Smith Currie & Hancock

(The following information was supplied by the firm)

Firm Overview

Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP is committed to providing comprehensive legal services nationwide and internationally to all parts of the construction industry. The firm also has a broad government contracts practice. In addition to construction related matters, Smith Currie’s government contracts practice covers federal agency timber and concessionaire contracts, federal contracts for natural resources, access to federal lands, and compliance with federal environmental rules. Smith Currie lawyers serve as leaders in industry associations and as frequent speakers at industry conferences and workshops. Many of the firm’s lawyers bring experience as engineers and contractors to the practice of law. The firm has accumulated decades of demonstrated litigation success together with significant success in resolving clients’ disputes using all forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Managing Partner: Eric L. Nelson
Number of attorneys: 68
Languages: English, Russian, Spanish

Main Areas of Expertise

Construction:

Smith Currie lawyers represent clients in litigation and other forms of dispute resolution, consult on project development, and advise during project construction. The firm has broad experience assisting clients at every stage and with every facet of a project, including: contract preparation and negotiation, labor and human resources issues, safety and health matters, project finance, insurance and bonding, contract administration, claims avoidance, and claims preparation, prosecution, and defense. Both domestically and internationally, the firm advises on a wide array of public and private projects such as energy, infrastructure, industrial, commercial, healthcare, and governmental works.

Government Contracts

Smith Currie has decades of experience navigating the complex regulations governing federal contracting. Smith Currie is equally comfortable assisting clients entering the federal market and advising experienced federal contractors. The firm’s lawyers regularly handle complex matters, including bid protests, ethics compliance, cost and pricing data, fraud and false claims, Buy American Act, Davis-Bacon Act, Miller Act bonds, subcontracting and small business teaming arrangements. The firm has extensive experience handling disputes before the various boards and courts and defending clients against government investigations and claims. The firm’s lawyers have worked on a wide range of federal projects including dams and levees, office buildings, courthouses, hospitals, and military facilities of all types.

International Work

The firm regularly represents clients on projects in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. The firm is frequently called on to advise on foreign construction related matters and has served as counsel in arbitrations before various international arbitration tribunals.

Clients

Smith Currie’s clients include ENR Top 400 contractors, small family-held general contractors, and large public and private owners as well as subcontractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, sureties, insurance companies, suppliers, construction trade associations, lending institutions, and real estate developers. In addition, the firm represents timber interests, concessionaires and other government contractors.

Key Contacts

Managing Partner

Eric L. Nelson
elnelson@smithcurrie.com
+1 404 582 8061

Firm Rankings

Construction
Band 1

Articles

What You Should Know About 2022 Changes to Georgia’s Retainage Statute

Retainage is a contractual arrangement between the parties generally intended to offer the party paying for construction some added security for incomplete work, non-payment, and defective workmanship issues. The terms and conditions of retention, including the amount to be withheld, its intended use, the circumstances under which it will be released, and any interest payable […]

Best Practices: Drafting Contractual Safety Provisions

Construction accidents can cause significant personal injury or death, property damage, job delays, and increased costs. As a result, it is imperative that owners and contractors continuously monitor and manage potential safety concerns on construction job sites with the intention of reducing accidents… Read more

What You Should Know About 2022 Changes to Georgia’s Retainage Statute

Retainage is a contractual arrangement between the parties generally intended to offer the party paying for construction some added security for incomplete work, non-payment, and defective workmanship issues. The terms and conditions of retention, including the amount to be withheld, its intended use, the circumstances under which it will be released, and any interest payable […]

Virginia’s Ban on “Pay-If-Paid” Clauses Goes Into Effect

Virginia recently enacted legislation banning the use of conditional payment clauses, known as “pay-if-paid” clauses, on both public and private construction projects within the Commonwealth. The legislation, known as “SB 550,” went into effect on January 1, 2023, and applies to all construction contracts executed on or after that date. As a reminder, SB 550 […]

New California Construction Laws for 2023

The California Legislature introduced more than 4476 bills in 2021-2022 sessions, with 1726 coming in the second session, down from the 2750 in the first session. This article summarizes some of the more important bills directly affecting contractors, addressing issues such as payroll liability and reporting, Read More…

In Case You Missed It: A Reminder to Upgrade to the New EEOC Poster

Between a constantly changing regulatory environment, supply chain issues, inflation, and the 2022 mid-term elections, it can be easy to miss relatively small changes to regulatory requirements for federal government contractors and construction professionals. One change that might have been missed is, thankfully, an easy requirement to complete. Companies subject to regulatory oversight by the […]

The FAR May Require Federal Contractors to Report Greenhouse Gas Emissions

We have previously written about the potential of new environmental requirements for federal contractors. On November 10, 2022, the White House issued a statement regarding the first of these requirements, which came in a Rule proposing changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) that will require certain contractors to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) [1] emissions and climate related financial risk. […]

Environmental Requirements for Federal Contractors are Coming…and FAST!

