Alabama Construction Law Attorneys

Clay Phillips Law Firm is a construction law firm based in Montgomery, Alabama. Our law firm understands the value of managing construction disputes professionally, swiftly, and effectively. When you call our law firm, you can count on professional services that are personalized to you.

Clay Phillips Law Firm works with suppliers, design professionals, contractors, subcontractors, owners, insurance companies, and others throughout Montgomery and the surrounding areas. Whether you need guidance navigating a general construction law question or are looking for representation during a construction law dispute, our law firm can help.

Construction Law Practice Areas

We work with professionals in the construction industry navigating tough legal issues, including construction litigation, contract negotiation, defective construction, construction disputes, mechanics’ liens, and more. We have experience litigating construction-related claims and are also well-versed in alternative dispute resolution options, including mediation and arbitration. When you need counsel from an experienced legal professional, you can count on us.

• Construction litigation. Construction litigation may be grounded in a variety of specific issues and claim types, such as professional negligence, defective workmanship, defective materials, payment claims, mechanics’ liens enforcement, delays, and more. While we usually advise alternative dispute resolution when appropriate, our team has litigation experience and knows how to excel in the courtroom. If construction litigation is the best option for a client we are representing, we prepare the case with attention and detail, always prioritizing our clients’ best interests.
• Contract drafting and negotiations. There are typically numerous parties involved in a construction project, all of whom may enter into various contracts with one another. While some contracts are very standard, there are certain clauses within even the most basic construction contract that demands attentive consideration. For example, clauses pertaining to price and payments, scope of work, timeline and project completion, and allocation of risk have the potential to be complex, and sometimes even contentious. When entering a construction contract, it is always advisable to seek legal representation. An attorney can help you to negotiate the parameters of a contract and ensure that your interests are protected; if a contract is breached, an attorney can also help you to understand your rights and options.
• Defective construction. Construction defects usually fall into one of three categories: design defects, material defects, or workmanship defects. If a defect is identified, determining liability for that defect can be a long and complicated process. Like most other forms of construction litigation, construction defects disputes may involve multiple defendants, various sources of insurance coverage, and a long and intensive discovery process. Whether you are a plaintiff or a defendant in a case involving defective construction, legal representation is critical.
• Mechanics’ liens. When a contractor performs work and is not compensated for that work via the terms of a contract, there are two common options for recovering compensation. The first is to sue the party who is withholding payment for breach of contract; the second is to file a mechanic’s lien against the property. Filing a lien against a property where the work occurred makes it difficult for the owner of that property to sell their property, and may put pressure on the property owner to pay the contractor for their work. Subcontractors are also legally permitted to file mechanics’ liens in most cases.
• Mediation and arbitration. While litigation may be an effective way to resolve disputes and receive some sort of remedy following a breach of contract, a construction defect, or another type of construction dispute, litigation is extremely complex, can take months or years to fully resolve – and it is expensive. As such, our lawyers frequently recommend alternative dispute resolution tactics, including mediation and arbitration in place of litigation. Mediation is the process of resolving disputes outside of the courtroom using a neutral, third-party mediator who acts as a facilitator. Mediation can be an effective way for parties to reach an agreement quickly and relatively inexpensively. Agreements that are forged during mediation are not legally binding unless all participants agree, and the mediator is not responsible for making the ultimate decision. Arbitration, on the other hand, more closely resembles litigation. During arbitration, both parties to a dispute agree to present their case to an arbitrator, who will ultimately issue a decision. Arbitration is a legally binding process, and the decision that emerges from arbitration is final.

About Our Construction Law Firm

Whether you are a contractor, a subcontractor, a property owner, an insurance company, or another party that is involved in a construction project, seeking the representation of a skilled construction law firm is strongly recommended. Construction projects often involve hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, multiple parties, and numerous contracts and legal requirements. By working with an attorney early on in the process, you take the first steps towards mitigating risk and protecting your interests.

Attorney Clay Phillips worked in the construction industry for years before starting his own construction company; in addition to being a member of both the Alabama and the Florida Bar, he also holds a real estate license. His unique background and perspective, as well as his experience in the construction industry combined with his training as a construction lawyer, position him as someone with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to provide robust legal representation. Clay Phillips Law Firm works with clients to develop personalized legal strategies and solutions for even the most complex construction disputes and legal issues.

Call Clay Phillips Law Firm Today

When you have a legal issue related to construction, you want an attorney who has experience in the law and also understands the nuances and intricacies of construction projects and construction requirements and laws. At the office of Clay Phillips Law Firm, our lawyer will advocate for you and help you to protect your interests.

To learn more about our construction law firm and our experienced construction attorney, please call us today or send us a message online. You can reach us at 334-277-8753. You can also visit our Montgomery office in person at your convenience.