Ranking tables
Construction | USA
California
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
- Jones Day 17 Years Ranked
- Ralls Gruber & Niece 5 Years Ranked
- Rutan & Tucker LLP 11 Years Ranked
- Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP
Band 3
- Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP 4 Years Ranked
- Nixon Peabody LLP 4 Years Ranked
- Rogers Joseph O'Donnell 10 Years Ranked
- Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino 9 Years Ranked
- Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP 19 Years Ranked
- Pierce Kavcioglu Espinosa & Cesar LLP
- Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Band 4
- Allen Matkins 17 Years Ranked
- Hennigh Law Corporation 3 Years Ranked
- Seyfarth Shaw LLP 4 Years Ranked
- Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP 15 Years Ranked
- Farella Braun + Martel LLP
- SMTD Law LLP
Senior Statespeople
Band 1
- Bennett J Lee Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino16 Years Ranked
- Daniel D McMillan Jones Day21 Years Ranked
- Howard W Ashcraft Hanson Bridgett LLP22 Years Ranked
- John D Hanover Alston & Bird LLP17 Years Ranked
- John R Heisse II Pillsbury22 Years Ranked
- Marion T Hack Cozen O'Connor13 Years Ranked
- William T. Eliopoulos Rutan & Tucker LLP9 Years Ranked
Band 2
- Aaron Silberman Rogers Joseph O'Donnell11 Years Ranked
- Anthony Barron Nixon Peabody LLP14 Years Ranked
- Clark Thiel Pillsbury7 Years Ranked
- John Ralls Ralls Gruber & Niece6 Years Ranked
- P. Randolph Finch Jr. Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP6 Years Ranked
- Stephen V O'Neal King & Spalding LLP23 Years Ranked
- Eileen DiepenbrockDiepenbrock Elkin Dauer McCandless LLP
- Richard J WittbrodtGibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP
- Timothy PiercePierce Kavcioglu Espinosa & Cesar LLP
Band 3
- Aaron Gruber Ralls Gruber & Niece5 Years Ranked
- Alex Baghdassarian Hanson Bridgett LLP8 Years Ranked
- Andrew G Giacomini Hanson Bridgett LLP4 Years Ranked
- Andrew Howard Alston & Bird LLP5 Years Ranked
- David F. McPherson Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP5 Years Ranked
- John Foust Ralls Gruber & Niece5 Years Ranked
- Meredith A Jones-McKeown Perkins Coie LLP6 Years Ranked
- Michael T McKeeman Seyfarth Shaw LLP15 Years Ranked
- Robert Niesley Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP14 Years Ranked
- Barbara GadboisGibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP
- Mary SalamoneProcopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Band 4
- Erinn M Contreras Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP3 Years Ranked
- Gregg Dulik Seyfarth Shaw LLP4 Years Ranked
- Joseph McGowan Rogers Joseph O'Donnell4 Years Ranked
- Lisa Dal Gallo Hanson Bridgett LLP11 Years Ranked
- Neil O'Donnell Rogers Joseph O'Donnell21 Years Ranked
- Peter Sheridan Glaser, Weil, Fink, Howard, Jordan & Shapiro, LLP3 Years Ranked
- Armenak KavciogluPierce Kavcioglu Espinosa & Cesar LLP
- Hector H. EspinosaPierce Kavcioglu Espinosa & Cesar LLP
- Jonathan DunnSMTD Law LLP
- Sara KornblattGibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP
Band 5
- Anthony Niccoli Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo3 Years Ranked
- Daniel McLennon Smith Currie Oles LLP1 Years Ranked
- Jason Thornton Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLP4 Years Ranked
- Jeffrey B Kirzner Jones Day3 Years Ranked
- Jessica Bogo Pillsbury3 Years Ranked
- John A Yacovelle Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP3 Years Ranked
- Luke Nicholas Eaton Cozen O'Connor1 Years Ranked
- Mark Hartney Allen Matkins4 Years Ranked
- Matthew A Richards Nixon Peabody LLP4 Years Ranked
- Michael McCauley Jones Day2 Years Ranked
- Nathan Cohen Peckar & Abramson, P.C.3 Years Ranked
- Nicholas A. Merrell Varela, Lee, Metz & Guarino2 Years Ranked
- Philip Blanchard Rutan & Tucker LLP3 Years Ranked
- Robert Campbell Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP1 Years Ranked
- Rowan Mason Ralls Gruber & Niece5 Years Ranked
- Scott Hennigh Hennigh Law Corporation8 Years Ranked
- Ali SalamiradSMTD Law LLP
- Craig RamseyerProcopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
- Glenn E Turner IIIGibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP
- Marilyn KlingerSMTD Law LLP
- Richard Van DuzerFarella Braun + Martel LLP
Up and Coming
Associates to watch
- Jamie Furst Alston & Bird LLP3 Years Ranked
