After adding an office in Boston in September 2021, specialist construction law firm Peckar & Abramson, P.C. now fields lawyers across 11 locations in the US. Thanks to a ‘deep bench and wide variety of expertise‘ the firm remains a go-to choice for general contractors, construction managers, EPC contractors and owners in an array of projects domestically and around the world. Chair of the firm Steven Charney has recently been active in high-profile disputes, as well as advising the Building Trades Employers Association of New York (BTEA). He works from the New York office, alongside founding partner Robert Peckar; Gregory Chertoff, whose practice emphasizes resolving complex construction disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation; and ‘strong senior partner‘ Paul Monte whose broad experience includes prosecuting and defending complex delay and cost overrun claims, multi-district litigation and transactional services to contractors on major infrastructure projects. Managing partner of the Washington DC office Michael Branca focuses his practice on construction and government contract law, while in Los Angeles Ronald Helmuth has over 20 years’ experience of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. River Edge, New Jersey, where the firm was founded, remains a key office, contacts to note include Michael Zicherman and Denis Serkin. Miami is also a strong base, with director of the Latin America practice Jerry Brodsky, litigator Melinda Gentile and up-and-coming partner Adam Handfinger.

‘A very strong firm that delivers top talent‘, Seyfarth Shaw LLP fields a construction practice recognized as a major player in the market, regularly engaged on some of the most significant, critical infrastructure and development projects in the United States and abroad. The team maintains strong local presence too, with hub offices across the country. Alison Ashford leads the New York construction practice and co-chairs of the national group. Her primary focus is on structuring complex infrastructure and development projects, drafting and negotiation of a broad range of project agreements. Michael McKeeman is a fellow co-chair and the firm’s key figure in California, handling disputes for owners, prime contractors, and subcontractors on private as well as public construction projects. Another name to note for contentious matters is David Blake, praised for his ‘ease in communicating‘, and alongside him in Washington DC is experienced practitioner Bennett Greenberg whose current workload includes a number of the most notable PPP projects in the country. Further lawyers with client recommendation include ‘excellent litigator‘ Jason Smith, the ‘very knowledgeable and incredibly detailed‘ Sara Beiro Farabow, and her ‘communicative, clear and concise‘ associate Michael Wagner .

Holland & Knight LLP‘s ‘strong talent base of experienced construction attorneys‘ are spread across the country, with centers of expertise in Florida, Washington DC, New York, California, Illinois and Massachusetts. A client base of heavyweight international construction companies, developers and contractors, as well as public and private owners of construction projects, look to the team for some of the highest value projects in the market, including urban developments, mixed use projects, power generation facilities, or major infrastructure projects. National practice group leader Stephen Shapiro is based in Washington DC and praised for ‘his ability to handle large, complex matters‘, focusing on international bet-the-company disputes. In Orlando, Ben Subin is an experienced name in assisting contractors, owners and manufacturers with a variety of projects, while up-and-coming Jennifer Lowndes has impressive experience in high-profile projects, including disputes with public relations and political considerations. Adam Paterno is another name for the future, excelling at representing large academic, medical and commercial institutions on an array of public and private projects. He is based in New York City, where Robert Bernstein is an experienced practitioner to note, focusing on heavy construction, infrastructure and significant real estate development projects, both domestically and abroad. Deborah Griffin at the Boston office is also a key advisor for contract administration, disputes and in contract default situations.

Jones Day‘s construction practice is an established name in major projects in the US and internationally, standing out for its proficiency in dispute resolution but regularly representing clients from the initiation of projects and preparation of contract documents. The firm has become a go-to name when it comes to troubled projects needing guidance through to completion, handling dispute resolution and litigation. In this space, Roy Powell is a key figure and he co-leads the practice, dividing his time between the Dallas and Pittsburgh offices. Leading the practice alongside him is Los Angeles’ Daniel McMillan, an experienced transactional and trial attorney, specialized in the construction industry and experienced in first-of-their-kind cases. In Houston, Laurens Wilkes and William Taylor are noted trial and arbitration lawyers in the construction sector, while international arbitration expert Tarek Abdalla is a key name in Pittsburgh.

The ‘creative problem-solvers‘ at King & Spalding LLP‘s construction practice are go-to advisors for owners and developers of major global projects, with a standout presence in the energy sector. On the development side, practice co-head Scott Greer coordinates with the firm’s experts across the US and internationally, focusing on cutting-edge projects of high value, a recent example being the $5bn Champlain Hudson Power Express Project, a transmission line aiming to deliver Canadian 1250MW hydropower to the New York City Metro area. Other key contacts include Ingrid Myers, whose extensive experience includes work on decommissioning projects of nuclear power plants, and Rob Garner, an experienced attorney in drafting and negotiating a variety of construction related agreements across the energy sector. Above named lawyers are based in Houston. For contentious matters, Mike Stenglein in Austin is the name to note- his extensive experience in international construction disputes has a focus on representing owners and contractors in cases involving large facilities such as refineries, early production facilities, power plants, wind farms, and hotels. Stephen O’Neal in San Francisco has a global practice with an emphasis on international arbitration of construction and engineering disputes.

