Eric has practiced construction law almost exclusively his entire career. He is well-versed in all aspects of construction litigation, project management, project counseling (including contract drafting, negotiation, and formation), and resolution of construction disputes for companies operating across the U.S. and internationally.
With an emphasis on federal government contracting, procurement counseling and disputes, and energy-related construction projects in the nuclear, oil and gas (onshore and offshore), renewable energy, and pipeline industries, Eric also has significant experience in industrial, institutional, heavy highway, and commercial construction matters, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Transportation matters.
His background includes advising on and litigating matters related to the construction of nuclear reactor and nuclear fuel conversion facilities; project counseling and drafting of contract documents for pipelines and related infrastructure, offshore platforms, floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs), and other exploration and production and mid-stream facilities; litigating claims arising from the construction of utility-scale solar facilities; project counseling on wind energy projects; litigating pipeline construction disputes and their attendant lien and bond disputes; negotiating and resolving requests for equitable adjustments and payment claims, including international procurement disputes; and navigating mechanics’ lien law matters in multiple jurisdictions and in unsettled areas of lien law.
Eric routinely counsels contractors, subcontractors, owners, design-builders, and construction managers through all phases of construction projects in both the public and private sectors, and regularly assists in the negotiation of construction contracts. He also assists in the preparation of bid packages, requests for proposals, and documentation during project execution and closeout.
He has represented and currently represents clients in complex construction cases involving project delays, disruptions, and inefficiencies, and is experienced in prosecuting and defending mechanics’ lien, bond, and payment claims. Eric also has experience handling, defending and responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests directed to clients by federal, state, and local agencies.
Eric is actively involved in various professional associations and speaks and writes on numerous issues related to the construction industry.
Drafting and negotiation of construction contracts of all types, including pipeline and oil and gas projects (onshore and offshore), U.S. federal agency projects, distribution centers, commercial, and industrial construction projects.
Internal compliance policy assistance and drafting of policies for commercial, industrial and federal construction projects.
Creation of bid and RFP compliance procedures for national and international contractors.
Project management and contract administration training for client contract execution teams on midstream and commercial construction projects.
Defending against EPC contractor claims and prosecuting claims against designer related to expansion of midstream facilities.
Project coordination and execution of plastics and polyester production facilities.
Defense and prosecution of claims on nuclear energy construction projects (reactor, fuel, and conversion facilitiesย ).
Defense and prosecution of lien, payment and performance claims arising from construction of interstate transmission lines.
Prosecution of claims and close out of EPC contracts on utility-scale solar facilities.
Assistance in project execution and lien and payment disputes for wind energy projects.
Assistance in US national lab operations and maintenance.
Defense and prosecution of claims related to utility facilities new construction and maintenance construction.
Defense and prosecution of design error and misrepresentation claims on utilities projects.
Prosecution and defense of claims related to power plant new construction and maintenance construction.
Prosecution and defense of claims related to oil refinery new construction and maintenance construction.
Managing general contractor defaults, terminations and handling close-out and completion of related projects.
Lien and breach of contract matters arising from demolition and implosion projects.
Assistance in union negotiations and disputes and development of union and non-union entities.
Prosecution of extra work, changed conditions and unforeseen conditions claims on highway projects.
Handling of claims and bid protests related to stadium construction and infrastructure projects.
Assistance in development and construction of mixed-use and P3 projects.
Prosecution of claims related to renovation and new construction projects for federal agencies.
Defense of design-builder in industrial explosion matter.
Documentation and prosecution of claims and assistance in project execution on industrial construction projects.
Prosecution of claims arising from construction of medical and scientific research facilities.
Prosecution and defense of design error and omission claims on federal projects.
Defense of multi-citation, including repeat and willful, OSHA matters.
Handling of claims related to construction and renovation of public schools and universities.
Prosecution of claims on state and federal prison construction and renovations.
Prosecution and defense of bid protests for all trades.
Defense and prosecution of fraud claims arising from state and federal construction projects.
Prosecution and defense of disputes related to waste-water and water treatment plants.
