David W. Owen

David Owen has 30 years of experience in the construction and engineering industries. He serves as the practice group leader for Bradley’s Construction Practice Group.

David is a registered professional engineer and practices in the construction, energy and government contracts areas. He is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers.  He is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^® for construction law and was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction in Birmingham (2013). He is proud of Bradley’s recognition as the nation’s “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law in the 2018, 2020 and 2022 editions and for Litigation - Construction in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers/U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms. David also is a BTI Client Service All-Star, which is recognition from corporate counsel for his “superior client service combining exceptional legal expertise with practical advice, business savvy, and innovative, effective solutions.”

As part of his national and international practice, David advises clients on multibillion-dollar mega-projects where disputes exceed several hundred million dollars. David represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, construction managers and designers in private and government contract matters. He has significant experience with petrochemical, LNG, automobile manufacturing facilities, EPC projects, solar facilities, wind projects, biomass projects, fossil-fueled generation facilities, complex tunneling projects, activated carbon plants, steel fabrication, hydroelectric generation, mass transit, rare earth metals mining, deep foundations, slope stability, retaining walls, dams, water treatment, bridges, infrastructure and concrete structures.

David drafts and negotiates contracts for various construction and design participants and routinely assists clients with contract management strategies to resolve problems early and avoid costly disputes. When disputes are unavoidable, David arbitrates and litigates cases in state and federal courts across the country, as well as in international forums. A few recent representative matters are:

• Obtained a full defense award against $185 million in design claims and was awarded costs and fees in a AAA arbitration involving a $2 billion petrochemical manufacturing facility in Texas
• Negotiated and drafted EPC contract documents for project financed $2.5 billion energy generation complex in South America
• Obtained a full multimillion-dollar recovery for the general contractor in a AAA arbitration for differing site conditions claims on a multi-story development on the Anacostia river in Washington, D.C.
• Obtained a $110 million summary judgment in state court for a combined cycle power generation facility
• Litigated $60 million claim relating to a geotechnical failure at an automobile manufacturing facility in Alabama that settled within the client’s insurance deductible
• Assisted with representation of EPC contractor against $500 million in claims arising out of a water treatment facility that allowed favorable closeout and settlement