Find Lawyers in Houston, Texas for Construction Law
With over 40 years of experience, Ben’s practice is primarily commercial transactions and litigation in the construction industry and bankruptcy. Community World Trade Supervisory Board of Greater Houston Partnership (2009-2012) Mayor of Houston’s International Affairs & Development Council (2009-2012); Elected Chair (2010-2011) Awarded Rotary International’s Global Service to Humanity Award (2009) University of Houston Downtown faculty awarded Outstanding Adjunct 2012 C...
Kim Altsuler is a partner in Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office. While Kim has a diverse litigation practice, her concentration is in all aspects of residential construction, from contracting through dispute resolution. Over the years Kim has handled a variety of complex litigation matters, with residential construction being the primary focus of her practice. Kim represents national, regional, and local homebuilders in all aspects of their business needs, from preparing contracts, ...
Kenton Andrews’ practice focuses on dispute resolution, contract negotiation, and litigation of construction and contract related disputes. He has significant experience representing clients’ interests dealing with commercial, civil, industrial and government projects – including procurement issues, bid protests, and administrative appeals in the public sector. Kenton has worked with many general contractor clients to help protect their contractual rights and interests durin...
For over 40 years, Bill Andrews, a leading construction attorney in Houston, has practiced construction law , focusing on construction-related claims, lawsuits, mediations and arbitrations . He has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers and engineering firms on a wide variety of construction-related projects. His experience in claims, trials, arbitrations and mediations includes projects such as highways and bridges, public works projects, commercial and retail co...
Michael L. Burnett focuses his practice on commercial litigation as well as all aspects of construction law. His has a concentration in the representation of owners, general contractors, subcontractors and others in the construction industry. He assists clients through all stages of construction projects, including preparing and negotiating construction contracts, advising owners and contractors during the project so as to avoid and resolve disputes during projects, and litigating disputes su...
Jared Caplan has spent nearly two decades representing clients in the construction and oilfield industries. His multi-faceted experience ranges from trusted advisor on business operations to his successful prosecution and defense of multimillion-dollar litigation matters. Jared’s experience includes dispute resolution, contract disputes, toxic tort exposures, insurance coverage matters, personal injury, wrongful death, property damage and premises liability. He has successfully handled ...
Gregory Cokinos is a founder of Cokinos | Young and he has earned a reputation as one of the preeminent lawyers in his field. Gregory’s practice includes all aspects of commercial and industrial construction, including office buildings, high rise condominiums, schools, power plants, processing plants, refineries, pipelines, highway construction, as well as offshore production and drilling platforms. Gregory has extensive experience in real estate transactions and development, having rep...
Jim Collura has a nationwide energy and construction litigation practice in which he has handled hundreds of millions of dollars in claims. His experience includes trials in state and federal courts across the country. Jim has represented plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio and his home state of Texas. This experience includes complex litigation with an emphasis on matters ...
William Davidson's practice focuses on the litigation/arbitration aspects of construction law. He represents primarily private owners, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on substantial construction projects, including power plants, chemical plants, gas processing plants, cryogenic plants, sports facilities, commercial properties, light rail, and the fabrication of production modules for the upstream oil and gas industry. His experience includes the prosecution and de...
Denis Ducran is a partner in Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office. A board certified construction lawyer and registered architect, Denis specializes in construction industry transactions, risk management and dispute resolution. Denis works side-by-side with contractors and others involved in the construction industry to provide practical counsel regarding risk management, contract preparation and negotiations, litigation, arbitration and mediation. His extensive industry experience be...
Ian has broad experience in real estate law, with a focus on commercial, industrial and residential construction law. Ian has extensive trial experience conducting jury and bench trials, as well as arbitrations, from homeowner claims to multimillion- and multibillion-dollar commercial projects throughout Texas. He represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, homebuilders, homeowners, business owners and individuals in a variety of disputes, as well as in OSHA compliance and inv...
Patrick Gaas is a Director in the Construction/Surety section of the Texas based law firm Coats Rose and Section Head of one of the largest and most accomplished construction practice groups in the USA. With over 25 years of experience, Patrick is regularly engaged by owners, contractors, engineering / design professionals and lenders to handle some of the largest and most challenging commercial and industrial disputes and transactions in the USA and internationally. Patrick's professional me...