University of Pittsburgh Law School, J.D., 1999
Journal of Law and Commerce, Managing Editor
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Master of Public and International Affairs, 1999
Methodist University, B.A., English and Writing, 1992,ย cum laude
Pennsylvania, 2000
West Virginia, 2007
Texas, 2017
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
The Best Lawyers in Americaยฎ, Construction Law, 2020-2022
Pittsburgh Business Times,ย Whoโs Who in Energy, 2016-2017
Lexology Client Choice Award, 2016-2018
Allegheny County Bar Association
American Bar Association, Construction Forum
Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
West Virginia Bar Association
Construction SuperConference 2017, Las Vegas, Nevada, โThe Language of International Arbitration Clauses: Itโs Real and Practical Effect on Disputesโ, December 2017
Client Seminars, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, AIAโs Decennial Contract Updates โ โHow Your Business Will Be Impactedโ, December 2017
Global E&P Client Seminar, Houston, Texas, โEPC and EPCM Contracting in the Petroleum Industryโ, August 2017
Client Seminar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, โThe 2017 Changes to AIA Contract Documents: What Clients Need to Knowโ, July 2017
13 June 2017, Client Seminar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, โLessons Learned: Early Experience with the Recent Mechanicsโ Lien Law Amendmentsโ
24 April 2017, Global Design, Engineering and Design Builder Client Seminar, Washington, D.C., โNegotiation, Ethics and Documentation for Successโ
Global EPC Contractor Client Seminar, Houston, Texas, โGlobal Construction Law; Mechanicsโ Liens, Surety Bonds, Insurance and Tax in the USโ, February 2017
Client Seminar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, โThe 2017 Changes to Pennsylvaniaโs Mechanicsโ Lien Law: What Clients Need to Knowโ, February 2017
Construction SuperConference 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, โAppetite for Construction: Federal MegaProjectsโ, December 2016
Global Mid-Stream Client Seminar, Middletown, Pennsylvania, โConstruction Law, Mechanicsโ Liens and Surety Bondsโ, May 2016
American Road and Transportation Builders Association, โSocial Media and Liability Issues in Constructionโ, June 2014
Lorman Educational Group, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, โFundamentals of Construction Contracts in Pennsylvania: Understanding the Issuesโ, November 2013
Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, โWorkersโ Compensation, EEO Complaints, and How to Terminate Employeesโ,May 2008
Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, โImpacts of the 2007 Amendments to Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Lawโ, March 2007
American Subcontractors Association (Western Pennsylvania Chapter), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, โImpacts of the 2007 Amendments to Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Lawโ, January 2007
Mechanical Contractors Association (Western Pennsylvania Chapter), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania โImpacts of the 2007 Amendments to Pennsylvania, Mechanics Lien Lawโ, January 2007
Construction Financial Management Association (Western Pennsylvania Chapter), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania โImpacts of the 2007 Amendments to Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Lawโ, January 2007
National Electrical Contractors Association (Multiple Chapters), Pennsylvania and West Virginia, โImpacts of the 2007 Amendments to Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Lawโ, January 2007
Lorman Educational Group, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, โPennsylvania Health Care Corporate Compliance Programโ,February 2002
โMandatory E-Verify Effective October 2020 for All Pennsylvania Construction Employersโ, co-author, Breaking Ground, February 2020
โFERC Integrates Energy Storage Resources into Wholesale Energy Marketsโ, Client Alert, February 2018
โImportant Changes to CASPA may occur in 2018โ, Client Alert, January 2018
โPennsylvania Superior Court Extends Negligent Misrepresentation Theory of Liability to Accountants and Accounting Firmsโ, Client Alert, October 2017
โThe Pennsylvania State Construction Notices Directory: Added Protections for Owners from Mechanicsโ Liens, but is it Worth the Administration?โ, co-author, Developing Pittsburgh, Spring 2017
โClient Update: How the 2017 Pennsylvania Mechanicsโ Lien Law Changes May Affect Your Business and Challenges in Its Applicationโ, Client Alert, January 2017
โUnderstanding Pennsylvaniaโs Public Contracts and Procurement Regulationsโ, Lorman Webinar, June 2016
โPennsylvania Overhauls Mechanicโs Lien Law with Creation of State Construction Notices Directoryโ, co-author, Breaking Ground, November 2014
โOSHA Proposes Heightened Standards for Crystalline Silica Exposureโ, Client Alert, January 201
โSignificant Changes to Mechanics Lien Law are Pendingโ, Breaking Ground, April 2010
โOne Call and Bilt-Rite: Can They Be Reconciled?โ, Breaking Ground, January 2008
โSOLD! By a Click: Cyber-Liability, Internet Auctioneers and Good Samaritans under the CDAโ, Mealeyโs Cyber Tech & E-Commerce Litigation Report, May 2001
โNachfrist Notice and Avoidance Under the CISGโ, Vol. 18, University of Pittsburgh Journal of Law and Commerce (1999)
โThe Ecological and Economic Failures of Floridaโs Mangrove Regulatory Schemeโ, Vol.5, No. 1,ย University of Maine Ocean and Coastal Law Journal (2000)