Construction & Engineering

Williams & Connolly has handled a wide range of investigations and complex commercial disputes for clients operating in the construction and engineering industry, both domestically and globally. Our clients have included public and private developers, sovereign nations, institutional investors, energy companies and their executives, government contractors, multinational businesses, and equipment and chemical supply companies.

Our attorneys have handled issues involving project development delays, shareholder disputes, employment litigation, breach of contract disputes, and disputes arising from mergers & acquisitions, among others. We have also helped clients navigate criminal and civil issues involving whistleblower allegations and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) investigations. Our attorneys have also represented construction and engineering clients in arbitrations before the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”), the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”), among other arbitral forums.

Representative Experience

Recent matters we have handled include representing:

  • A Fortune 500 international construction and engineering company and numerous employees in parallel criminal and SEC investigations.
  • A leading international development company in a civil Anti-Terrorism Act lawsuit related to the company’s operations in Afghanistan.          
  • A private business in a DOJ investigation into allegations of potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations and money laundering, stemming from an international corruption investigation in South Africa. 
  • A global energy company in an ICC arbitration concerning a shareholder dispute over the purchase and development of two wind farms located in South America. 
  • A sovereign nation in arbitral proceedings arising from a dispute over the construction of large hydroelectric power plants in Asia.
  • A multinational fire-protection company in an HKIAC arbitration, seated in Hong Kong, concerning construction of a casino and hotel.
  • A privately-held government contractor in state and federal criminal and civil investigations arising out of the largest government-funded road construction project in the history of the United States.
  • A publicly traded construction company specializing in telecommunications networks in response to serious whistleblower allegations and a lengthy federal investigation. 
  • An international power company in an ICC arbitration involving the construction of a power plant in the Middle East.
  • A senior executive of an international energy company in ongoing multinational investigations by the DOJ and SEC into alleged foreign bribery and corruption.
  • A government contractor in parallel SEC and DOJ investigations arising from the performance of a government contract.
  • An individual and nine affiliated companies proposed for debarment by the Department of the Army.
  • A leading fire suppression system manufacturer in nationwide litigation involving chemicals contained in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), a firefighting foam used at U.S. military bases and certain airports.
  • A multinational company in an ICC arbitration, seated in Qatar, arising out of delays in the completion of an airport in the Middle East. 
  • A Fortune 500 company in an executive and employment dispute arising from a corporate merger (AAA Arbitration).
  • A former country manager of a multinational energy services company in a U.S. Department of Justice-Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into alleged unlawful payments made to foreign officials in an oil-producing foreign country.

Commercial Litigation Practice Ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA

Commercial Litigation Practice Ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA

International Disputes Practice Recognized by The Legal 500 2023

International Disputes Practice Recognized by The Legal 500 2023
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