Patrick Garner is a litigator and trial attorney with extensive experience in employment law, construction and commercial litigation representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants. Patrick acts as comprehensive legal counsel for a variety of large and small businesses and advises employers on how to resolve, mitigate and avoid issues, problems and disputes before litigation becomes necessary. Despite his outstanding experience as a litigator, Patrick prides himself on protecting the client&rsquo...
Charles Getman has more than 38 years of litigation experience representing medium and large business clients in Texas and New York, with particular expertise in sophisticated commercial litigation in federal and state courts and arbitration, with emphasis in major construction failures/disputes, intellectual property, and professional liability. Charles has worked with national, regional, and local property developers, contractors and vendors, professional and amateur sports leagues, teams a...
No stranger to a construction site, John Grayson worked his way through college as a laborer, equipment operator and pouring concrete in the Houston area. While a student, he pumped gas and fixed flats at a service station and worked in the History Dept at Texas A&M University. Grayson is a Principal in Cokinos | Young and represents major contractors, EPC contractors, subcontractors, pipeline contractors and owners, mechanical contractors and owners in complex construction matters across...
Patty Hair has over twenty-five years of experience in litigating cases before Texas state and federal courts, presenting cases to arbitration panels and briefing and arguing cases before Texas state and federal appellate courts. Her experience has involved all aspects of commercial litigation, including disputes involving commercial and residential construction, real property development, oil and gas interests, employment, partnerships, contracts, leases, trade secrets and indemnity provisio...
Jon Paul helps construction and energy companies solve problems as efficiently as possible. Jon Paul is often called to serve as a trusted legal advisor to his clients, providing a 360-degree approach to risk management, litigation and general business issues. His practice focuses on advising clients in the construction, energy, and oil and gas industries. He often represents general contractors, subcontractors, oil field service companies, product and equipment manufacturers, as well as prop...
Curtis W. Martin is Managing Partner of Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office. He represents contractors and owners on large construction projects and advises clients on all facets of the construction process, from the preparation of contract documents to counseling on risk management, business and legal issues that arise during projects, and dispute resolution. Mr. Martin draws on his extensive experience in the construction industry, where he has focused his professional life since 1...
Joshua Mermis’ focus is on litigation relating to construction, energy, product liability and business law. He has extensive experience conducting both jury and bench trials, as well as arbitrations. His litigation experience is broad, ranging from homeowner claims to multimillion dollar commercial projects throughout Texas. Joshua represents domestic and international companies including developers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and equipment manufacturers, as well as in...
Based in Houston, TX, Matt Moore is co-managing partner of Peckar & Abramson’s Texas offices and a member of the firm's Construction and Surety practice groups. His practice is focused primarily on the transactional, litigation and dispute resolution aspects of Construction Law. Matt represents general contractors, construction managers, sureties, owners, developers, and subcontractors in all phases of construction and on a wide variety of construction-related issues, including brea...
Tom Myers’ practice is focused on construction-related transactions, claims, insurance, risk management, workouts, mediation, arbitration and litigation. For over 30 years, he has represented public and private owners, contractors, EPC’s, subcontractors, vendors and manufacturers on a wide range of construction projects, including office, high-rise residential, industrial, multi-family, educational, retail and governmental facilities as well as coal, gas and hydro power plants and...
Barry is a Director in the Construction and Surety section of Coats Rose in the Houston office. Barry’s practice includes representation of owners, sureties, general contractors and subcontractors in construction litigation, arbitration, construction arbitration, document preparation, investigation and administration of construction contracts and contract defaults, as well as general commercial litigation. Barry has been involved in the mediation, arbitration and trial of numerous matte...
Dan is a Director at Coats Rose with more than thirty-two years of experience in the practice of law. After receiving his degree from Georgetown University School of Law, he joined the firm of Butler & Binion. In 1985, he joined the firm of Cook, Davis & McFall and became that firm’s first new partner in 1986. In 1990, Dan formed Davis & Shank and subsequently joined the Coats Rose team in 2000. During his career, Dan has successfully tried numerous cases involving a broad r...
