Following in father’s footsteps – to a point

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Saul Glazer didn’t always want to follow in his father’s footsteps.

After all, Sidney M. Glazer was a member of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, which sets the bar pretty high.

But after earning a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library science, Saul headed to law school, becoming the only one of Sidney’s five children to pursue law.

But he still has a way to go to catch his dad in one regard. Sidney, 87, is the oldest practicing attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice.

“My dad was a powerhouse lawyer,” Saul, 48, said. “That definitely influenced me.”

Saul started focusing on construction law when he joined the Madison office of Wickwire Gavin, PC, a national construction law firm, in 2005. He is now a litigation partner at Axley Brynelson in Madison.

Even with the ongoing recession, he has stayed busy. The downturn has led to an increase in collection claims as more contractors go out of business.

“It’s a ripple effect,” he said. “The economy has made it a much tenser and more difficult environment.”

To get work, contractors sometimes make artificially low bids, which backfires as costs rise, he said.

He said many general contractors are running into problems with subcontractors. As a result, more private jobs will require bonding.

“They have to pay closer attention to be sure all the people are getting paid,” he said.

Glazer doesn’t just deal with construction issues with his clients. He also sees such issues at home — watching HGTV’s “Holmes on Homes,” his 4-year-old son’s favorite TV show.

“I never imposed any of this,” Glazer said. “I’ve taken him to some projects. He definitely has it in his blood to be a construction manager.”

Glazer, who grew up in Bethesda, Md., chose the University of Wisconsin-Madison for college because of the music scene, he said. A guitar player, he and his band previously played Monday nights at Mickey’s Tavern. He gave that up for his son and newborn, he said.

“Playing gigs until 2 a.m. made Tuesday mornings difficult,” he said.