Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP

Managing Partner: Eric L. Nelson

Number of attorneys: 79

Languages: English, Russian, Spanish

Firm Overview:

Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP and Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP, two of the nation’s leading construction and federal government contract law firms, announced their combination in June 2023.The union of the firms will further cement the current positions individually held by Smith Currie and Oles Morrison as top nationally-ranked construction and government contract law firms. Smith, Currie Oles is committed to providing comprehensive legal services nationwide and internationally to all parts of the construction industry. The firm also has a broad government contracts practice. In addition to construction related matters, Smith Currie Oles’ government contracts practice covers federal agency timber and concessionaire contracts, federal contracts for natural resources, access to federal lands, and compliance with federal environmental rules. Smith Currie Oles lawyers serve as leaders in industry associations and as frequent speakers at industry conferences and workshops. Many of the firm’s lawyers bring experience as engineers and contractors to the practice of law. The firm has accumulated decades of demonstrated litigation success together with significant success in resolving clients’ disputes using all forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Main Areas of Practice: Construction:

Smith Currie Oles lawyers represent clients in litigation and other forms of dispute resolution, consult on project development, and advise during project construction. The firm has broad experience assisting clients at every stage and with every facet of a project, including: contract preparation and negotiation, labor and human resources issues, safety and health matters, project finance, insurance and bonding, contract administration, claims avoidance, and claims preparation, prosecution, and defense. Both domestically and internationally, the firm advises on a wide array of public and private projects such as energy, infrastructure, industrial, commercial, healthcare, and governmental works.

Government Contracts:

Smith Currie Oles has decades of experience navigating the complex regulations governing federal contracting. Smith Currie is equally comfortable assisting clients entering the federal market and advising experienced federal contractors. The firm’s lawyers regularly handle complex matters, including bid protests, ethics compliance, cost and pricing data, fraud and false claims, Buy American Act, Davis-Bacon Act, Miller Act bonds, subcontracting and small business teaming arrangements. The firm has extensive experience handling disputes before the various boards and courts and defending clients against government investigations and claims. The firm’s lawyers have worked on a wide range of federal projects including dams and levees, office buildings, courthouses, hospitals, and military facilities of all types.

International Work:

The firm regularly represents clients on projects in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East. The firm is frequently called on to advise on foreign construction related matters and has served as counsel in arbitrations before various international arbitration tribunals.

Clients:

Smith Currie Oles’ clients include ENR Top 400 contractors, small family-held general contractors, and large public and private owners as well as subcontractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, sureties, insurance companies, suppliers, construction trade associations, lending institutions, and real estate developers. In addition, the firm represents timber interests, concessionaires and other government contractors.