Architect and Engineer Malpractice Defense

The attorneys at Bardsley Law represent some of the most prominent design professional firms in the country. Our team includes two engineers and draws from decades of experience counseling and defending architects, engineers, land surveyors and other design and construction professionals in pre-claim matters and against professional malpractice claims. Our familiarity with all stages of the building process provides a formidable competitive advantage when litigation arises.

Our experienced team has provided pre-claim guidance and legal defense for a wide range of design and construction claims, including:

• Building envelope failures;
• Civil and geotechnical engineering issues;
• Delay claims;
• Design errors and omissions;
• Design and construction deficiencies involving building component systems (HVAC, electrical, roof, foundation, etc.)
• Design and construction deficiencies involving roadways, bridges and other transportation;
• Payment disputes;
• Project bid controversies;
• Property damage and injury during the construction process;
• Structural failures and collapses; and,
• Surveying issues.

Bardsley Law provides legal representation in all forums, including:

• State and federal courts;
• Arbitration; and,
• Mediation.

Experience has proven that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Accordingly, Bardsley Law focuses on working to mitigate our client’s risk at all stages of the design and construction process. This begins before the first shovel hits the ground and flows through to project completion. These services, include:

• Drafting, review and negotiation of prime and subcontracts;
• Legal guidance during the entire Project life cycle;
• Counseling at the pre-claim stage to avoid litigation; and,
• Prosecution of payment disputes.

Beyond these services, the attorneys at Bardsley Law give back to the design professional community by supporting the professional societies that support design professionals and regularly holding presentations aimed at risk mitigation through smart contractual practices. Moreover, we have authored a number of articles on critical issues facing design professionals.

Because the representation of design professionals requires a specific expertise, the insurance carriers that provide professional liability insurance are often selective as to which firms will be permitted to represent their insures. Lawyers at Bardsley law work with and have been approved to defend claims by most of the major insurance carriers underwriting claims against design professionals.