Back

Recent Blog Posts

Certificates of Insurance May Confer Coverage
November 5, 2019

Legislative Update: Bid Protest Law Changes to Benefit Contractors
September 4, 2019

Washington Supreme Court Expands Contractor Notice Obligations
November 26, 2018

Utility Contractor Held Responsible for Damaged Underground Electrical Line
October 5, 2017

Subcontractors on Washington Public Projects Can Now Get Their Retainage Money Sooner
July 20, 2017

Brett M. Hill

Contact Info
Email: brett.hill@acslawyers.com
Direct Dial: 206-515-2233
Assistant:  Trang Nguyen
Email: trang.nguyen@acslawyers.com
Direct Dial: 206-388-1886
   

Brett M. Hill, a Member at Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC, concentrates his practice on representation of the construction industry in a variety of matters. He has over a decade of construction litigation experience where he has handled numerous complex construction disputes for national and multi-national construction companies. He also regularly handles transactional/contract drafting matters for construction industry clients and has drafted and negotiated contracts totaling more $500M in the last five years.

Mr. Hill was voted by his peers as one of the top 100 lawyers overall in Washington for Super Lawyers publication in 2020. He has also been selected a “Super Lawyer” in Washington by Super Lawyers publication for 2015-2020 and has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (highest possible rating). He was previously selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers for 2010-2014.

Mr. Hill is also an advocate for the construction industry in Olympia. He is the current chair of the Legislative Committee for the National Utility Contractors Association of Washington (NUCA) and is also a current member of the NUCA Board of Directors. He is also a member of the AGC Legal Affairs Committee and regularly testifies in Olympia on behalf of AGC and NUCA. He is also the current Chair Elect for the Construction Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and is a frequent seminar presenter on construction law topics.
Education
  • J.D., Magna Cum Laude, Seattle University School of Law (Top 10% of Class), 2004
  • B.S. in Economics, With Distinction, University of Washington, 1999
Personal Awards

Representative Cases

  • Represented a national general contractor in a 2 month jury trial in King County Superior Court. Received an eight-figure win in client’s favor in the jury’s final verdict. As the prevailing party, client also received an award for its attorneys’ fees, costs and expert witness fees against owner.
  • Represented national general contractor in $7M dispute involving termination on a hotel project. Settled case favorably after litigation and successful result on summary judgment motion.
  • Represented general contractor seeking recovery of a seven-figure contract balance against the owner. Successfully defended a challenge to the general contractor’s lien, and settled the case favorably days before the arbitration hearing.
  • Represented general contractor seeking recovery of a seven-figure claim for schedule related delays and acceleration costs against a public owner. Settled the case favorably prior to trial.
  • Prevailed in expedited trial involving a bid protest for a $30+ million school renovation project.
  • Represented local Port in defense of a general contractor’s claim for additional compensation. Succeeded in obtaining the summary judgment dismissal of the general contractor’s claim prior to trial.
  • Represented one of the Puget Sound area’s largest civil general contractors in a contested default by a subcontractor. Full judgment in favor of client plus attorneys’ fees.
  • Represented utility contractor seeking to enforce verbal acceptance of bid by general contractor as creation of contract despite no signed subcontract or physical work on site. Full judgment in favor of client.
  • Represented developer in arbitration against general contractor for defective work. Obtained award from arbitrator in full amount of claim, plus interest and attorneys’ fees.
  • Represented construction lender in dispute with competing lien claimants after developer’s insolvency. Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling against one of the lien claimants, and negotiated a creative settlement of the case that resulted in recovery of principal owed to lender and attorneys’ fees.
  • Represented Alaska general contractor in $10M dispute involving the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, AK.
  • Represented Washington civil contractor in two week trial. Judge ruled in client’s favor. ACS is representing client on appeal.
  • Represented Alaska contractor with $1M claim on school construction project. Case settled favorably after litigation in Alaska court.
  • Represented Alaska contractor with $5M claim on $1.5B Federal missile defense project.
  • Represented national real estate developer in two week arbitration. Client received full award plus attorney fees and total award was over $1M. Obtained summary judgment dismissal of contractor’s lien prior to arbitration hearing.
  • Represented marine contractor in seven figure dispute involving a wave power generation facility off Oregon coast.
  • Represented North Dakota based oil field logistics company is $2M dispute regarding damages to oil rig in Williston ND.
  • Represented Alaska power plant owner in seven figure dispute.
  • Represented oil field housing facility in Odessa TX against contractor claims exceeding $1M.
  • Transactional Matters: Drafted and negotiated numerous general contracts, subcontracts, supplier agreements, and professional services / designer agreements for both public and private projects.

Professional Associations

  • Past Chair, Judiciary and Litigation Committee, King County Bar Association (2014-2019)
  • Chair Elect, Construction Law Section, Washington State Bar Association (Present)
  • Chair, Legislative Committee, National Utility Contractors Association of Washington, (2016-present)
  • Board Member, National Utility Contractors Association of Washington, (2016-present)
  • Legislative Committee Member, National Utility Contractors Association of Washington (2013-Present)
  • Judicial Extern, The Honorable Thomas S. Zilly, United States District Court, Western District of Washington (2004)
  • Law Review, Seattle University School of Law (2003-2004)

Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, Implied Warranties in Construction, WSBA Construction Law Section Seminar, 2018
  • Speaker, Construction Project Scheduling & Delay Claims, Seminar Group CLE Presentation, 2018
  • Speaker, 2017 Changes to AIA Contract Documents, Seminar Group CLE Presentation, 2017
  • Speaker, What to Do When Performance is Delayed, NBI CLE Presentation, 2016
  • Speaker|Moderator, Litigator’s Round Table, KCBA Bench-Bar Conference, 2016
  • Speaker, Changes and Differing Site Conditions, WSBA Construction Law Section Seminar, 2015
  • Speaker, Contract Clauses Panel, WSBA Construction Law Section Seminar, 2014
  • Speaker, Construction Scheduling in Washington, Lorman CLE Presentation, 2014
  • Speaker|Moderator, Change Orders in Washington, Lorman CLE Presentation, 2014
  • Speaker|Moderator, AIA Contracts in Washington, Lorman CLE Presentation, 2013
  • Speaker, Utility Contractor’s Perspective on Underground Facility Damage Prevention, Washington State Water and Sewer Risk Management Pool, 2012
  • Speaker, Contractor Claims and Disputes, USDOT Bonding Education Program – Small Business Transportation Resource Center, 2011
  • Speaker, Insurance Coverage for Contractors, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Contractor Training, 2013, 2014
  • Speaker, Contracting on Public Projects, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Contractor Training, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Speaker, Contracts for General Contractors, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Contractor Training, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Speaker, Common Legal Issues, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Contractor Training, 2011, 2012
  • Speaker, Insurance Law for Contractors, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Contractor Training, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Speaker, Analysis of A201 General Conditions, Lorman CLE – “AIA Contracts in Washington,” 2012
  • Speaker, Analysis of Owner Architect Contract, Lorman CLE – “AIA Contracts in Washington,” 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013
  • Speaker, Claims and Change Orders, Association of General Contractors of Washington, 2009
  • Speaker, Associated Builders and Contractors of Washington – “Construction Lien and Bond Claims,” 2008
  • Author, Prevailing Wages Not Required for Delivery of Materials to Construction Site, AGC Newsletter, February 2005
  • Frequent contributor to Ahlers Cressman & Sleight PLLC’S blog
  • Frequent contributor the WSBA Construction Law Section Newsletter