Bachara Construction Law Group

Managing Partner: Henry G. “Chip” Bachara

Partners: Todd MacLeod, Hugh D. Higgins, Todd Whitcomb

With offices in Jacksonville and St. Petersburg, Florida, Bachara Construction Law Group (BCLG) represents clients throughout Florida in every type of construction matter. Their seasoned lawyers offer decades of litigation experience, as well as direct knowledge of, and experience in, the construction industry.

Thanks to that specialised knowledge and effectiveness, larger firms regularly refer their most complicated construction matters to BCLG. The firm also partners with other organisations and public entities, such as the City of Jacksonville’s Office of General Counsel, on large cases. As a result, the Bachara Group has been involved in many of the major construction disputes in Northeast Florida since its founding in 2007. The firm has been repeatedly recognised for excellence by peer-reviewed rating services and publications.

• Construction Law, including litigation and arbitration of disputes, and contract preparation
• Commercial Litigation

Bachara Construction Law Group represents a full range of clients including government entities, private developers and owners, design professionals, contractors, trade contractors, sureties, and insurers in construction disputes, including construction defect claims and coverage disputes.

Berkman Plaza II Litigation and Implosion

Bachara Group defended a shoring supplier in litigation resulting from the collapse of a parking garage under construction in Jacksonville’s town centre. The case, which went on for several years, involved wrongful death, multiple injured workers, and a claim for damages in excess of $40 million, and was described as the most complex series of intertwined disputes that any of the judges or counsel could recall.

More than ten years after the litigation concluded, a new developer and the City of Jacksonville became embroiled in a legal battle over issues relating to the demolition of the building. This time, BCLG was called upon to represent the implosion subcontractor in an effort to diffuse tensions so that the building could be imploded with minimal exposure on the contractors to the litigation that was being threatened. The engagement’s successful conclusion resulted in the demolition of the building on Sunday March 6, 2022 – 5,203 days after the parking garage collapsed.

Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Paving Dispute

In 2016, Bachara Construction Law Group settled a high-profile dispute on behalf of the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) over defective pavement design at the Dames Point Marine Terminal, negotiating a $10.25 million settlement from a contractor and two engineering firms after nearly two and a half years of litigation. Prior to settlement of the case, the Bachara-led legal team conducted more than 100 days of depositions, analysed more than 1.2 million documents, and prepared 2,300 exhibits for trial. Due to the technical complexity of the subject matter, experts for the case were retained from as far away as the U.K. As a result of BCLG’s efforts, JAXPORT recovered a significant portion of its damage and avoided the heavy expense of a long and complicated trial. Bachara Group took over as lead trial counsel for the suit at the request of the City of Jacksonville’s Office of General Counsel in March 2013.

Baker County Medical Services, Inc. v. Summit Smith

The firm defended a design/build contractor against claims by a hospital that their HVAC system was under-designed. Following a three-week bench trial, the federal court determined that the contractor had in fact provided an adequate and proper design, and had neither breached the contract nor fallen below the standard of care for engineering design.

Jacksonville Office

Bank of America Tower

50 N. Laura St., Suite 2100

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Phone: 904-562-1060

[email protected]

St. Petersburg Office

The Poynter Institute

801 Third Street South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Phone: 727-616-2007

[email protected]

www.bacharagroup.com