Akerman LLP‘s construction practice assists with a varied portfolio of public and private construction projects, recently advising on a host of public infrastructure developments, and maintaining a strong presence in energy facilities and tourist resorts. Multi-family and mixed-use real estate developments have also been a market trend that the team has followed in various areas across the US. The group is jointly led by Jeffrey Gilmore in Washington DC and Stacy Bercun Bohm in Fort Lauderdale. They are key offices for the construction practice, along with Los Angeles, where Brenda Radmacher is the main contact, her multi-faceted practice handling litigation and transactional counsel for her construction-industry clients. For construction and government contract litigation, particularly resolution of delay and other schedule-related claims, Stephen Hurlbut in Washington DC is the name to note, and alongside him, Owen Shean‘s experience includes the drafting and negotiation of construction agreements employing AIA forms, DBIA forms, and EJCDC forms. Leslie Miller Tomczak is managing partner in Fort Lauderdale and acts in a wide range of complex construction contract, project administration, lien, and construction litigation matters.

Noted for having ‘a broad range of experience across various jurisdictions‘, the construction practice at Eversheds Sutherland acts for a lengthy client list of companies with keen interests in the construction industry, be it major manufacturers, leading global construction companies, or heavyweight projects investors. High-value and complex disputes are the bread and butter for the group headed by Lee Davis, who splits his time between the Atlanta and New York offices. His considerable experience includes advising on valuable disputes on power plant projects, cross-border pipeline constructions, and the US’s largest water treatment plants, in negotiations, mediation, arbitrations and trials. Similarly dividing her time between the same offices, Jennifer Wheatley Fletcher is another leading figure with a track record resolving complex construction disputes throughout the country and globally, representing construction managers, developers, contractors, owners and municipalities. Larry Dany is highly regarded for contentious matters in the New York metropolitan area and is supported by associate Jocelyn Weinstein, who has litigated a range of construction and commercial disputes in the state and federal trial and appellate courts of New York. Jesse Lincoln is the standout up-and-coming name in Atlanta, while Bill Wildman and of counsel Henry Parkman are further senior figures to note.

The team at Jones Walker LLP has ‘a deep bench of talent solely dedicated to construction practice‘ and excels in both contractual and contentious work, focusing on dispute resolution but able to handle complex litigation where necessary. Green energy projects have seen a notable increase in activity for the practice, William Shaughnessy and Neal Sweeney advising a US based private renewable energy company on a number of projects, including offshore wind projects in Canada, Asia and the southwest US. Traditional energy projects are still a key part of the team’s workload with practice co-head Chad Theriot and William Underwood co-leading contract drafting and negotiations with the various EPC contractors on a $10bn petrochemical facility. Above named lawyers are based in Atlanta. Other key offices for the group include New Orleans, where co-head Michael Drew is the main contact, with Christopher Cazenave and Meghan Smith being further names to note. In Houston, Tiffany Raush acts as lead counsel and second chair in some of the firm’s larger construction disputes in both federal court and arbitration.

Mayer Brown‘s ‘incredibly responsive‘ construction law team is headed by Joanna Horsnail, a transactional lawyer focused on design and construction, representing contractors, architects, sponsors, government concessionaires, developers and lenders in the development, design and construction of public and private projects. As whole, the practice is dedicated to transactional matters, advising on some of the more sophisticated matters in the market and coordinating with the firm’s projects infrastructure and public policy team whose leader Joseph Seliga is a frequent collaborator. She is supported on the majority of matters by counsel Sara Hess, who is particularly well-versed in PPP projects and alternative project delivery methods in the infrastructure sector. Rachel Smith was made counsel in 2021 and also supports across the range of work. All named lawyers are based in Chicago.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP fields a construction counseling and dispute resolution practice with a strong country-wide record in assisting with fiercely contested, critical and high-value disputes. The group is represented across the firm’s Washington DC, San Francisco and Houston offices and its portfolio of matters span the country and also include a number of projects abroad. Clark Thiel coordinates the global construction group from the San Francisco office, while in Washington DC, construction group vice-chair Melissa Lesmes focuses her practice on complex construction claims and insurance coverage disputes. Charles Conrad is based in Houston and has recently acted in contentious matters regarding multi-billion dollar projects and together with Thiel and Lesmes makes up the leadership team. In San Francisco, John Heisse is a renowned figure in the market, assisting global developers, builders, owners and designers with every phase of complex public and private construction; and Robert James comes with client recommendation as ‘a very experienced and knowledgeable attorney in design, construction and real estate issues‘.

