Construction
Building Our Client’s Case with Straight Talk
Disputes can arise at any stage of the construction process, from commitments at a project’s start to fundamental disputes over performance after its completion.
Construction litigation is often high risk—large damage awards, established, professional reputations and emotional concerns are frequently involved.
To resolve conflicts, Andrews Kurth lawyers understand that all parties—contractors, developers and owners—each have their own interests and an equal stake in the outcome. That’s where Andrews Kurth’s Straight Talk helps.
Resolving Construction Disputes
Practical experience and pragmatic approaches define our management of litigation challenges. Counseling in both the residential and commercial construction industry, Andrews Kurth lawyers represent:
- Contractors and suppliers
- Developers
- Engineers
- Architects
- Insurance companies
- Tenants
- Purchasers
- Sellers
We combine our background in the construction industry and technical knowledge in construction defects, design, financing and product liability with well-honed dispute resolution skills. From solving complicated fact patterns to the assignment of responsibility, we focus on the best way to protect reputations and investments.
Because our clients typify all key participants in the construction process, the scope of our counsel is comprehensive:
- Range of Issues—Construction law and related concerns involving land use, eminent domain, real estate, environmental and public law.
- Range of Projects—From single residential units to complex commercial building developments in which numerous parties have a stake.
- National Reach—Our nationwide general litigation experience includes state and federal courts in Texas and across the country.
Our lawyers represent general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and construction managers in lawsuits involving allegations of defective construction in large commercial projects. These include hospitals, office buildings and condominiums.
Often these cases can be complicated and involve numerous plaintiffs and defendants, multiple technical disciplines and large volumes of technical drawings and designs.
In our practical, real world approach, we work with clients to preserve and analyze all project documents and correspondence, including change orders, to identify the responsibility for defect and design claims. This thoroughness is essential to achieve the best outcome, as we did in such matters as:
- Electrical Supplier/Defective Product—Using a defense centered around engineering and product liability arguments, we successfully represented an electrical products supplier against allegations that its products had overheated and caused fires.
- Construction Defect/Insurance Coverage—In this multifaceted case, we represented a builder in defective construction claims involving an office building. The insurance company for the office complex settled the suit with the owner on our client’s behalf before trial, then filed suit against our client to recover the alleged loss. The matter was ultimately resolved with the insurance company on very favorable terms for our client.
Developer Litigation
Andrews Kurth handles a variety of construction cases for developers of residential and multifamily properties.
We defend developers in construction defect claims brought by dissatisfied single-home buyers and by renters in major apartment complexes. Our defense counsel also includes representing condominium developers in similar multiparty construction disputes.
