Attorneys

Joseph C. StaakPartner

JOSEPH C. STAAK received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1974.  Upon graduating from Georgia Tech, Joe was commissioned an officer in the Air Force and served four years as an engineering and construction officer, stationed in Texas and Alaska .  During his assignment at Elmendorf Air Force Base AK, Joe headed the base Construction Management Office responsible for inspecting and administering contract construction work at Elmendorf and at twelve remote radar sites. As Chief of Construction Management, Joe performed evaluations of contractor claims and provided technical advice to the contracting officer.

Upon leaving the Air Force, Joe entered law school at the University of Georgia .  While in law school, Joe served as Research Editor on the Georgia Law Review.  Joe graduated cum laude from Georgia and joined Smith, Currie & Hancock in 1981.

During his 25 plus years with the firm, Joe has specialized in construction law, government contracts, construction litigation, procurement protests, and alternative dispute resolution.  Joe has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, insurers, and sureties.  Construction projects in which Joe has become involved range from extremely complex multi-million dollar industrial plants to home construction.  Through his technical training at Georgia Tech and his experience at SCH, Joe is familiar with numerous aspects of construction including construction scheduling, soil and foundations, pavements, concrete, moisture and moisture intrusion problems, structural steel, stucco and plaster, EFIS systems, roofs, Clean Room construction, paper mills, instrumentation and control wiring, electrical work, and mechanical piping and duct work.

Joe has significant litigation experience, having conducted more than 30 trials or hearings in court, arbitration or before federal government boards of contract appeals.

Joe frequently lectures on issues of interest to the construction community.  He is co-author of various articles and publications, including Georgia Construction Lien and Public Contract Bond Law; Georgia Construction Law; Practical Construction Law for Florida Contractors; and, Government Construction Contracting Law:  Federal and State Perspectives.  Joe is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Georgia, Florida and Alabama .  In 2005 Joe was in the initial group of Florida lawyers to be certified by the Florida Bar in Construction Law.

Articles & Publications

• "The Gaps That Bite: Missing Terms in Contracts Can Come Back to Haunt You," Florida HomeBuilder, July 2008.
• "Georgia Construction Lien and Public Contract Bond Law", co-author, Lorman Education Services, 1993.

Classes & Seminars Taught

• Lecturer on construction claims for various professional groups, seminars and workshops.