Profile:
With 13 years of experience in construction law, Eric Cohen's practice encompasses both transactions and dispute resolution. He has represented general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners and sureties on substantial construction projects including schools, public infrastructure, sports facilities, airports, petrochemical and industrial plants, highway projects, wastewater treatment facilities, multi-family projects, retail centers, hotels, hospitals, assisted living facilities, office buildings and prisons. Eric currently serves as regional counsel for several large construction-related companies. His experience includes the prosecution and defense of a variety of issues such as mechanic's liens, performance and payment bonds, differing site conditions, breach of contract, construction defect claims, drafting and reviewing of contract documents for owners, general contractors and subcontractors, delay and acceleration claims, and termination of contracts. He is a frequent speaker on construction law topics.
Professional Recognition:
Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2006 - 2008
The Best Lawyers in America, 2006 - 2008
"Houston's Top Lawyers," H-Texas Magazine, 2005 - 2007
"Texas Super Lawyers," Texas Monthly, 2004 - 2008
Affiliations:
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
State Bar of Texas (Council Member, Construction Law Section, 2004 - 2007)
State Bar of Texas (Ex-officio Council Member, Construction Law Section, 2003)
Houston Bar Association (Chair, Construction Law Section, 2002-2003)
American Bar Association (Forum Committee on Construction Industry; Litigation Committee on Construction Litigation; Litigation Section)
Founding Chairman, Texas Young Construction Lawyers Committee - Houston Chapter
College of the State Bar of Texas
Associated Builders and Contractors
Construction Financial Management Association
Representative Experience:
- Counsel for design/builder on a $50 million fast-track detention center project contract.
- Drafted construction/contract documents for a major restaurant chain for use in constructing restaurants and other facilities.
- Represented subcontractor in a lawsuit involving delay and extra work claims on a sports arena project.
- Represented contractor in a lawsuit involving construction of a worship center project with severe design problems, causing schedule delays and increased costs.
- Continuing representation of a large oil field service company on national and international construction and engineering contracts.
- Drafted construction/contract documents for a Texas municipality.
- Represented owner of a professional building in prosecuting a construction defect lawsuit.
- Continuing representation of design/builder on the construction of detention facilities all over the United States.
- Regional counsel for several material suppliers, assisting with construction credit issues.
- Defended contractor against construction defect claims arising out of the construction of a parking garage.
Publications/Presentations:
"Factoring Construction Receivables," Design-Build Institute of America - Houston Chapter, August 2006
"Texas Lien and Bond Claims," American Subcontractors Association - Houston Chapter, November, 2005
"Mechanics Lien Law and Strategies in Texas," Associated Builders and Contractors, October 2005
"Identifying and Managing Credit Risks: A View from 30,000 Feet (and Texas Lien and Bond Claims)," National Association of Credit Managers, September 2005
"Mechanic's Lien Law and Strategies in Texas," Associated Builders and Contractors, June 2005
"Common Legal Mistakes Made by Contractors" presented to Associated General Contractors Young Construction Forum, April 2005
"A Lawyer's Guide to The Trust Fund Statute," 18th Annual Construction Law Conference, San Antonio, Texas, March 2005
"Legal Issues Facing the Construction Professional in Texas - The Most Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them" Lorman presentation, March 2005
"Lien and Bond Claims" presented to American Subcontractors Association, January 2005
"Dealing with Conflicting Claims to Construction Receivables," State Bar of Texas Construction Law Journal, November 2004
"Factoring Construction Receivables," San Antonio Bar Association, Construction Law Section, November 2004
"Factoring Construction Receivables," Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, March 2004
"Judgment Liens and Post Judgment Remedies," National Association of Credit Managers, Houston, Texas, January 2004
"Basics Construction Course," State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section, October 2003.
"Issues in Factoring Construction Receivables," November, 2002
"Mechanics Lien Law and Strategies in Texas," presented to National Business Institute, February 2002
"Construction Payment Remedies in Texas," presented to National Business Institute, January 2001 |
