Howard Ashcraft

Howard Ashcraft is a practicing construction lawyer with extensive experience in major infrastructure projects, especially those using advanced and innovative project delivery methods.

He is particularly well-known for developing the theory and recommended practices for collaborative project delivery approaches, such as Integrated Project Delivery, and in integrating technology with project delivery. He, with his Hanson Bridgett team, has structured hundreds of collaborative projects and has used these experiences to evolve the advanced project delivery. Many of the key publications and texts for IPD were authored, or co-authored, by Howard.

In addition to his transactional practice, Howard has significant experience with complex construction litigation. These projects have also provided important lessons regarding the limitations of traditional design and construction delivery.

Howard is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, an Honourary Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects, California Council, and an elected Member of the National Academy of Construction. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University.

Howard graduated from Stanford University (Human Biology 1974) and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Juris Doctor 1979). He is admitted to practice in California, Nevada, the District of Columbia and the United States Supreme Court.

Research

Howard has been advisor to research projects related to building information modelling, project delivery and sustainability and is a frequent author. A list of publications and related information can be found on the Hanson Bridgett LLP website.

Teaching

*Since 2015, Howard has been an Adjunct Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Stanford University. *

Coursework has focused on the legal interfaces between engineering and project delivery. He has also lectured at classes at Yale University School of Architecture, University of California, Berkeley, School of Engineering, Georgia Tech, University of North Carolina School of Architecture, and in a joint Harvard University/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Executive Education Program for Project Management.

Howard teaches in Module 5, Commercial Leadership, for the MSc in Major Programme Management. He is currently the module lead and in 2019 and 2020 co-lead the module with Ms Lindsay Henshaw.