Meghan Douris provides her clients – the nation and region’s leading general contractors and subcontractors – legal counsel on the diverse issues impacting their construction projects, including: differing site conditions, geotechnical engineering concerns, delay and impact claims, heavy civil construction contract claims, general business matters, construction contract issues, and risk management strategies. With experience working as Assistant General Counsel for the New York City Department of Design and Construction and certification as a LEED Green Associate, she understands the unique legal complexities in the construction industry associated with constructing heavy civil infrastructure and high-rise buildings. Clients value her ability to assess complex construction contracts and determine an appropriate and creative litigation strategy to achieve a resolution that aligns with not only the size and dollar value of the issue but the overall business goal.

Meghan also helps organizations understand and secure government contracts in the construction and service industries, including a focus on AbilityOne providers. From assisting with bid protests and helping clients to navigate the REA and Claim process, to litigating bid and size protests before the Court of Federal Claims, GAO, SBA and state/local agencies, Meghan is skilled at handling all types of government contract law issues. Most recently, she successfully defended a bid protest in the Court of Federal Claims to preserve a $100 million-dollar contract.

With a commitment to shaping the future of women in the construction industry, Meghan, along with other female attorneys at Oles Morrison, founded Women Leaders in Construction in 2012. The organization brings together women who work in all sectors of the construction industry and provides a platform for networking and professional development in what is often a male-dominated field. Membership has grown to more than 900 women from several states along the West Coast, as well as 110 firms.

PRACTICE AREASConstruction

Commercial Litigation

Government Contracts

EDUCATION

MEGHAN A. DOURISPARTNER

Main Phone: 206.467.7452Fax: 206.682.6234Location: WashingtonEmail: douris@oles.com

J.D., Brooklyn Law School Moot Court Honor Society

B.A., The College of William and Mary, Political Science

BAR ADMISSIONSWashington State Courts

New York State Courts

California State Courts

U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington

U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Court of Federal Claims

AFFILIATIONSFounder and Member, Women Leaders in Construction

Member, The Beavers

American Bar Association

Washington State Bar Association

California State Bar Association

New York State Bar Association

AWARDS & HONORSuper Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013 – 2016

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERSClaims and Disputes

Effectively pursued several Contract Disputes Act Claims on behalf of AbilityOne service contractors, including preparing Certified Claims, and pursuing litigation in the Court of Federal Claims resulting in successful settlements for the clients.

Counsel for large general contractor for heavy civil project on Navy base. Involved in preparing certified claim and facilitating ADR process resulting in determination of entitlement on 55 of 70 REAs.

Represented tunneling contractor litigation in a large bore tunnel project in pursuing a $60 million claim and defending against $150 million claim.

Counsel for subcontractor on large highway remediation project in southern California, resulting in recovery of claim against Caltrans.

Obtained a favorable settlement for a heavy civil subcontractor involving claims of defective installation of open-grade friction course paving materials.

Defended a developer against claims in excess of $30 million arising out of a large hotel construction project, attaining a reasonable settlement for the parties.

Achieved favorable pre-trial resolution for large general contractor of subcontractor claims involving large high-end Seattle apartment building.

Litigation

Successfully obtained a judgment of $2.7 million on behalf of a subcontractor (and defeated a counterclaim of $10.8 million) in a three-month bench trial in King County, Washington.

Successfully obtained a judgment in arbitration for a large subcontractor for changed conditions on federal housing project, recouping 95 percent of the amount claimed and a full award of attorney fees.

Successfully defended general contractor against delay and impact claim alleged by subcontractor in two-week arbitration.

Bid Protests

Successfully defended a bid protest in the Court of Federal Claims protecting the award of a $100 million services contract.