Neal Sweeney is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice exclusively on construction law and government contracts. Drawing on his more than 30 years of experience with the construction industry, Neal counsels clients on major infrastructure and P3 projects such as transit, airports, highways, wastewater treatment, and tunnels. He is also involved in energy and industrial projects linked to clean technology and renewable sources, including hydro, solar, wind, geother...
Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Jason Walker currently leads the litigation team at Andrews Myers. He is a litigator and trial lawyer whose practice focuses on the trial and arbitration of construction law disputes including breach of contract, mechanic’s liens, payment bonds, performance bonds, collections and creditor’s rights, fraud, construction defect claims, termination of contracts, differing site conditions, bid protests, sch...
John Warren is a principal in the Houston office of Cokinos | Young. John is Board Certified by The Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Construction Law and focuses his practice on all types of major industrial, commercial, and residential construction, development, and real estate. Although he often helps clients avoid litigation through early involvement in the project’s lifecycle, John is frequently asked to handle disputes relating to design and construction defects, delays, loss...
Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Ben Westcott, the firm’s Co-Managing Shareholder, has a practice that focuses on both transactional and dispute resolution aspects of construction law. He represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and owners on substantial construction projects, including schools, public infrastructure, sports facilities, airports, petrochemical and industrial plants, highway projects, wastewater treatment fa...
A commercial trial attorney with a focus on energy, corporate fiduciary and securities, and construction litigation, Jason Williams has significant first-chair trial and arbitration experience and has argued as lead counsel before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Working as a mechanical engineer prior to attending The University of Houston Law Center, he gained unique insights that have help to make him invaluable to his clients facing technology-related disputes. His construc...
Mr. Williams has more than 39 years of experience in all phases of business, energy, construction and law including legal representation, contract negotiation and administration, engineering, project management, and marketing of large international oil & gas, engineering and construction projects. Mr. Williams is a practicing attorney in litigation specializing in construction/engineering/corporate law, environmental law, oil and gas transactions, maritime and international law. Mr. Willi...
Andrew Bell’s practice focuses primarily on oil and gas, construction, business, real estate, and securities litigation. Andrew has extensive experience in complex multidistrict oil and gas litigation. He is involved in all aspects of a case, including discovery, depositions, motion practice, hearings, settlement negotiations, and trial. In law school, Andrew was awarded the State Bar of Texas Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy and was inducted into the Order of Barristers for h...
Andrew J. Brien is a trial attorney in the firm’s Houston office. Andrew’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including energy litigation, financial litigation, product liability litigation, property and casualty insurance litigation, labor and employment litigation, and general business litigation. Andrew is a problem solver that enjoys getting clients out of difficult situations in an efficient, cost-effective manner. Andrew was recognized by Thomson Reuters, Super La...
Brittany Cooperrider’s practice focuses on construction law, litigation, alternative dispute resolution and labor and employment matters. She represents general contractors, subcontractors, and small and mid-sized companies in a variety of construction and employment related disputes and also provides guidance in their labor and employment needs. Prior to joining the firm, Brittany worked for a civil litigation boutique, the Attorney General of Texas, and The Office of the Attorney Gene...
Ryan Cunningham is an attorney in Cokinos | Young’s Houston office. Ryan’s practice is primarily focused on resolving complex commercial disputes through litigation and arbitration, and he is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. He also counsels emerging businesses from inception through various stages of growth, including capital raises, asset purchases, acquisitions, and mergers. Ryan is an Associate Editor of The Change Order, a monthly publicatio...
Committed to thoughtfully and effectively representing his clients, Tres Gibbs handles all types of civil and commercial litigation matters. While he seeks to create efficient and creative solutions to resolve disputes for clients of all sizes, he recognizes that many situations require zealous representation in front of judges, juries, and arbitrators. Because no two problems are the same, neither are any two solutions. Tres’s practice consists of representing clients in areas of profe...
William McMichael is a trial lawyer who maintains a nationwide practice with an emphasis on complex insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. He has successfully represented both insurance carriers and policyholders in state and federal courts in more than a dozen states across the nation. He also represents a variety of clients in commercial litigation matters throughout the State of Texas.