‘A stand out firm in construction‘, Thompson Hine LLP has ‘in-depth knowledge of construction contracting coupled with understanding of the business of construction‘. The Ohio-based practice is led by Jeffrey R. Appelbaum, who has extensive experience advising clients in the construction industry, acting as trial and transactional attorney, project counsel, project management consultant and mediator. One of his and the wider practice’s specialisms is in stadium construction, frequently involving significant mixed-use elements and significant community impact. ‘Really strong negotiator‘ Alan Ritchie is particularly well-versed in PPP projects, having been developer/sponsor counsel on Ohio’s first transportation and infrastructure projects of this kind. Patrick J. Sweeney negotiates construction and design agreements and gives project management advice and risk counseling on a variety of projects, and the firm also has a wholly owned subsidiary Project Management Consultants (PMC) that assists lawyers with owner’s representation, project management, partnering facilitation and financing structures to projects. An up-and-coming name is Erin Luke, who assists with contracts work as well as project delivery and structuring, and managing associate Jack Clark also stands out.

The ‘experience, intellect and resources‘ of the construction practice DLA Piper LLP (US) are brought to bear on projects across the US and internationally, in both contentious and non-contentious capacities. The team regularly represents clients in both the courts and in arbitration, and the practice is fully integrated with the firm’s real estate, litigation and financing teams, facilitating comprehensive project support on contracts and agreements. In Baltimore, Anthony Meagher concentrates on the arbitration and litigation of construction claims, the negotiation of construction contracts, and the litigation of other commercial disputes; he co-leads the practice with Robert Crewdson, frequent counsel to owners and investors, handling transactional matters and litigation. Brian Fielden has ‘in-depth knowledge of all things construction‘ and is a renowned figure in PPP projects, with a client list that includes the Global Infrastructure Investment Association. A number of the team’s recent big ticket litigations are being led by John Ducat. All named lawyers are based in Atlanta unless otherwise stated.

Greenberg Traurig LLP‘s construction practice is well-versed in drafting and negotiating all manner of relevant contracts, frequently counselling clients through the full duration of a development, from inception to handling any arising disputes. The group works closely with the firm’s experienced and well-regarded real estate department, which works especially well on long-term projects that need assistance in both respects. Types of developments handled are wide-ranging, as is the geographical range in the workload, facilitated by offices across the country. Practice co-head Michael Thomas is in Miami and assists developer clients with all aspects of residential, commercial and mixed-use real estate development projects. His partner in leading the group is Mark Ferrario, a litigator based in Las Vegas, where David Jensen focuses on medium and large-scale urban development, including residential, mixed-used, and commercial projects. Robert Epstein is the name to note in Florham Park, New Jersey, acting in construction and design defects, delays, payment claims and other disputes.

Troutman Pepper‘s broad construction practice is integrated with complementary practices of real estate, insurance, project finance and land use, making the firm a strong choice to assist through the full life cycle of a development. The team is also well-versed in the industry’s contentious matters with experience in all types of alternative dispute resolution, as well as litigation where it proves unavoidable. Practice head Michael Subak concentrates on construction litigation, acting for owners, EPC contractors, construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors. He is based in Philadelphia, while the team is represented across several other locations. In New York, Aaron Abraham‘s clients include prominent corporate and institutional owners and developers, as well as real estate and hospitality industry companies, that look to him for transactional matters and litigation. Albert Bates is particularly strong in the areas of power generation, infrastructure, and heavy industrial facilities, advising from the Pittsburgh office, and in Los Angeles Marion Hack has experience in some of California’s most significant developments.

The ‘highly capable and experienced‘ construction law attorneys at Venable LLP concentrate on representing government owners in all types of construction law matters relating to a plethora of projects. In a recent highlight, practice head Kenneth Roberts has been leading advice to the Metropolitan Council on the 14.5-mile extension of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.’s Green Line light rail line. Deputy leader of the department and praised as ‘an excellent legal advisor‘, Heidi Rowe is a regular counsel for contract drafting and negotiation in major projects, as well as assisting with claims management to avoid litigation. Amanda MacVey in Washington DC has particular knowledge of projects for utility companies, while Jonathan Freilich is the name to note at counsel level. Unless otherwise noted, above named lawyers are based at the firm’s Chicago office.

