James Bigood Jr

(The following information was supplied by the firm)

Senior counsel

Areas of expertise

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
CONSTRUCTION LAW
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
SURETY BONDS & INSURANCE

James K. Bidgood, Jr. is Senior Counsel in the Atlanta office of Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP. His practice is focused on construction litigation and government construction contracts.

Jim received his undergraduate education in civil engineering, graduating from Georgia Tech in 1974. Following graduation, he was a Resident Engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration responsible for airport construction projects, prior to entering military service. Jim was a pilot and an instructor pilot in the United States Air Force, where he served with the rank of Captain.

He obtained his Masters of Business Administration degree from Phillips University in 1980 and his law degree (with distinction) from Emory University in 1983. He was a member of the Emory Law Journal Board of Editors and a member of the Order of the Coif.

In his nearly 40-years of practice, Jim has handled a variety of construction claims and disputes involving such projects as high-rise office towers, rapid transit rail and station projects, highway design and construction projects, petrochemical plants, chemical manufacturing facilities, wastewater and solid waste facilities, port facilities, shopping centers, nuclear-related facilities, industrial facilities, and Superfund environmental projects. The cases involved claims related to changed work, schedule and delay, differing site conditions, lost productivity, construction deficiencies, along with myriad other issues presented in construction projects. Some of the cases involved claims for bodily injury or wrongful death. Jim has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, specialty suppliers, designers, and surety companies in mediation, arbitration, and litigation of construction claims and disputes throughout the United States in many complex and large cases involving damages ranging to $100 million or more.

Jim is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Panel of Commercial and Construction Industry Arbitrators. Jim lectures extensively on topics relating to avoidance and resolution of construction and environmental disputes.