Jack Najarian is a level-headed problem solver with experience serving businesses the size of Fortune 500 companies to small businesses. He focuses on serving the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs and is known for caring about achieving long term success for his clients. His diverse practice background in business and real estate and his pragmatic approach makes him an ideal trusted advisor for any transaction.
Tiffany Raush is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses her practice on complex construction disputes. Tiffany counsels clients primarily in the heavy industrial, midstream, and upstream energy industries, as well as other industries, with an emphasis on disputes involving major infrastructure and industrial construction projects. She has represented energy and industrial/manufacturing companies, EPC contractors, design professionals, general contractors, and subcontractors i...
Adam Robertson’s practice focuses on construction litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and owners in a variety of construction related disputes. He also represents clients in commercial litigation matters, including those related to financial and transportation sectors. Prior to joining the firm, Adam worked with a southwest regional law firm, where his practice focused on trucking and transportation, premises liabil...
Construction Law Definition
For a typical project, a construction lawyer may be called upon to assist the owner in obtaining land for the project. Buying the land and building a project on the land often requires financing from another source, and construction lawyers often help prepare and negotiate the various loan documents that define the rights of the bank, bondholders, or other source of funding.
Construction lawyers may assist owners and developers in deciding which project delivery approach best suits their project, such as design-bid-build, design build, or multi-prime construction. Then, construction lawyers may help draft requests for bids to allow the owner or developer to identify a contractor. A lawyer may help determine whether a bid can be withdrawn due to a mistake. For certain public projects where the owner is a city, county, state, or arm of the federal government, a construction lawyer may be called upon to file a bid protest to challenge the fairness of the bidding process.
After the project is awarded, lawyers are often involved in drafting and negotiating contracts between the owner and general contractor or the general contractor and its subcontractors. Lawyers also may be involved in documenting insurance and bonding arrangements to secure performance of the work and protect the parties against property damage or personal injuries.
During the project, construction lawyers are often called upon to help the participants understand their contracts and comply with them. Many construction lawyers see this kind of work as extremely rewarding, because their guidance can help keep construction on track toward a successful conclusion. Where contractors or subcontractors are not being paid for their work, construction lawyers may file liens or bond claims to secure payment for their clients’ work.
Construction projects are complex, expensive, stressful, and sometimes dangerous, and thus give rise to many different kinds of disputes, including disputes about the cost and duration of the project, the quality of the work, and responsibility for injuries or damages suffered during the work or, sometimes, after the work is completed. Construction disputes are often complex, involving many parties and substantial amounts of money, so construction lawyers often engage in complex commercial litigation. Many construction contracts call for dispute resolution through dispute review boards, mediation, and arbitration, so a successful construction lawyer will understand the advantages, disadvantages, and nuances of alternative dispute resolution techniques.
While often seen as a specialist, a construction lawyer is, in many ways, a generalist who must be prepared to deal with almost any kind of legal problem that may affect the construction industry, whether that problem involves contract law, banking law, tax law, environmental law, criminal law, international law, bankruptcy law, real property law, insurance law, tort law, bond and lien law, administrative law, or litigation.
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.
In Brief
Georgia Laws Taking Effect in 2022
Three new pieces of Georgia legislation aim to improve medical bill transparency, lower the sales tax on vehicles and enact further safeguards to protect children in foster care.
On Neutral Ground
Years after the American Bar Association resolution on diversifying the pool of neutrals, alternative dispute resolution panels still fall short.
Largest Pain and Suffering Award Affirmed in New York History
Preeminent trial lawyer Benedict Morelli on achieving a precedent shifting result.
New England States With Incoming Legislation
Best Lawyers takes an in depth look at newly proposed bills, litigation and cases coming out of four New England states.
Loaded Arguments
The historic Sandy Hook settlement may set precedent for future liability, while some states loosen their gun laws.
Activism In Action
From action to “Action!,” Jeffery Robinson’s Who We Are project and new documentary chronicle his efforts to expose, confront and put a stop to the country’s long history of anti-Black racism.