Law Firms
Planning for More Construction Suits, Howrey Hires Thelen Group
Posted Nov 13, 2008, 08:35 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Howrey is planning for growth in construction litigation with the addition of more than 40 Thelen lawyers in the practice area.
Howrey added the lawyers because its leaders believe the Obama administration will make infrastructure improvements a priority, the Recorder reports. Building to reduce reliance on foreign oil will be among the projects, in their view.
To handle the demand arising from anticipated construction-related lawsuits, the firm will hire 18 partners and about 25 associates from Thelen’s construction practice, the story says. Among those making the move is Thelen chairman Stephen O'Neal.
Henry Bunsow, Howrey's managing partner for Northern California, predicts that construction litigation will be one of the few major growth areas over the next five to 10 years. "I don't think anybody would argue that replacing and refurbishing the infrastructure in this country is not going to be a top priority of the new administration," he told the Recorder.
Howrey CEO and managing partner Robert Ruyak told the publication that the firm wants to be prepared to handle additional work from likely investments in energy projects such as pipelines, wind farms, plants and offshore drilling rigs.