Jonathan Berjikian Earns Appointment to AIA Contract Documents Committee Liaison Role

If you rely on standard form agreements to structure risk on your projects, changes to those documents matter. We are proud to announce that Baker Law attorney Jonathan Berjikian has earned an appointment to the AIA Contract Documents Committee liaison role, joining founding attorney Jeremy S. Baker in this important position, at a time when many architects, engineers, and design-build professionals are watching the next generation of AIA forms take shape. When core agreements evolve, your business operations and risk profile may evolve with them.

For design and construction counsel, you look to experienced attorneys who stay close to industry developments. A knowledgeable lawyer could help you anticipate how revisions to widely used AIA contracts may affect your negotiation strategy, insurance alignment, and dispute resolution planning. This appointment reflects meaningful involvement in the process that shapes the documents you use every day.

Role of an AIA Contract Documents Liaison

The American Institute of Architects Contract Documents Committee is the national body responsible for drafting, revising, and maintaining AIA’s standard form agreements. These include owner-architect, owner-contractor, design-build, and consultant agreements developed through a consensus-based process.

Through this AIA contract documents liaison role, you gain a bridge between practicing professionals and the committee. A liaison provides practitioner feedback on proposed language, identifies real-world contracting concerns, and participates in discussions that influence future editions of the forms.

In 2026, Jonathan Berjikian was added as a liaison, formally joining Jeremy S. Baker, who has held the firm’s liaison role since 2015. Together, Jeremy and Jonathan represent Baker Law’s continued leadership in engaging with the drafting process behind the documents you negotiate. It is a significant professional honor and reflects the firm’s continued engagement with the drafting process behind the documents you negotiate.

Why the 2027 AIA Contract Update Matters

The upcoming 2027 AIA contracts update represents the eighteenth edition of these standard agreements. The committee is reviewing a decade of industry feedback, legal developments, and evolving delivery methods to ensure the documents remain balanced and up to date.

As part of this process, liaisons, like Jonathan Berjikian, working alongside Jeremy S. Baker, have been asked to assist with feedback and insight before publication. If you structure projects around AIA forms, this update may influence how you allocate risk, define scope, and address emerging issues in design and construction.

Call an AIA Contracts Attorney at Baker Law for Guidance

Jonathan Berjikian’s appointment to the AIA Contract Documents Committee comes at a pivotal moment as the 2027 suite is being finalized. His addition to the liaison role alongside Jeremy S. Baker reinforces Baker Law’s longstanding commitment to staying directly involved in the evolution of the industry’s most widely used contract forms. For architects, engineers, design-builders, and owners, that development underscores the importance of staying informed about changes to the agreements you rely on.

If you are evaluating how the forthcoming revisions may affect your contracts, our team can help you assess potential impacts and adjust your approach accordingly. Contact us to discuss your current AIA agreements and how evolving industry standards may shape your next project.