From the ground up

Construction projects — whether a custom home for a family or a large-scale industrial plant for a multi-national corporation — are affected by a potentially overwhelming collection of laws and regulations. To run smoothly — on time and on budget — they need expert guidance from a team that knows real estate, development, construction financing, contract and construction law inside and out.

Our Construction Law group anticipate and handle the kinds of legal issues that would otherwise disrupt projects. We work side by side with our clients every step of the way, from inception to completion, on private and public works projects such as home construction, multi-unit residential developments, and the construction and renovation of schools, commercial buildings, airports, and industrial plants.

Our clients include real estate investors and developers, public entities, construction lenders, architects, engineers, suppliers, and contractors. We represent clients in state and federal courts, and we also guide them through successful resolution of their disputers in arbitration forums such as the AAA.

Areas of Expertise

  • Green building and sustainable development, including LEED
  • Litigation involving Mechanic’s Lien law, surety laws, and regulations around project claims
  • Client rights and adherence to contract terms involving contractor’s licensing laws, Public Contract Code, payment and performance bonds and the Prompt Payment Acts
  • Multi-party, complex construction contract and defect disputes, including change orders, project delays, labor inefficiencies, site conditions, contract abandonment and contract termination claims
  • Custom contracts and American Institute for Architects (AIA) and American General Contractors (AGC) form contracts

Representative Matters

  • Negotiated and drafted design and construction contracts for public biotech client’s campuses in Northern and Southern California.
  • Negotiated and drafted design and construction contracts for tenant improvements for institutional clients owning Class A office space throughout the United States.
  • Negotiated a multi-million dollar façade restoration contract for historic office building.
  • Negotiated and drafted construction contracts for custom residences and remodels.
  • Obtained significant judgment for a major construction contractor in a two-month trial against a subcontractor involving a comprehensive hotel renovation project.
  • Defended a global industrial company in multi-million dollar claim involving the design and construction of an industrial facility.
  • Successfully prosecuted to judgment claims against contractor in multi-project dispute involving cost overruns and project delay.
  • Successfully prosecuted substantial inverse condemnation actions on behalf of private property owners against municipalities resulting variously in major remedial repairs of failed improvement, damage awards and attorneys fees.
  • Defended school district against seven-figure cost overrun claims in new school construction that resulted in nominal settlement.
  • Successfully defended a general contractor against project abandonment suit and prevailed on counter-claim for wrongful termination.

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