Hard Conversations -- An Ethics Case Study in the Destructive Power of Conflict Avoidance and the Redemptive Power of Honesty | with Aaron J. Mann, Esq., Chief Legal Officer, Senior Principal with Terracon Consultants 

Earn 1 Ethics PDH

Abstract | It began with a nervous call from our client. They suspected that a letter (on state letterhead) that our consultant provided may have been a forgery. And they were right. Thus began a year-long journey into the mind and work product of a former employee who was willing to do nearly anything to avoid confrontation—on this and other projects. In the spirit of open collaboration, we will share an actual incident and response to demonstrate how conflict avoidance can damage the trust placed in your organization—and how transparent honesty can rebuild that trust. We will take the audience through the initial event, our internal investigation, and our discussions with regulators and clients. While we will highlight the pressures and dangers of conflict avoidance, we will also provide tools to manage responses to similar crises. While the process was painful, by being honest and transparent, we were able to demonstrate that the actions did not reflect the culture of Terracon and we emerged with stronger client and regulator relationships than before the incident. 

Aaron Mann is a Senior Principal with Terracon Consultants and serves as their Chief Legal Officer. He has been practicing law for more than two decades with a focus on resolving business disputes. Aaron regularly manages outside counsel acting on behalf of the company and works internally to troubleshoot project issues and avoid disputes before they escalate. He also handles internal investigations and now oversees Terracon’s ethics program. He is a frequent presenter at past events hosted by ACEC, ACI, AIA, ASCE, GBA, NSPE, and others. Prior to joining Terracon in early 2016, Aaron was a partner at Husch Blackwell, an AmLaw 100 law firm, where his practice focused on commercial and cross-border litigation. During his time with Husch Blackwell, Aaron spent four years working in the firm’s office in London, England. Aaron began his career serving as a judicial clerk for a U.S. District Judge in Kansas City, Missouri. Aaron earned his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law in 2001.