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTSPresenter, "Delay and Impact Claims," 27th Annual Washington Construction Law Seminar, The Seminar Group, Seattle, WA, September, 23, 2020

Presenter, "Navigating Uninsured Indemnity Obligations," 2020 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management, AGC of America, Bonita Springs, FL, January 29, 2020

Presenter, "Critical Contract Clauses," HCSS User Group Meetings, Houston, TX, January 28, 2020

Presenter, Javits-Wagner-O’Day Legal Symposium: Advocacy Issues for AbilityOne Contractors, 2019

Presenter, "Critical Contract Clauses," HCSS User Group Meetings, Houston, TX, February 5, 2019

Presenter, Javits-Wagner-O’Day Legal Symposium: Advocacy Issues for AbilityOne Contractors, 2018

Presenter, LEED and Federal Contracting: An Overview of LEED and How Various Federal Agencies are Using LEED to Meet the Federal Sustainability Requirements, Oles Morrison Alaska Construction Law and Government Contracting Seminar, 2012

Presenter, LEED and Federal Contracting, Oles Morrison Federal Contracting Seminar, May 2010

Presenter, Time & Money - Monitoring the Work, Northwest Construction Seminar, April 2010

PUBLICATIONSCo-Author, "Congress allows tax deductibility for Paycheck Protection Program expenses," the Daily Journal of Commerce, January 14, 2021

Co-Author, "Got a PPP loan? IRS says you can’t deduct expenses from them — at least for now," the Daily Journal of Commerce, December 10, 2020

Co-Author, "Washington's "Stay At Home" Proclamation: Construction Update," March 26, 2020

Co-Author, "Washington’s Version of “Shelter in Place”: What it Means for the Construction Industry," March 24, 2020

Author, “Is LEED’s future with federal projects under threat?” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce,February 28, 2013

Author, “Is your LEED project a green hornet’s nest?” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, October 27, 2011

NEWS & INSIGHTSConcise Guide to Bid Protests at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Oles Morrison Celebrates Women in Construction Week

Congress allows tax deductibility for Paycheck Protection Program expenses

Got a PPP loan? IRS says you can't deduct expenses from them — at least for now

Oles Morrison is Ranked Among Nation’s Top Law Firms by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® 2021 List

Jim Nagle and Meghan Douris to speak at the 27th Annual Washington Construction Law Conference September 22nd - 23rd

Join Partner, Meghan Douris, for Construction for Change's Virtual Fundraiser

The 2020 Edition of The Legal 500 Nationally Ranks Oles Morrison's Construction and Government Contracts Practices

While “Some” Construction Projects may Re-Open in Washington, Much Remains Unclear

Washington's "Stay At Home" Proclamation: Construction Update

Washington’s Version of “Shelter in Place”: What it Means for the Construction Industry

COVID-19 and Impacts on Construction

Oles Morrison and Women Leaders in Construction Celebrate Women in Construction Week

Meghan Douris was quoted in Law360 regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's recent refusal to review a Veterans Affairs decision

Tom Krider and Meghan Douris to present at the AGC’s 2020 Conference on Surety Bonding and Construction Risk Management January 29

Oles Morrison is Ranked Among Nation’s Top Law Firms by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®

Legal 500 Recognizes Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker’s Government Contracts Practice In 2019 National Guide 

Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker Receives Rankings In 2019 Issue Of Chambers USA Guide

Oles Morrison hosts a Women in Construction Week Happy Hour

Oles Morrison is Ranked Among Nation’s Top Law Firms by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®

Serving Our Clients for 125 Years

Oles Morrison and Clark Construction to host Women Leaders in Construction at their annual spring event

Women Leaders in Construction Summer Social June 15

Meghan Douris and Jim Nagle to Present at NCMA Columbia Basin

Northern California Super Lawyers Recognizes Rob Leslie

Super Lawyers Recognizes Six Oles Morrison Attorneys

Super Lawyers Recognizes Nine Oles Morrison Attorneys

Attorney Meghan A. Douris is Named Partner

Oles Morrison to Host Women Leaders in Construction

Women Leaders in Construction Gather at Oles Morrison

Five Oles Morrison Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers Lists

Is LEED’s future with federal projects under threat?

Meghan Douris Presenting “Risk – A Lawyers View on Sustainable Projects” at CMAA Seminar

2012 Alaska Construction Law and Government Contracting Seminars

Oles Morrison Presents: The Road to Green - LEED & Green Building Seminar November 3, 2011

Meghan Douris for Seattle DJC: Is your LEED project a green hornet’s nest?

Meghan Douris to Address CFMA Puget Sound on the Legal Implications of Document Imaging

LEEDING THE WAY: Federal contracting & green building take common path.

© 2022 Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP.