Cases
Experience: International Arbitrations Tried to Award: Represented EPC contractor in dispute with owner regarding delay
extra work claims regarding two power plants located in former Soviet Union. The contract in dispute involved a contract price in excess of 250 million. After five weeks of arbitration hearings, obtained a net damages award for client in excess of 11 million. Following a hearing on costs, obtained an award in favor of client for approximately 3.83 million plus 189,000. Represented specialty subcontractor in a multi-party ICC arbitration. The arbitration involved a large construction project in south Texas
involved claims by the owner, the owner's equipment supplier, the general contractor
our client. The claims arbitrated concerned defects in materials fabricated in Mexico
numerous change orders
delay claims.
Represented client on claims against the general contractor (
pass-through claims against the owner/owner's supplier) due to significant impacts from the defective owner supplied materials. On the eve of the three week evidentiary hearing, was able to negotiate an advance payment
liquidating agreement under which the client obtained a recovery of approximately 95% of its damages.
Represented owner client in connection with the design
construction of a 50+ story residential development in Eastern Europe. This ICC arbitration involved the client's termination of the general design build contractor. Tried the hearing for approximately three weeks. The matter was resolved through a confidential settlement following award.
Represented a US company against Spanish company in ICC arbitration involving the construction
application of a number of agreements related to a large EPC project in Latin America. The ICC arbitration in Spain was tried in 2011. A related arbitration was tried in Mexico City in 2012. Obtained awards voiding an agreement that otherwise would have divested the client of its interest in a company
its interest in a large EPC project in Latin America, while still exposing the client to very large contingent liabilities. The award also rejected the respondent's claim that the client was in breach for having failed to post significant performance bonds,
awarded the client significant indemnities.
Represented a US company against fellow shareholder in a Mexican corporation regarding an EPC project in Mexico. Tried one week ICC arbitration in Canada. Obtained successful award for client divesting the respondent of its interest in the company
obtaining an award of damages
costs.
Represented technology owner in action involving contract
fraud claims by transferee under a technology transfer agreement
breach of contract claims under a licensing agreement for a separate technology. English
Indian law governed various claims. Effectively stayed district court action (in which claimant sought $580 million)
compelled arbitration of claims against all parties (including non-signatories) before the ICC. Obtained a take-nothing award as against transferee's claims,
obtained an approximately $2.5 million affirmative award against transferee.
Represented EPC client in defense of approximately $60 million of claims by owner against client regarding a power plant designed
supplied by the client. Contract involved a contract price in excess of $55 million. Obtained release of those claims following week long mediation with no payment being made by client.
Represented Chilean company/owner against claims for breach of contract
for payment of additional contractor fee asserted by general contractor regarding construction of chemical production facility. Obtained a take-nothing award in favor of client.
Represented Chilean company/owner of chemical production facility against claims asserted for breach of operating agreement by operator. Arbitrators' award rejected the asserted claims.
Domestic Arbitrations Tried to Award: Represented mechanical
plumbing subcontractor in a AAA arbitration against a general contractor (12 party arbitration) in connection with a high-rise hotel project in Texas. Our client asserted claims for unpaid change orders, delay, impact
productivity damages. Total damages sought were approximately $15 million, plus attorneys' fees
costs. Our client also faced aggressive counterclaims by the general contractor. The amount sought by the general contractor (including pass through claims from the owner), exceeded $50 million plus fees
costs. The total amount in controversy for our client exceeded $75 million. The final award was issued in February 2023,
our client was awarded 99.7% of its damages
100% of its attorneys' fees
costs. The amounts awarded to our client were approximately $33.955 million. The client also prevailed on all counterclaims
was found to owe nothing to the general contractor.
Represented contractor in connection with two arbitrations regarding a large river remediation project (involving very significant quantities of dredging, caps
covers,
design work in relation to same) in Wisconsin. This representation spanned nearly ten years. The first arbitration resulted in a favorable settlement to our client. The second arbitration was tried for three weeks in 2019
resulted in a final award of nearly $10 million in favor of our client.
