Best Lawyers in District of Columbia, United States for Litigation - Construction
Mike concentrates his practice on Construction Law and Litigation – Construction , with a particular focus on construction, surety , and government contracts matters. He serves as Co-Managing Partner of the Washington, District of Columbia office of Peckar & Abramson PC , chairs the Surety and Construction Related Insurance Defense practice, and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Crisis Management team. Industry feedback published by Chambers USA reflects that clients value Mike’...
Joseph graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1969 and Duke University Law School in 1972. He is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, New York, North Carolina and Georgia. Mr. McManus served as Law Clerk to Chief Justice Solibakke of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA) while on active duty with the U.S. Air Force, JAG Corps from 1972-1976. After his service, he went to Smith, Currie & Hancock in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in construction and gove...
Nicole Lynn Kobrine has successfully climbed to the top of the often male-dominated areas of complex business litigation and commercial real estate. She has been trying cases for more than 20 years and has secured major victories in the courts of DC, Maryland and Virginia. The judges in these jurisdictions know her, and oftentimes she is the only female lawyer in the well of the courtroom. Primarily practicing throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area and nationally, Nicole's recent eng...
Jeff Gilmore chairs Akerman’s Construction Practice, a team dedicated to providing practical counsel on the legal aspects of major construction initiatives and infrastructure projects around the world. Jeff is sought after for his domestic and international experience in many segments of the construction industry on both private and public projects. He is repeatedly ranked by The Legal 500 and Chambers USA, which describes him as “extremely talented and astute at strategy.” ...
Charles M. Asmar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Charles M., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael A. Branca is Co-Managing Partner of Peckar & Abramson’s Washington, D.C. office and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. He focuses his practice on construction and government contract law. Mike routinely represents general and prime contractors, construction managers, and other members of the construction and government contract industries. Given his depth of experience, he is able to provide an impressive range of services to his clients, including the review an...
A lawyer with a national construction practice, Owen Shean represents clients in a broad array of construction matters and disputes, including resolution of disputes on major infrastructure projects, government facilities, museums, multi-use/multi-family projects, hospitals, and military facilities. His clients have included the Architect of the Capitol (the federal agency responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the U.S. Capitol Complex), the New World Sym...
Michael Koplan's practice focuses primarily on civil litigation with an emphasis in construction law and government contracts. He represents general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, sureties, owners, and developers on both private and public construction projects, in federal and state courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitrations and mediations. He is experienced in a broad range of construction matters, including preparing and negotiating contract documents, ...
Tom Lynch primarily represents construction clients, including owners, general contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors on private and public construction projects. In addition to his construction practice, Tom has represented government contracts clients in claims against the government and bid protests as well as contract reviews. He has also represented lenders and loan servicing clients in a variety of lien priority and mortgage-related litigation in federal and state courts...
Stephen B. Shapiro focuses on the practice of construction law, public contracts and commercial litigation. Building on his experience representing contractors, public and private owners, architects, engineers and construction managers, he has developed extensive legal experience in all aspects of government and commercial contracts, construction procurement, contract administration, bid protests, claims, dispute resolution and litigation, regulatory compliance and subcontractor, supplier and...
Described by Chambers USA as “incredibly knowledgeable and pragmatic,” Steve Hurlbut focuses on construction and government contract litigation, with an emphasis on resolution of delay and other schedule-related claims. He assists clients on projects throughout the United States, including government, commercial, medical and industrial projects, as well as projects for design and construction of power production, petrochemical and energy-related facilities. Steve represents virtua...
Doug Patin has an extensive government contracts practice. While this work has involved the entire spectrum of traditional government contract disputes, he has developed extensive experience in various aspects of government contract law including: federal fraud and False Claims Act issues, bid protests, mediation, and contract dispute litigation with the federal government. Doug's extensive teaching and writing efforts keep him current on changing case law and developments in the field. Doug ...
Melissa C. Lesmes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Melissa C., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melissa C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
William J. Cople III defends government contractors and commercial companies in a range of critical industries in government investigations, litigation, trials, and prosecutions involving the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback statute, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and handles corporate internal investigations, whistleblower claims, and Congressional investigations. He represents pharmaceutical, medical device, financial institution, and engineering and construction firms as trial counsel i...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.