roofing business.In the addition, they give an overview of the upcoming Project Management Training Suite on ShopCotney.com at the beginning of the year!

    Law & Mortar Episode 55

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 12:46


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John discuss the updates on OSHA ETS and other vaccine mandates, tricky contractors provisions, upcoming John's speaking engagements, and Special Holiday deals on ShopCotney.com. John and Trent share their legal & professional opinion on whether the employer should pay commission to the employee that has left the company.

    Law & Mortar Episode 54

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 13:23


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John discuss the current state of vaccine mandates in the U.S and how to prepare for mandate reform as the new Covid-19 variant spreads. John and Trent also share how Cotney provisions can proactively help your business. Make sure to follow Cotney's social channels to take advantage of upcoming year-end ShopCotney discount codes. 

    Law & Mortar Episode 53

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 10:56


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, John hosts the podcast with a special guest Christie Coston. John and Christie talk about essential contract provisions for contractors, what awaits the infrastructure industry in the future, and what the contractor should do if he signed the contract and some terms in it are not favorable to him.

    Law & Mortar Episode 52

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 16:36


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, John hosts the podcast with a special guest Whitney Beasley. John and Whitney discuss the infrastructure bill passed in Congress, why people are leaving the workforce, Cotney helps Metropolitan Ministries, upcoming Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales on shopcotney.com, IRE in February 2022, and how to keep your workers from leaving the company.

    Law & Mortar Episode 51

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 18:13


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John discuss new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regulations by OSHA, what employers should do regarding vaccination, how it is going to affect both employers and employers. On the other note, Trent talks about his upcoming business trips, when John presents the new Director of Estimating program from Cotney Consulting Group.Program is available to purchase at  https://www.cotneycl.com/o4ku 

    director law osha mortar estimating emergency temporary standard ets
    Law & Mortar Episode 50

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 15:56


    In this episode of Law & Mortar, Trent and John chat about upcoming changes to Law & Mortar podcast, the new Cotney office in Ecuador, Roofing Training programs, handling negative reviews online as a contractor, and new OSHA Heat & Injury regulation.

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