Construction

Services provided include:

• Bid Disputes
• Claims Analysis
• Construction Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation
• Surety / Contractor Default Terminations and related Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation
• Federal, State and Local Government Construction Contracts
• Contract Drafting and Review
• Alternate Dispute Resolution
• United States Court of Federal Claims
• Reinsurance
• In-house Briefings and Seminars
• Insurance Coverage Advice
• Class Action Litigation

From Pre-Construction to Completion

The Group provides advice at all stages of the construction project, anticipating and mitigating risks throughout the contracting process, often resulting in major cost savings. Pre-construction stages of services provided include:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating construction contracts; and
• Counseling clients on matters of claims avoidance, project delivery methods, risk management and scheduling issues.

The Group proactively, and promptly, addresses contract administration issues to lessen the chances of litigation or arbitration. These issues may include:

• Assisting clients in properly documenting problems or positions.
• Providing advice on contract interpretation.
• Negotiating change orders and contract adjustments.

When disputes cannot be prevented or resolved through planning or negotiation, the Group is prepared for aggressive prosecution or vigorous defense. We represent clients in many state and federal courts and state boards of contract appeals, as well as administrative agencies. The Group is also experienced in arbitration, and in alternative dispute resolution procedures, such as mediation and mini-trials.

Multidisciplinary Approach

Our Group works closely with other Firm lawyers in the Casualty Litigation Department who have extensive experience with complex construction defect and injury cases. We also work closely with our Environmental Practice Group should environmental problems arise during construction, including wetlands and stormwater requirements, erosion control, waste disposal, site assessment, and remediation and “clean fill” issues on contaminated sites, response to current spills and asbestos requirements related to demolition.