Robert C Bass Jr

Practice Areas

Construction

Career

Robert represents Winstead's real estate development, lending, and construction industry clients on a wide range of issues based on his extensive, practical experience in litigating construction disputes and in drafting and negotiating both large and small construction contracts. Additionally, with his contacts and experience in lobbying the Texas Legislature with regard to construction-related legislation, Robert has key insight into the development of construction law in Texas.

Professional Memberships

State Bar of Texas (Construction Law Section: Chair, 2007-2008; Vice-Chair, 2006-2007; Secretary, 2005-2006; Treasurer, 2004-2005; Council, 1994-1997; Legislative Affairs Advisor, 2001-2004; 2009-2015)

Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Construction Law Examination Commission (2016-2019) (Examiner for Board Certification in Construction Law)

Texas Bar Foundation (Life Fellow)

American Bar Association (Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section: Section Secretary, 1992-1995; Life Fellow of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section; Forum Committee on the Construction Industry: Steering Committee, Division 12, 2001-2004)

Austin Bar Association (Construction Law Section)

Texas Building Branch (Associated General Contractors, Legal Affairs Committee)

American Institute of Architects (Allied Member)

Urban Land Institute (Austin), Young Leader Mentorship Forum (Mentor, 2023-2024)

Publications

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

The Best Lawyers in America, (BL Rankings, LLC), "Lawyer of the Year" - Austin Construction Law, 2012, 2013 and 2016; "Lawyer of the Year" - Austin Construction Litigation, 2015

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated (over 25 years) - Preeminent

Chairman’s Award, Texas Building Branch, Associated General Contractors, 2011

Leadership and Service Award, Texas Building Branch, Associated General Contractors, 2005

Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, Construction Law, 2006-2023

Chambers USA Guide to America, Chambers & Partners Publishing, Construction Law 2006-2025 (currently “Star Individual”)

Who's Who Legal, Lexology, Construction, 2024

Experience

Because of his years of experience handling both transactional and dispute resolution matters for all segments of the construction industry, Robert is often called upon to assist clients in developing contract templates and protocols for managing various types of projects across different jurisdictions. He has served as “outside general counsel” for construction for several clients in developing construction related contract templates, establishing procedures for customizing templates in various jurisdictions, and working with local counsel in other jurisdictions to maintain continuity with the client’s contracting needs and requirements. He has a very wide-range of sophisticated but practical templates in his tool box to meet our clients’ varied construction contracting needs.

Robert is a prolific speaker on construction topics, both to the construction industry as a whole and to specific clients and client groups. He particularly enjoys the opportunity to provide training to our clients’ development and construction personnel on best practices for contracting, project management, and avoiding / mitigating claims and litigation.

Robert has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating construction documents and advising clients during construction with regard to a wide range of public and private construction projects including Commercial / Mixed Use, Multi-Family, University and Public-Private Partnership (P3) Projects, Sports Venues, and Healthcare Facilities. His recent experience has included:

Representing developer in drafting and negotiating design, consulting, and construction contracts for a mixed-use development consisting of a mid-rise office building and high rise tower with residential condominium units, high-end multi-family rental units, hotel, and separate ballroom with underground parking, retail, and other amenities

Representing developer group in drafting and negotiating design, consulting, and construction contracts for mixed-use development consisting of two high-rise towers with office, hotel, retail, and multi-family (for rent) residential, utilizing a non-residential condominium structure

Representing national developer (REIT) and its captive general contractor for construction of multi-family projects throughout U.S., including development of all contract templates and coordinating use in multiple jurisdictions with local counsel

Representing private, national university in Texas for development of template contracts for design and construction and drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for renovation and new construction work on campus

Represented public university system in Texas with regard to negotiation of development contract and drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for P3 development of garage, conference center, and hotel connecting to iconic football stadium on campus

For many years, Robert represented several construction-related trade associations and played an instrumental role in the development of construction law in areas such as mechanic’s liens, insurance and indemnity, surety, and allocation of credit and construction risk. He continues to keep a close watch on the development of construction related legislation.

Robert started his career as a lawyer handling various types of commercial litigation matters. For many years, construction litigation was a major part of his practice. And, while he mostly handles the transactional side nowadays and advises clients on how best to avoid claims and litigation, he is often called upon to assist clients in working through and resolving disputes that arise on construction projects.

Education