Ahlers & Cressman has announced the promotion of Ellie Perka and James Lynch to partner of the firm. Both attorneys have demonstrated excellence and dedication in helping the firm’s clients resolve complicated construction disputes, and the firm is pleased to announce their joining the firm as partners.
Ellie regularly handles multimillion-dollar complex construction disputes including terminations; differing site conditions, delay, and change order claims; GC/CM alternative procurement disputes; construction defect litigation; and lien claims. In addition, Ellie represents clients in employment-related matters and issues concerning minority and women-owned DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises), including constitutional challenges. She has argued cases in Washington and Oregon state courts, the Court of Appeals, federal court, the Board of Contract Appeals, and in private arbitration. In addition, she has successfully negotiated multiple seven-figure settlements.
James is a construction and real estate litigator representing private and public clients on a variety of high-value construction and development projects. He routinely represents clients in contract negotiations, procurement protests, change order disputes, construction claims, construction defect matters, and real estate and business transactions. James currently serves on the Washington State Project Review Committee (PRC) in the Private Sector seat, was the primary drafter of recently-enacted Heavy Civil GC/CM public works legislation (RCW 39.10), and is currently the lead drafter for the Public-Private Partnership Committee of the state Capital Projects Advisory Review Board.