Climate change has been a hot topic of discussion for some time now. President Joseph Biden’s administration has focused in on that issue, and the related need for protecting the environment, as part of its regulatory agenda through several Executive Orders (EO). Each of those EOs, specifically No. 14030 (“Climate-Related Financial Risk”), No. 14057 (“Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and […]

Thinking of Setting Down a New Flag? What Must a Contractor Know When Expanding to a New Region?

During periods of growth and diversification, contractors often look to new geographic regions as part of their strategic business development. When expanding to a new region, contractors must examine several risk and operational considerations before setting down that flag and opening a shop. It serves contractors well to establish their own internal checklist to account […]

Anticipating Material Supply Chain Issues in Construction Projects

Recent news related to construction material escalation has been sobering. Today, contractors face increased risks related to cost escalation of numerous construction materials, and it is expected that increased costs will be passed on to owners in the form of increased bid prices. While U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates that bid increases lagged […]

Thinking of Setting Down a New Flag?

Thinking of Setting Down a New Flag? What Must a Contractor Know When Expanding to a New Region? During periods of growth and diversification, contractors often look to new geographic regions as part of their strategic business development. When expanding to a new region, contractors must examine several risk and operational considerations before setting down […]

Anticipating Material Supply Chain Issues in Construction Projects

Recent news related to construction material escalation has been sobering. Today, contractors face increased risks related to cost escalation of numerous construction materials, and it is expected that increased costs will be passed on to owners in the form of increased bid prices. While U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates that bid increases lagged […]

From Flawed Methodology to False Claims Act Liability: A Cautionary Tale

In January of this year,  the Court of Federal Claims issued a harsh reminder of the serious implications of the certification of a claim when dealing with the federal government. In Lodge Construction, Inc. v. United States, not only did the contractor fail to recover on its affirmative claims, but the Court also found merit in […]

From Flawed Methodology to False Claims Act Liability: A Cautionary Tale

In January of this year,  the Court of Federal Claims issued a harsh reminder of the serious implications of the certification of a claim when dealing with the federal government. In Lodge Construction, Inc. v. United States, not only did the contractor fail to recover on its affirmative claims, but the Court also found merit in […]

California court of Appeal says, “Hire Unlicensed Subcontractors At Your Own Peril!”

California Court of Appeal Says To Licensed Contractors, “Hire Unlicensed Subcontractors At Your Own Peril!” In an opinion that should be a warning to all licensed contractors in California, the Court of Appeal held that licensed contractors cannot collect payment from project owners for unlicensed subcontractor work under California Business and Professions Code § 7031(a). […]

Press Releases

Smith Currie & Hancock: Enforcing Rights to Reimbursement – January 20, 2023 – Washington, D.C. (Event)

The ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Midwinter Conference will be held January 18-20, 2023 in Washington, D.C.  Shoshana Rothman will greet attendees with opening remarks as the surety program co-chair. Lauren McLaughlin will join a panel discussion on January 20th regarding enforcing rights to reimbursement. Sureties have broad rights to reimbursement, and this panel will […]

04 Jan 2023
Smith Currie’s Annual Update Seminar, March 23-24, 2023

Save the Date for Smith Currie’s Annual Update Seminar! March 23-24, 2023 Hyatt Regency Downtown Atlanta This year’s topics will include: • Inflation and Interest Rates • Locking in Pricing and Financing Jobs • Supply Chain Issues, including Materials Price Escalation • Post-COVID Issues, including New Contract Terms, Delays, and Status of COVID Claims • […]

28 Nov 2022
Smith Currie Named Construction Law Firm of the Year

Smith Currie Named Construction Law Firm of the Year by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” for 2023 Published: November 3, 2022 LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR: 2023 – Construction Law NATIONAL RANKINGS: Tier 1 in Construction Law Tier 1 in Litigation – Construction REGIONAL RANKINGS: ATLANTA Tier 1 in Construction Law Tier 1 in Litigation – Construction CHARLOTTE Tier 1 in Construction […]

08 Nov 2022
Smith Currie to Open New Washington, D.C. Metro Area Office

Smith Currie is pleased to announce the Fall 2022 opening of its new Washington, D.C. Metro Area office in Tysons, Virginia. The new office will serve as a base for attorneys from Smith Currie’s current District of Columbia and Tysons offices, enhancing the present collaboration between attorneys in those offices to the benefit of our […]

01 Aug 2022
Smith Currie Opens Nashville Office

Smith Currie is excited to announce the opening of a new office in Nashville, Tennessee. The firm saw a need to service its existing clients in Tennessee and the surrounding region and took a strategic step forward to meet that goal. Nashville is a logical choice being one of the nations’ fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The […]

20 Jul 2022

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