- Missy GriffinGibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 Alston & Bird LLPConstruction2025 | Band 1 | 15 Years RankedAlston & Bird LLP offers expertise spanning the full range of construction disputes involving major private and public projects. The firm is further able to advise on the full spectrum of construction issues, including project planning and contract negotiations, through to contract claims and litigation. Its clients include engineering and design companies, contractors and subcontractors, as well as both public and private owners. The group demonstrates notable strength in infrastructure, power generation and renewable energy developments. Alston & Bird demonstrates recent activity in connection with residential, commercial and mixed-use construction projects.
1 Hanson Bridgett LLPConstruction2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedHanson Bridgett LLP maintains a strong profile for its work in Integrated Project Delivery development, structuring complex contracts across a range of construction schemes. The firm advises a broad range of clients, including general contractors, on matters such as insurance coverage disputes, default, delay and defective construction disputes. Known for advising on projects in the infrastructure, healthcare, energy and education sectors, among others. Also able to offer expertise in complex arbitration matters.
1 PillsburyConstruction2025 | Band 1 | 14 Years RankedPillsbury is recognized for its full-service construction offering, housing particular expertise in high-stakes contentious construction matters, such as litigation stemming from delays, defective construction and change order issues. Recommended for its work on construction contracting, including EPC contracts, the firm advises clients on issues such as engineering, procurement and public-private partnerships. It is also noted for its expertise in areas such as government contracts and insurance recovery.
Band 2
2 Jones DayConstruction2025 | Band 2 | 17 Years RankedJones Day is home to a celebrated construction practice that attracts an impressive client base on major transactions and litigation. The team receives praise for its work on infrastructure projects both in the USA and abroad, with experience of significant matters in Asia, Australasia and Europe. Its experience includes significant energy, healthcare and transportation projects. The attorneys offer noted expertise in cases concerning completed projects, including those involving defective designs and structural failures.
2 Ralls Gruber & NieceConstruction2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedRalls Gruber & Niece is a boutique firm that regularly acts for large contractors and engineering clients in a wide variety of construction matters. The firm is praised by market sources for the strength of its litigation practice.
2 Rutan & Tucker LLPConstruction2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years RankedRutan & Tucker LLP is an established construction group that advises on project delivery relating to public-private partnerships and major infrastructure developments. The team enjoys extensive experience in construction contract and design-build contract drafting and negotiations. It demonstrates additional capacity for handling claims management and procurement issues. The firm's clients include contractors, developers, public bodies and design professionals.
Band 3
3 Finch, Thornton & Baird, LLPConstruction2025 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedFinch, Thornton & Baird, LLP is a San Diego-based construction boutique that concentrates on the representation of owners and contractors in construction-related litigation at trial or in ADR proceedings. The firm has deep expertise in both public and private project disputes arising in California.
3 Nixon Peabody LLPConstruction2025 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedNixon Peabody LLP’s San Francisco and Los Angeles-based practice advises contractor and owner-side clients including public entities throughout the life-cycle of a construction project. The firm advises clients on contract formation, project management and litigation arising in court or ADR forums.
3 Rogers Joseph O'DonnellConstruction2025 | Band 3 | 10 Years RankedRogers Joseph O'Donnell is a boutique construction firm with notable expertise in advising on public sector projects such as transport and energy infrastructure developments. Acts in a variety of construction disputes, including contract award controversies, design contract claims and bid protests. Clients include major national and international contractors and designers, as well as subcontractors and suppliers.
