Construction law firm has it all under one roof.

For the most part, technology makes the work of design professionals and their clients easier and more precise. Computers can perform complex mathematical calculations in a split second and 3-D rendering programs make it possible for architects to allow their clients to virtually walk through their would-be space before ever construction begins.

But as is most always the case, new technology doesn't just solve problems, it creates them too.

"In the old days, it used to be there was a blue print. Someone owned the blue print and the ideas on it," said Brain Donnell, co-chair of Brown, Raysman, Millstein, Felder & Steiner LLP's Construction Practice Group. "Now, you've emailed the idea around and people have changed it in this program and that program ... Intellectual property issues become a lot more difficult."

To deal with intellectual property rights and other divisive construction law issues in a hot building market, Brown & Raysman expanded its practice this year, adding all 15 attorneys from the boutique construction law firm Ross & Cohen.

"Psychologically, the merger's been complete," said Alan Ross a 40-year construction law veteran who co-chairs Brown & Raysman's Construction Practice Group along with Donnell and his former named partner Fredrick Cohen. "[Ross & Cohen] brought to the table a well-respected boutique name in the industry."

Cohen & Ross are boutique no longer, having joined-up with one of the city's largest construction law firms. Impetus for the merger, the construction law chairs say, was to make Brown & Raysman's the Construction Practice Group as large and three-dimensional as possible.

"Now, we're probably the largest firm in New York, and we certainly think we're the most important," said Fredrick Cohen, who has worked in construction law for the last 38-years. "We represent everyone on the food chain, from the architects to the project managers, the GCs, developers ... everyone involved in a construction job."

The chairmen say a "big tent" firm familiar with parties across the construction and design spectrum will be able to resolve disputes more quickly and keep projects on deadline.

"Disputes in this industry are nothing new. They probably had construction lawyers when they built Stonehenge," said Cohen. "The difference now is the speed you need to work at and the sheer amount of documents to wade through ... Sometimes we're able to solve disputes with a phone call. Instead of doing days of research we call so-and-so who we've known for 25 years and solve the problem fast ... we see the different angles to keep clients out of harms way."

As always, the dispute over who assumes financial risk looms large in the construction law business. Over the decades, new options have arisen for solving problems in this area with new mediation options. In the past, many disputes were solved through litigation or arbitration, a formal, binding process that can be a headache.

"It came to be that arbitration was as difficult as litigation. Mediation is often more helpful, so we offer whole host of" different mediation options." Ross said, adding that the earlier in a dispute mediation takes place the better, as "the parties will still have things to trade."

Regardless of what form of construction law help one might need, Ross says newly enlarged Brown & Raysman can help.

"Chances are, if we don't know the answer to something there's a lawyer right down the hall who does," Ross said. "Clients come to me now and have said 'Can you do the whole deal? Start to finish?' The answer is yes we can."

Cohen agreed. "For technology issues or construction litigation, we're unbeatable," he said.