Construction

Project Management Consulting, Dispute Resolution & Litigation

Hancock & Estabrook has a regional construction law practice in New York and throughout the Northeast. We provide services to clients in all phases of construction: contracting (both public and private); bid disputes; complex claims and surety litigation (including arbitration); environmental management and defense; and labor, employment and OSHA compliance. We also provide counsel in structuring and financing major projects. Our construction attorneys regularly represent general contractors, design-build contractors, public and private owners and developers, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers and sureties, providing consulting services during project performance and providing representation in project-related litigation.

As a testament to our knowledge, experience and judgment in the area of construction law, our attorneys are frequently sought out by other law firms to act as mediators and arbitrators concerning their clients' constructions disputes.

What sets Hancock & Estabrook apart from other firms in complex construction litigation is our record of accomplishment. We have a long history of successfully and efficiently resolving construction disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and, if necessary, litigation. Our clients rely on us because we are trusted advisors, who assist in resolving legal issues in all phases of construction management, limiting our client's exposure to more expensive litigation through early identification and resolution of disputes. Where appropriate, we also achieve successful resolution of disputes that reach litigation through vigorous development of "winning" positions on the merits and prudent decision making regarding managing the expenses of litigation. Our litigation team includes some of the most accomplished, skilled and experienced commercial litigators in the region.

These are some recent examples of matters where we have achieved success:

• Successfully resolved a complex public works contractor termination case against both contractor and major surety;
• Successfully defended owner in large contract-based arbitration claim in Pittsburgh by over-charging supplier;
• Successfully represented major supplier and resolved complex, multi-party litigation arising from federal construction job in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, involving owner, general contractor, subcontractors and suppliers;
• Obtained favorable jury verdict in favor of our contractor client on an extra work claim brought by supplier;
• Successfully resolved complex OSHA compliance investigation by Department of Justice and EPA on behalf of major hazardous materials abatement contractor;
• Obtained partial summary judgment in federal court in the Northern District of New York in favor of a design-build contractor upholding termination of foundation subcontractor on housing project at Fort Drum, NY, allowing for favorable settlement of lawsuit;
• Negotiated early settlement of federal court action in the Western District of New York between general contractor and demolition and abatement subcontractor on North Carolina public project;
• Negotiated successful settlement of claim brought by plumbing and HVAC subcontractor against design-build contractor in federal court in the Northern District of New York;
• Participated in the defense of a national general contractor in of multiple state court lawsuits brought by various subcontractors on large hotel and event center renovation project in Central New York;
• Negotiated successful settlement of claim brought by rough carpentry subcontractor against design-build contractor in federal court in the Northern District of New York.

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