William K Andrews

Practice Areas

Complex Construction and Engineering Claims

Litigation

Arbitration and Mediation

Energy

Professional Memberships

American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator

State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section Member (Federal Judiciary Appointments Committee, 1984-1986;

Governing Council, 1990-1992; Treasurer, 2009-2010; Secretary, 2010-2011; Vice-Chair, 2011-2012 and Chair, 2012-2013

Houston Bar Association, Construction Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Member (Member, Governing Council, Construction Law Section, 1989-1990)

American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry

Associated Builders and Contractors

The Associated General Contractors of America

Career

For 40 years, Bill Andrews, a leading construction attorney in Houston, has practiced construction law , focusing on construction-related claims, lawsuits, mediations and arbitrations . He has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, suppliers and engineering firms on a wide variety of construction-related projects.

His experience in claims, trials, arbitrations and mediations includes projects such as highways and bridges, public works projects, commercial and retail construction, industrial and warehouse facilities, hospitals and health care facilities, power plants (including simple cycle and cogeneration plants), pipelines, petrochemical plants, refineries, chemical plants, gas processing plants, cryogenic plants, schools, multi-family housing and environmental remediation projects. He has represented several EPC firms in disputes and claims involving large plants. He also has significant experience representing owners, contractors and engineering firms in claims and disputes involving upstream, midstream and downstream facilities.

Bill has tried to verdict and arbitrated to award more than 75 construction cases. Since 1988, he has been a member of the American Arbitration Association’s National Panel of Construction Arbitrators and has served as a construction mediator since 1998. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Large Complex Construction Case Panel of Arbitrators and was recently approved by the AAA’s National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee as a member of its Construction Arbitration Master Panel.

Publications

“Mediation Can and Should Continue,” AM Law Alert, March 2020

“Resilience, Rebounding and Rebuilding,” AM Regarding Hurricane Harvey, August 30, 2017

“The Best Defense is a Good Offence: Keys to Claims Prevention and Mitigation,” 2017 American Arbitration Association Conference, June 2017

“Overview of the Construction Industry and Glossary of Construction Terms,” The Basic Course in Texas Construction Law, State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section, November 2013, November 2014

“Advanced Mediation Training,” Houston Bar Association, Arbitration Section Seminar at University of Houston Law Center, (Panelist), April 2012

“Strategic Growth of a Construction law Practice,” State Bar of Texas Construction Law Conference, San Antonio,TX, (Panelist), March 2012

“Creative Use of FRCP 30(b)(6) in Construction Litigation,” American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, Midwinter Meeting, (Panelist), February 2012

“Breaking Logjams in Mediations,” Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section, (Panelist), January 2012

“Texas Anti-Indemnity Bill (HB 2093),” Client Education Series, (Co-Presenter), January 2012

“Texas Anti-Indemnity Bill (HB 2093),” Client Education Series, (Co-Presenter with Lee Shidlofsky), October 2011

“Advanced Mediation Training; Mediating Construction Disputes,” A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center,

University of Houston Law Center, (Panelist) April 2011

“The Ethics Behind ‘Better, Faster, Cheaper’ in ADR,” American Arbitration Association, March 2011

“Anatomy of a Complex Construction Arbitration,” Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, 24th

Annual Construction Law Conference, (Panelist) March 2011

“Legal and Practical Considerations for Arbitration Participants,” Construction Law Section, Houston Bar Association, January 2011

“Chairing an Arbitration Panel,” American Arbitration Association, December 2010

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Texas

U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court Western District of Texas

U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

Experience

Represented EPC Contractor in arbitration arising out of design disruption and extra work claims involving an industrial water treatment facility located at a mine facility.

Represented owner in arbitration arising out of construction of multi-hundred million dollar industrial gas facility, involving claims of cost overruns, delay, disruption, acceleration, loss of efficiency and loss of productivity. Final evidentiary hearing spanned 19 days, conducted before panel of 3 AAA complex construction case arbitrators and was tried to award.

Represented religious institution in lawsuit against contractor related to repairs to campuses damaged by Hurricane Ike.

Led prosecution of EPC subcontractor delay and breach of warranty claims in arbitration against construction contractor arising out of gas processing project and defense against contractor counterclaims of loss of efficiency/productivity and disruption.

Represented developer and owner of wind power generation project regarding equipment supply, operation and maintenance issues.

Led defense of building contractor-project manager against governmental owner asserting breach of contract and negligence claims in multi-party, complex litigation arising out of convention center project.

Led prosecution of loss of efficiency/productivity and disruption and delay claims of EPC contractor in arbitration against refinery owner, settling case favorably to contractor-client shortly after formal commencement of proceedings.

Defended and obtained settlement for general contractor in litigation against owner, its lending consortium and builders risk carrier involving the alleged differential settlement of 31-story beach condominium and lost investment claim of $125 million.

Represented EPC Contractor in 5-week arbitration of disputes arising out of the design and construction of a degassing plant.

Represented pipeline owner in the arbitration of claims arising out of the construction of a gas pipeline.

Represented EPC contractor in the trial of claims and counterclaims pertaining to the design and construction of a cryogenic plant and fractionation plant.

Represented contractor in arbitration of payment and delay claims related to a commercial building project.

Represented fabricator in the arbitration of disputes arising out of the fabrication of multiple modules for a floating production storage offloading vessel.

Represented contractor in the arbitration of disputes arising out of the construction of modules for an offshore oil and gas platform.

Represented contractor in the arbitration of payment, delay and workmanship claims arising out of a commercial building project.

Represented contractor in the arbitration of termination costs arising out of a Strategic Petroleum Reserve project.

Represented owner in the trial of contract claims arising out of a major public works contract.

Represented contractor in the trial of contract and tort claims (including defense of counterclaim) against the owner of a refinery.

Represented subcontractor in the trial of wrongful termination claims against a general contractor for the construction of a laboratory building.

Represented contractor in the trial of claims against an engineer arising out of a petrochemical plant project.

Represented contractor in the arbitration of contract claims against the owner of a petrochemical plant.

Represented subcontractor in the arbitration of disruption claims against an EPC contractor of an HDPE plant.

Represented contractor in the arbitration of delay, disruption and extra work claims against the EPC contractor of a power plant (cogeneration plant).

Represented contractor in the arbitration of lost profit claims against an EPC contractor of a power plant (cogeneration plant).

Education

Awards