This year, contractors had reason to keep their lawyers on speed dial. A new presidential administration brought a flurry of executive orders, tariffs and a record-long government shutdown. All of that meant builders had a lot to track this year. 

Fueled by the insights of some of the country’s top construction lawyers, Construction Dive’s Dotted Line column broke down the industry’s biggest concerns to help readers understand how these topics would affect their businesses. Read on for tips on how to conduct a DEI audit, what’s important in data center contracts and why artificial intelligence (still) can’t steal your attorney’s job. Consider yourself served for construction’s top legal questions of 2025.