Construction & Development

We have the blueprints to manage your construction law needs.

To see a parcel or property, envision a new use, and make that vision a reality is a remarkable accomplishment. Whether the end result is a feat of engineering or an architectural masterpiece, its success is usually attributable to a team of people committed to seeing the project through—much like the dedicated team of attorneys in Howard & Howard’s Construction & Development Industry Group.

From conventional stand-alone construction projects to complex multiuse developments, our experience is extensive:

• Hospitals and medical office buildings
• Stadiums and sports facilities
• Shopping centers and retail stores
• Manufacturing and industrial parks
• Research and development complexes
• Office buildings
• Criminal justice facilities
• Public or private works facilities
• Warehouse distribution centers
• Hotels and casinos
• Residential subdivisions and manufactured housing communities
• Houses, apartment complexes, and condominiums

We counsel clients from inception through completion. Our clients have occupied every seat at the table, including:

• Individual property owners
• Public and privately held companies
• Banks and lenders
• REITs and other investors
• Developers
• Construction managers, general contractors, and subcontractors (including many top 400 ENR Contractors)
• Engineers and architects
• Vendors and suppliers

The ultimate success of a construction project often rests on the strength of its contracts, and our attorneys routinely prepare, review, and negotiate a myriad of standardized and custom agreements between project parties. We also advise clients on operational issues during construction, including change orders, design modifications, and extra work or delay claims.

For government and public works projects, we assist clients with bidding requirements for payment bonds, performance bonds, prevailing wages, union workforces, and barrier-free standards. Our lawyers also counsel clients regarding contractor licensing questions and applications, as well as representation in administrative actions.

When disagreements occur on or around the job site, we try to mediate conflicts amicably through negotiation and informal alternative dispute resolution. We are, however, prepared to appear before local boards and commissions, arbitration panels, and in state and federal court to enforce and defend clients’ rights in actions relative to:

• Bid protests
• Breach of contract
• Non-payment and back charges
• Delay and disruption
• Defective work
• Design defects
• Insurance coverage claims
• Warranty claims
• Mechanic’s liens
• Worksite safety and control claims
• Miller Act/Little Miller Act claims

In this highly competitive environment, building is a process requiring an array of professionals to transform an idea from the ground up. No matter your role in a construction or development project, our attorneys are ready to help you meet your goals.