Represented EPC contractor in claim against owner in connection with claims for payment on a gas storage
processing facility in Wyoming (project value of approximately $85 million). Tried the client's affirmative claims against the owner for two weeks in late 2014. In 2015, we tried the owner's counterclaims. The Award was issued in fall 2015,
awarded the client a net affirmative award of approximately $19.8 million. This award also rejected approximately $39 million of additional damages
costs sought by owner against our client.
Represented mechanical
plumbing subcontractor in a AAA arbitration against a general contractor in connection with a military base project in Texas. Our client asserted claims for unpaid change orders, delay, impact
productivity damages. After a two-week evidentiary hearing in May 2017, we received an award in the client's favor for approximately $2.3 million. The hearing involved approximately 10 fact witnesses
several expert witnesses.
Represented mechanical
plumbing subcontractor in a AAA arbitration by a general contractor in connection with a military base project in Texas. The general contractor asserted claims for approximately $1 million against our client. Our client asserted a counterclaim for unpaid change orders, delay, impact
productivity damages. After a two-week hearing in February 2017, we received an award in the client's favor for approximately $2.8 million. This award found in the client's favor on virtually all claims,
rejected the vast majority of the general contractor's claims. The hearing involved approximately 12 fact witnesses
several expert witnesses.
Represented general contractor
MEP subcontractor in defense of approximately $1.5 million in breach of contract
wrongful termination claims brought by insulation subcontractor. Obtained an award dismissing the subcontractor's claim
obtained an affirmative judgment on behalf of client for approximately $600,000.
Represented EPC contractor against breach of contract, acceleration, fraud
other claims by erection subcontractor. Asserted counterclaim for breach of contract. Obtained a $5.5 million award on behalf of EPC contractor. Defended appeal/attempt to vacate award,
the award was upheld.
Represented general contractor in arbitration, pursuing claims against municipality pursuing claims for out of scope work. Obtained affirmative award for client.
State
Federal Proceedings: Represented general contractor client in lawsuit pending before the ASBCA in connection with a project for the construction of a hurricane protection gate in New Orleans, Louisiana. The client's claim was for additional costs arising out of differing sight conditions
constructive changes. Recovered approximately $10 million on behalf of client.
Substantial involvement
advice regarding wide-ranging
on-going contract
project management issues related to project management of on-going large scale environmental remediation project. Represented client in two different AAA arbitrations. The first arbitration (which involved various claims by both parties) was resolved in a settlement through which the client received approximately $7 million in value. The second arbitration concerned claims by our client against the PRP for various change orders, claims of delay
out of scope work. The matter was tried for approximately three weeks in mid-2019. The hearing resulted in an award in our client's favor for approximately $10 million.
Represented EPC contractor on claims for differing sight conditions on military base project in the northeast. The dispute involved complex geotechnical engineering issues. Case was tried for one week before the ASBCA in October 2014. This appeal to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals involved determining whether subsurface water damaging soils at a construction site was natural or the result of leaking infrastructure. After a one-week trial, the Board of Contract Appeals issued its Final Opinion, in which the court found in favor of our client on all entitlement issues. The Government then settled the case, with the client receiving approximately 95% of the sought amount.
Represented Program Managing Contractor in several week trial (Colorado State district court) against approximately $13 million in breach of contract
differing site conditions claims brought by demolition/excavation subcontractor on a very large remediation project in Colorado. Obtained favorable judgment for client including a take-nothing judgment dismissing subcontractor's $11 million differing site conditions claim. Retried case for two weeks following rem
from Colorado Court of Appeals after which the trial court issued a take nothing judgment for client rejecting all of the subcontractor's claims.
Represented Construction Manager in 9 day trial with excavation subcontractor
numerous lower tier subcontractors
suppliers. Obtained summary judgments dismissing trust fund
payment bond claims in advance of trial,
obtained affirmative verdict
judgment on contract claims.
Represented owner in ten day federal court trial against general contractor's claims in excess of $40 million relating to construction of petrochemical facility. Disputes involved claims for breach of contract
fraud. Resolved the matter during appeal process.
Contract Negotiations: Represented contractor in drafting
negotiating a $53 million contract for gas processing plant. Has represented owners
contractors in negotiating contracts for various types of facilities (pipeline projects, wind farms, various petrochemical/aromatics related units/projects) located in the United States
abroad.
Routine advise clients in drafting
negotiation of all types of construction
EPC contracts.
