David H. Travers

Property owners, contractors, architects, engineers and developers engaged in commercial, institutional, nonprofit, and residential building projects across New England benefit from Bowditch & Dewey’s full-service capabilities for the construction industry.

Our team members negotiate design and construction agreements for and with owners and major local and national design firms and construction managers, contractors and subcontractors for a variety of project delivery methods, including cost plus/GMP, lump sum, and design/build.

We work closely and collaboratively with all the players involved in construction – owner’s representatives, project managers, construction managers, and designers – so that we can identify key legal and business issues arising from the design and construction process and address those issues in the agreements, including:

• Drafting and negotiating contracts
• Defending change orders
• Filing and perfecting mechanics liens and defending against liens filed against a project
• Preserving and proving bond claims
• Negotiating with unions
• Litigation
• Construction financing
• Ensuring compliance with OSHA regulations
• Bid protests
• Discrimination and wrongful termination claims
• Workers’ compensation
• Warranty claims
• Insurance coverage issues

From time to time, despite effective negotiation, disputes inevitably arise during construction. Our strong background in litigation and dispute resolution means that we can directly assist you as challenges arise.  Our litigation team regularly prosecutes and defends complex contract, warranty, surety bond, bankruptcy, employment and OSHA claims.  We recognize the demands that litigation can impose on a project’s budget, and combine extensive negotiating skills, deep industry insight and trial experience to help ensure your dispute is resolved as quickly and effectively as possible.

The goal of any construction project is to maintain quality, workmanship and the project goals for long-term use and enjoyment while delivering the project on time and within budget. We guide clients through the entire construction process, from the early stages of contract negotiation, financing and local permitting to providing day-to-day advice and offering solutions when emergencies or adverse claims threaten the completion of a project.

Bowditch is a highly-regarded law firm handling sophisticated transactions, challenging litigation and complex regulatory issues for businesses, families and institutions throughout Massachusetts, the region and beyond.

With more than 60 lawyers seamlessly connected in three strategic Massachusetts offices – Boston, Framingham and Worcester ­– Bowditch is a preeminent law firm, deep in the areas of business and finance, real estate and environmental, litigation, employment and labor, and estate and tax planning, delivering outstanding client satisfaction and big-firm quality legal services.

In the recently released BTI Brand Elite: Client Perceptions of the Best-Branded Law Firms, Bowditch earned a place on BTI’s Honor Roll of Most Recommended Firms. Law firms are listed based on top-of-mind recognition by corporate counsel and other legal-hiring decision makers. This recognition is particularly gratifying at a time when a growing number of corporate counsel express dissatisfaction and disconnection with their law firms.