Attorneys

Eric L. NelsonPartner

ERIC L. NELSON is a partner with Smith, Currie & Hancock and practices in the area of construction law and government contracts.  Mr. Nelson received his law degree from Washington & Lee Law School and his undergraduate degree from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo .  

Mr. Nelson's practice primarily involves dispute resolution of construction related claims for public and private projects.  He has trial experience in federal and state courts throughout the country and before the various government boards of contract appeals. He has also participated extensively in alternative dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration, both nationally and internationally.  In addition to dispute resolution, Mr. Nelson assists clients in negotiating and drafting construction contracts.

In the past five years, Mr. Nelson has represented both owners and constructors in the design, engineering and construction of industrial, infrastructure and commercial projects.  These projects have involved claims from $2MM to over $100MM.  For example: represented owner in recovering on and defending against multi-party disputes among owner, designer/engineer and contractors on the design and construction of a medium section steel mill and caster project; represented the engineer/construct contractor in recovering on claims against owner concerning aluminum mill project; represented EPC contractor in recovering on water treatment facility; represented EPC contractor in negotiations and ICC arbitration on dispute with owner on offshore natural gas process project in Latin America; represented design-builder to recover claims on rail/infrastructure project in south Florida; represented contractor to recover and defend against claims on construction of two combined cycle power plants in the northeast and southwest United States;  represented contractor in Uncitral arbitration on infrastructure project in Latin America; represented EPC contractor on multi-state telecommunications project; represented several general contractors in contract negotiations, arbitration and litigation of high-rise condominium and resort projects through the United States.

Articles & Publications

• "Delay Claims Against the Surety (Co-author)," ABA Journal for Forum on the Construction Industry, July, 1997
• "Trends in Construction Lost Productivity Claims (Co-author)," Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education & Practice, July, 2004

Classes & Seminars Taught

• Mr. Nelson has spoken and taught classes on Construction Law throughout the United States and internationally.