Vinson & Elkins LLP has a standout construction practice for energy projects, acting for owners, developers and investors on the range of matters. It also handles public infrastructure projects as well as a range of other developments, both public and private, representing clients in EPC, design build and other engineering and construction arrangements. The team has a cross-country and global reach, coordinating with its London office in particular. Accomplished litigator D. Ferguson McNiel co-leads the group with energy and infrastructure projects specialist Kaam Sahely. They work closely with the head of the firm’s international dispute resolution practice, Jim Loftis, and energy transactions experts Mark Brasher and Alan Alexander to provide comprehensive advice on the range of construction matters. Senior associate Stephanie Coco is a rising star in the market with experience in multiple sectors of the energy industry, including pipelines, LNG, power generation and chemicals. All named lawyers are based in Houston

Dentons acts in a variety of construction matters, covering both construction documentation advice and litigation, from strong bases in St Louis, San Diego and New York. The construction focused attorneys are well integrated with related departments and the global Dentons network, with recent transactional and dispute resolution work involving projects in the energy, hospitality, healthcare and residential sectors, several including cross-border elements. Charles Vantine and John Haug co-lead the national department from St Louis and assist project owners, contractors and subcontractors with issues at all stages of a development. In New York, expert in complex commercial litigation, Jonathan Jemison is often engaged in construction disputes, and in San Diego, Jae Park is also a litigator with a significant construction practice. At the counsel level, Clay Counts supports on a variety of construction and development matters from St Louis.

Dickinson Wright PLLC has a diverse construction practice that represents clients in both non-contentious matters and construction litigation, with attorneys located across Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. The group’s client base includes both homebuilders and developers, and the team is frequently engaged in matters involving both commercial and residential projects. Litigation is a particular strength and the team’s workload has reflected the market increase in this type of matter. Todd Baxter in Phoenix leads the department and covers the range of construction litigation, as well as regularly negotiating and preparing construction contracts for general contractors and private and public owners. John Cameron is a construction and real estate expert based in Grand Rapids and has experience acting in projects across Michigan. The ‘very responsive and knowledgeable‘ Ryan Mitchell is also a key contact there. Stephen Richman in Phoenix covers both commercial and residential construction, with a strong focus on dispute resolution, and litigator Cynthia Alexander is a name to note, splitting her time between Las Vegas and Troy. Slade Sevier and Rob Dodson both departed in January 2021.

In January 2021, K&L Gates hired a four-partner construction law team from Dickinson Wright PLLC, who helped establish the firm’s new office in Nashville, Tennessee. One of the hires, Slade Sevier, now co-heads the practice and has an engineering background that adds ‘a unique perspective to his work‘ on top of 18 years of litigation and contract negotiation experience. Rob Dodson is a seasoned counsel on all aspects of construction law and specializes in healthcare industry projects and their regulatory tangles, while other key names are construction disputes expert Emma Wolfe and Ryan Lee, who has a focus on contract drafting and negotiation in the manufacturing, healthcare, higher education, and hospitality industries. The practice as a whole supports clients through the life cycle of a project and a has particularly notable recent experience in clean energy production facilities. The team closely co-ordinates with its Melbourne and London offices. Previous practice head Timothy Pierce left the firm in March 2021.

Nixon Peabody LLP's national construction and real estate practice assists owners and general contractors with both transactional matters and disputes. Projects on its slate of matters range from utilities and energy facilities to sports centers and stadiums, and are located across the country. The practice also frequently collaborates with the firm’s offerings in related areas such as land use, bankruptcy and labor and employment to give rounded assistance through the full cycle of a project. Leadership of the team is shared between Jeffrey Brenner, who splits his time between Providence, Rhode Island and Boston; and Washington DC-based Vernon Johnson, a trial and litigation attorney. Further key names include commercial transactional lawyers and litigators Armando Batastini in Providence and Kristopher Stark in Chicago, both particularly active on  construction matters.

Porter Hedges LLP‘s construction group is especially strong on the contentious side of the market, offering a ‘practical knowledge of construction and the ability to apply that to specific disputes‘. Based in Houston, the practice’s client base includes owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, design professionals, construction managers, and lenders, with stakes in various types of development. Leading the practice are three experienced partners: ‘superb lawyer‘ Amy Wolfshohl focuses on complex construction transactions and construction disputes, particularly industrial, energy, and commercial matters; David Peden draws on deep experience in litigation and arbitration of construction, insurance, surety and commercial issues; and Allison Snyder, acts in numerous arbitrations and mediations of construction-related claims.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP ‘s construction practice has strong bases on either coast, and is a regular fixture in public and private projects across the country, with members offering both transactional and contentious expertise. Ira Schulman in New York is praised for his ‘sage guidance that is delivered effortlessly‘ and co-leads the group and has recently been active in the popular areas of private residential and large public projects. From Los Angeles, Erinn Contreras co-leads and is a seasoned counsel to owners, developers, contractors and construction lenders in all stages of developments. Associate Emily Anderson works with Schulman in New York and has professional experience in the construction industry.