LAWYER PROFILE
Michelle I Rieger

Michelle I Rieger

USA 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Winstead PC

USA

Practice Areas

Construction

Career

With more than 30 years of experience in construction law, Michelle is widely recognized for her in-depth understanding of the legal concerns of our lender, owner, and developer clients and how their business interests are key considerations in the resolution of construction matters. She concentrates her practice on a broad range of construction issues, with a particular focus on drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for large, complex construction projects. For more information, please visit www.winstead.com.

Professional Memberships

State Bar of Texas (Construction Law Section: Chair, June 2008-June 2009; Former Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary)

Dallas Bar Association (Construction Law Section)

American Bar Association (Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Forum on Construction Law, Construction Litigation Subcommittee)

Publications

The Best Lawyers in America, (BL Rankings, LLC), 2007-2025

The Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year" - Construction Litigation, (BL Rankings, LLC), 2018

Chambers USA Guide to America, Chambers & Partners Publishing, 2006-2015, 2017-2025

Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2004-2024

The Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2007

Winstead's "We Strengthens Me" Award, 2005 (given annually to one shareholder for excellent service and dedication)

Experience

Airlines/Aviation/P3

Structuring/drafting/negotiating design, consulting, and CM @ Risk agreements for public/private transactions to modernize airport terminals and related infrastructure projects at metropolitan airports in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida

Preparation/negotiation of design and CM @ Risk agreements for commercial airline hangar and other proprietary projects in Colorado, Texas, Arizona, and Florida and provide construction-related input on lease structure for facilities

Prepare/negotiate design and CM @ Risk contracts for airline client for campus building construction and related infrastructure

Counseling long-term aircraft manufacturer client to structure, draft and negotiate various design and construction contracts relating to multiple projects, including headquarters building, multiple flight training center locations, additional campus facilities, and new-build industrial product

Advise multi-faceted investment firm on construction and design contracts and related development agreements with respect to investment in P3 projects including:

-Preparation/negotiation of a design-build agreement, construction contract for restaurant space, and continuing advice concerning completion of a convention center/hotel development

-Preparation/negotiation of construction/design contracts for construction of single-family build-to-rent, light industrial warehouse and mid-rise office buildings on the former campus of Brooks Air Force in San Antonio, Texas

Healthcare/Life Sciences

Represent JV in connection with development, design, and construction of $5B pediatric hospital complex in Dallas, Texas, engaging with client to draft and negotiate complex contracts while advising on design and construction issues in planning and development of project

Represent public health system in drafting and negotiating consulting agreements, design professional services contracts, and Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk and construction agreements for a variety of improvements to the system’s $1.2B master-planned campus project

Draft suite of design/construction contracts for pediatric healthcare system for use with ongoing expansion/modernization of existing and new medical center campus facilities, including ER and OR buildouts

Provide legal advice on various construction contracts, subcontracts and related construction issues to large not-for-profit health care system with a network of acute care hospitals and related healthcare projects throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area

Prepare suite of design-build/CM @ Risk/construction and design contracts to assist in implementation of public health system’s master plan of construction activities at existing campus in Fort Worth, Texas

Drafting various design and construction contracts and providing ongoing advice concerning construction activities undertaken by large pediatric hospital system

Draft design-build and several CM @ Risk contracts for construction of new campus facilities for public hospital system to include acute care hospital, clinics, logistics center, central utility plant and parking structure

Construction issue counseling for major Texas healthcare system relating to ongoing construction activities

Real Estate

Represent developer client in preparation and negotiation of design and construction contracts for new AAA commercial office building in the Dallas area

Represent financial services company in preparation and negotiation of a suite of design and construction contracts to assist in build-out of office space for new headquarters building and various banking locations throughout Texas

Preparation/negotiation of design and construction contracts for multi-year design and construction activities on iconic office campus for private equity fund client

Extensive representation of large private equity fund in drafting suite of construction and design contracts for use with various office, industrial, retail, and office properties on national basis

Long-term representation of multifamily real estate developers and counseling on the ever-changing construction landscape in Texas, providing advice on various contracting terms and resolving conflicts as they arise

Michelle served four terms on our board of directors and more than a decade as chair of the firm's Construction Practice Group, working to build and expand our core competencies to best serve our clients now and in the future.

Education

University of New Mexico School of Law

J.D.

University of New Mexico

B.A.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Construction - Texas

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Michelle Rieger is commended for her deft handling of highly contentious dispute resolution proceedings and complex transactional matters. She is especially active in the transportation and healthcare sectors.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Michelle is stellar. She is the epitome of what a partner at a law firm should be.

    ConstructionChambers Guide to the USA
  • Michelle is irreplaceable to our business.

    ConstructionChambers Guide to the USA
  • Michelle has incredible attention to detail, she is particularly good at predicting future issues and alerting us to them ahead of time.

    ConstructionChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Winstead PC (29)

Tennessee

Texas

Texas: Austin & Surrounds

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