Jeffrey S. Chapman

Jeff practices construction law exclusively.

While Jeff is proud to call Austin home, he is known across the state and represents clients throughout Texas. He represents owners and contractors in transactions and disputes. While he enjoys a broad practice many types of construction projects, the vast majority of his practice involves civil, industrial, commercial and municipal construction.

He has significant experience in the negotiation, management, and dispute resolution on Construction Manager at-Risk (CMAR), Design-Build and other alternative delivery methods. In his transactional practice, Jeff assists clients with drafting and negotiating the full range of contract documents for design and construction, including procurement packages, contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, and bonds. Jeff also serves as general counsel or special counsel to his clients and continues to assist them with project management and project administration following the initial contract phase of projects. Jeff’s dispute work and experience includes performance and payment disputes, delay claims, defect litigation, surety law and contract award controversies.

On a Personal Note

An endurance sports enthusiast since 2005; Jeff competes in both on and off-road triathlons of all distances. He has completed 3 ironman triathlons, with a personal best of 11:13:26.  He has also run marathons. Jeff and his wife Robin enjoy skiing, mountain biking, travel and live music. They make a point to attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival each year. They have three young sons who like to ski and ride bikes like their parents.

Statewide Construction Law

  • civil, industrial, commercial and municipal construction projects
  • negotiation, management, and dispute resolution

Transactional Experience

Drafting and Negotiating the full range of contract documents for design and construction, including:

  • procurement packages
  • contracts
  • subcontracts
  • purchase orders
  • bonds

Dispute Experience

  • performance and payment disputes
  • delay claims
  • defect litigation
  • surety law
  • contract award controversies

Representative Experience

Mr. Chapman recently completed a series of matters where he represented municipal clients in contractor default and performance bond disputes. Two of these disputes resulted in litigation where Mr. Chapman was able to successfully resolve the matters prior to trial in settlements that allowed the municipal clients to complete the projects and cure the contractor defaults. On two other projects, Mr. Chapman was able to negotiate settlements that compensated the municipalities and facilitated the repairs required while avoiding litigation entirely.

Mr. Chapman represented a general contractor on a delay claim involving the construction of a multi-train wastewater treatment plant. In the representation, Mr. Chapman assisted the client in the preparation and presentation of the delay claim to the owner, a municipal utility district.  Ultimately, Mr. Chapman secured a favorable settlement for the general contractor client from the owner through alternative dispute resolution activities prior to trial.

Awards

Jeff was named a Texas Super Lawyer  in 2013-2023 and has also been named a Texas Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in the area of Construction Litigation and Construction/Surety Law for 2005, 2008-13 as reported in Super Lawyers magazine; Thomson Reuters.

Jeff is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Education

J.D., University of Texas at Austin (2001)
B.A., Political Science, Emory University (1998)

Recent Works by Jeff Chapman

Force Majeure and Risk Management in a Pandemic

This article discusses the challenges created by both the pandemic and global market conditions and discusses various approaches contractors can take to mitigate risks and overcome impacts to dollars and time. Download full article. [...]

More from Jeff Chapman