3 Varela, Lee, Metz & GuarinoConstruction2025 | Band 3 | 9 Years RankedVarela, Lee, Metz & Guarino is home to an experienced team with a large presence in Northern California. The group handles the full gamut of construction law matters, from contract drafting to project management and dispute resolution. It has a particular focus on public work projects, often acting for state, federal and local governments. The firm also acts for major energy, transportation and engineering corporations.
3 Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLPConstruction2025 | Band 3 | 19 Years RankedWatt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP is recognized for its notable construction litigation capabilities, maintaining an active presence in disputes arising from major public projects. The team also frequently advises on contract negotiation and administration. It has significant experience advising insurance companies in their roles as sureties for construction projects. The firm offers particular strength in the south of the state from its Irvine office.
Band 4
4 Allen MatkinsConstruction2025 | Band 4 | 17 Years RankedAllen Matkins' work includes drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for a range of projects, including mixed-use, residential and retail developments. The firm has the capacity to handle construction issues arising from each stage of a project, encompassing bid protests, delay and insurance claims. It is noted for its experience in both private and public projects. The group has particular strength in the south of the state, with construction practitioners resident in the firm's Los Angeles, Century City, San Diego and Orange County offices.
4 Hennigh Law CorporationConstruction2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedHennigh Law Corporation is highly regarded for representing construction-sector clients in complex litigation, regularly taking matters trial. The team is noted for managing contentious matters connected to many of California's largest infrastructure projects.
4 Seyfarth Shaw LLPConstruction2025 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedSeyfarth Shaw LLP has offices located in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento from which they represent contractors and owners, including public entities, in construction drafting, mechanics' liens and construction-related disputes. The firm's construction expertise in the state is bolstered by a strong real estate department.
4 Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLPConstruction2025 | Band 4 | 15 Years RankedSheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is able to advise on all aspects of major local, national and international projects. It assists clients from the start of a project to completion on everything from contract negotiations to high-stakes litigation. The firm acts for clients from across the construction space, including developers, design professionals and lenders. The group displays notable expertise in renewable energy and healthcare matters.
Band 5
5 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & RomoConstruction2025 | Band 5 | 18 Years RankedAtkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo handles a variety of public and private construction projects on behalf of general contractors, private companies and public agencies. The group fields expertise in projects-related labor relations, transactions and dispute resolution.
5 Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLPConstruction2025 | Band 5 | 11 Years RankedCox, Castle & Nicholson LLP advises clients at every stage of the construction process, from contracting licensing to contract drafting to dispute resolution. The lawyers represent a wide range of clients, including developers, owners, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals and more in both private and public projects.
5 Cozen O'ConnorConstruction2025 | Band 5 | 1 Years RankedCozen O'Connor provides counsel on disputes predominately relating to large infrastructure and commercial real estate projects. These disputes revolve around issues such as delays, design defects, payment matters, bid protests and contract breaches.
5 Peckar & Abramson, P.C.Construction2025 | Band 5 | 18 Years RankedPeckar & Abramson, P.C. advises on construction litigation such as negligence claims, contract disputes and lease issues. It also offers day-to-day advice on a range of projects including infrastructure, residential buildings and manufacturing facilities. It is recognized for its extensive experience in representing contractors and construction managers.
5 Smith Currie Oles LLPConstruction2025 | Band 5 | 7 Years RankedSmith Currie Oles is a national construction-focused firm with a growing reputation in San Francisco. It advises on private, public, residential and commercial projects. The firm represents clients in a range of construction disputes, including delay and payment claims. It is also capable of handling a variety of construction-related insurance coverage disputes.
5 Troutman Pepper Locke LLPConstruction2025 | Band 5 | 8 Years RankedTroutman Pepper Locke LLP is noted for its representation of clients in high-stakes construction disputes, including those relating to highly technical, time-sensitive infrastructure projects such as power plants, transportation projects, and oil and gas pipelines. The team impresses in both litigation and arbitration.