Philip Clark Jones

Areas of Practice: Philip Clark Jones concentrates in the representation of construction contractors with respect to contracts, collections, claims, mechanic’s liens, bond claims, insurance coverage issues, bankruptcy preference defense, and litigation and arbitration of both private and government contract disputes.

Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Professional Background: Prior to attending law school, Mr. Jones was an international project development officer for the Export-Import Bank of the United States, where he had principal responsibility for project development in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also acted as the Director of the Program for Engineering and Feasibility Studies.

Phil learned trial practice in the criminal courts in the District of Columbia, where he started out defending minor misdemeanors and worked his way up to major felonies, achieving not guilty verdicts in 28 out of last 32 cases.

From 1985-1995, Phil Jones was General Counsel to the Williams Industries group of companies, which included 17 operating companies engaged in steel fabrication and erection, bridge erection, precast erection, caissons, marine construction, and construction insurance.

Since 1995 Mr. Jones has been engaged in private law practice. Prior to starting his current firm, he was a member of the Construction Law practice group in the Washington, D.C. office of the global law firm K & L Gates and its District of Columbia predecessor, Bell, Boyd & Lloyd.

Teaching and Speaking: Phil Jones is formerly an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Catholic University of America, where he taught construction law. He is a frequent speaker for both local and national construction industry trade associations.

Publications: Negotiating for Profit: Breakthrough Techniques for Power Bargaining (2003) (CD/Workbook); How to Get Paid in Full on Every Job (2001); Practical Construction Law (1997); Legal Protection for Construction Subcontractors and Suppliers (1995).

Education: J.D., George Washington University Law School; M.B.A., George Washington University; B.A., West Virginia University.

Court Admissions: United States Court of Federal Claims; Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals; local and Federal courts in District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Jones has also been admitted for specific cases in courts in New York, California, Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

 

Brian Cohen

Brian Cohen concentrates on complex construction and government contract litigation with an emphasis on litigation, arbitration and mediation of construction claims. He has acted as successful lead trial counsel in numerous significant arbitrations and litigation before the United States Court of Federal Claims, District of Columbia Superior Court, and the Armed Services, GSA, District of Columbia and Maryland Boards of Contract Appeals.

Brian Cohen started his professional career as a supervisory attorney for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. After that he served as an Assistant Attorney General in Maryland representing the state in connection with numerous multimillion dollar claims. Prior to entering private practice, Brian was a senior consultant at Hill International, where he specialized in the analysis and drafting of construction claims.

Brian comes to the firm from the Construction and Government Contracts Department of K & L Gates, where he handled complex construction disputes.

 

Michael Beard, Esq.

With more than 20 years of experience as a trial attorney, 10 years of experience as an executive for a government contractor, and 8 years of experience in the United States Navy, Michael Beard focuses his practice on construction litigation and commercial law.

Michael holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland (B.S.); a law degree from the University of Baltimore (JD); and, a graduate degree from The George Washington University (LL.M. Environmental Law).

Michael is a member of the bars of the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

 

Daniel K. Maller

Dan Maller has specialized in the legal representation of construction companies since he became a member of the Virginia Bar in ______. Dan’s primary focus is on the corporate and administrative aspects of construction, including federal and state regulatory issues, employment disputes, and buy-sell agreements.

While still in law school, Dan Maller started his legal career as a law clerk in the legal department of Williams Industries, Falls Church, Virginia, when Phil Jones was General Counsel. Dan later took over as General Counsel, representing trade contractors engaged in steel fabrication, steel erection and caissons, as well as the company’s Insurance Trust. After entering private practice, Dan has represented a wide variety of construction trades, handling contract issues, collections, employment disputes, and dealing with regulatory agencies.

In addition to his law practice, Dan has hands-on experience in the field, having acted as the project project manager for the steel erection for the Wilson Bridge and the Springfield Interchange.