Los Angeles, California

Cozen O'Connor - Shareholder

Attorney

Shareholder, Cozen O'Connor, 2024 - present; Partner, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, 2016 - 2024; Partner, Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet and Wittbrodt LLP, 1998 - 2015; Associate, Breidenbach Buckley Hutching Halm and Hamblet LLP, 1995 - 1998; Vice President of Operations, Concept Development Company (Real Estate Development and Construction), 1989 - 1992.

As an advocate, specializes in handling multi-million dollar claim disputes involving high profile, complex construction projects. Practice includes a wide array of construction industry matters such as bidding disputes, contract negotiations and drafting, scheduling and delay issues, mechanics lien and claims resolution. Has extensive experience with construction licensing issues and has been asked to be an expert witness in this field. Additionally, has handled numerous residential disputes involving home improvement work.<br/><br/>Also, involved in litigation of commercial disputes including disputes between joint venture members, partnership disputes, litigation regarding sales of stocks and other assets. <br/><br/>Represented some of the largest general contractors, engineers, architects, owners and subcontractors regarding claims and issues arising from major construction projects.<br/><br/>Experience in representing many public owners including cities and power authorities.

Mediated disputes between homeowners, general contractors and subcontractors regarding design issue delays, change orders and disruption issues.<br/>

The key to the settlement of any dispute is to allow the parties to feel that their claims have been heard and considered by a neutral party, in other words, having one's day in court without the cost and uncertainty that such an endeavor requires. Once heard and understood, parties can come to closure of a dispute in a collaborative process with the mediator. I believe in trying to move the parties to settlement attempting to avoid the sometimes-futile back and forth of exchanging arguments. As a first chair trial lawyer with multiple trials and arbitrations in my experience, I am able to explain to the client the real risks of proceeding instead of settling within an acceptable risk profile, which I use in my practice as a mediator.

University of the Pacific – McGeorge School of Law (J.D., Dean’s List, Trial Advocacy Honors - 1995); University of Southern California (B.S., Business Administration, honors section - 1989).

Admitted to the Bar: California, 1995; U.S. District Court: Northern, Central, and Southern District of California.

Southern California Development Forum (Past President); American Bar Association (Construction Industry Forum); Association of General Contractors (Legal Advisory Committee Past Chair, Past Member of Executive Committee); Los Angeles Bar Association - Construction Law section; Fellow - American College of Construction Lawyers

Publications:<br/>“Legal Doctrines”, The Construction Lawyer, Summer 2020. <br/>“Covenants and Conditions in Government Contracting”, AGC Law in Brief, June 2020<br/>“What Constitutes An Emergency In Public Contracts?” AGC Law in Brief (Volume 5, Issue 3), Practical Construction Law & Risk Issues May 2019.<br/>“Buying An Existing Construction Operation? Do Your Due Diligence” AGC Law in Brief (Volume 4, Issue 6), Practical Construction Law & Risk Issues Nov/Dec 2018. <br/>“Fixed-Price Contracts Are Simple - Or Are They?” Pepper Hamilton LLP Client Alert, November 2017 <br/>“False Claims Act - Implied False Certification Theory Of Liability Recently Defined By SCOTUS Should Be A Concern For Contractors,” AGC Law in Brief, Practical Construction Law & Risk Issues, August 2016 <br/>“California Court Limits Recovery For General Contractors Relying On Subcontractor Bids,” Pepper Hamilton LLP Client Alert, August 2016 <br/>“LAC Helps AGC Members Navigate Ever-Changing Legal Environment,” California Constructor, May/June 2015 <br/>“State by State Review of Licensing Requirements Affecting Construction Managers,” 2010 Review Update Contributing Author, Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), 2011 Edition <br/>“Home Improvement Contracts,” Chapter 13 (co-author), California Construction Law 17th Ed., Gibbs/Hunt Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, Aspen Publisher 2011 <br/>“Starting in 2012, LLC’s Can Hold A Contractor’s License,” California Constructor (Journal of the Associated General Contractors of California), March, 2011 <br/>“Contractors Licensing; Remedies for Unlicensed Work,” (chapter co-author), Chapter 1, CEB Construction Contracts, Defects, and Litigation Treatise, California Continuing Education of the Bar, California (CEB), 2010. <br/>“The California Court of Appeals Give Construction Managers Guidance,” eInsight (Construction Law Update), April 15, 2009 (re-published in the CMAA Southern California Summer 2009 Newsletter) <br/>New California Construction Law Case Alert - Sanders Const. Co. v. Cerda 2009 WL 1844280, eInsight (Construction Law Update), July 30, 2009<br/>California Construction Law – 2007 Edition, Editor (HLK Global Communications, Inc. 2007).<br/>New Requirements for Home Improvement Contracts, Los Angeles Lawyer (the Los Angeles County Bar Association Magazine), February 2007<br/><br/>Speaking Engagements:<br/>"Construction Arbitration from the Arbitrator's Perspective," American Arbitration Association, 2024<br/>"Forum on Construction Law Trial Academy," American Bar Association, 2023<br/>"New Case Law Review," Los Angeles County Bar Association, 2021, 2023<br/>"Forum on Construction Law Annual Meeting," American Bar Association, Speaker, 2022<br/>"Best Practices in Remote Arbitrations," ABA Construction Forum, Div 13, 2021<br/>"What’s the Deal with Consequential Damages," ABA Construction Forum Div. 5, 2021<br/>“Success Tips for Female Lawyers,” Indianapolis Bar Association, October 2020<br/>“Ethical Issues in Design-Build,” DBIA Annual Conference, November 2019<br/>“The Many Ways to Skin a Cat: In-House Counsel's Preferences to Dispute Resolution,” Construction SuperConference, December 2018<br/>“Is There A Doctrine In The House? Legal Doctrines for Design-Build Professionals,” 2018 Annual Design-Build Institute of America Conference & Expo, November 2018<br/>“Is There A Doctrine In The House? - And Other Hot Topics,” 9th Annual CLE Conference for EPC Contractors, Kansas City, MO, May 2018<br/>“Is There A Doctrine In The House?” Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc.’s 57th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys, May 2018<br/>“Ethical Dilemmas for Construction Attorneys: Where the Ethical Choice and Legal Standards Diverge,” American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law 2018 Annual Meeting, April 2018<br/>“The Ten Most Important Legal Issues in Design/Build Agreements,” 2017 Annual Design-Build Conference & Expo, November 2017

California, Nevada and Arizona

English

United States of America

Los Angeles, CA

The AAA’s Rules provide the AAA with the authority to administer a mediation including, mediator appointment, general oversight and billing. Accordingly, mediations that proceed without AAA administration are not considered AAA mediations, even when the parties select an mediator who is on the AAA’s Roster.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.