[February 11, 2014]

Thompson Hine's Washington Office Again Expands Construction and Government Contracts Practices

Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of John T. Bergin, a construction and government contracts trial attorney who has navigated more than 50 jury and bench trials involving construction and other complex disputes, mediated and arbitrated claims involving construction projects and commercial contracts, and argued before appellate courts. Bergin joins from the construction boutique Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram.

Bergin is the most recent addition to Thompson Hine's construction and government contracts practices in Washington. The office recently added partner Lawrence M. Prosen, who also holds a degree in architecture, and experienced associates Christian F. Henel and Daniel P. Broderick, bringing to four the recent Washington additions to this practice.

"John's significant construction litigation experience will benefit our clients, as his practice both complements and augments our existing construction practice," noted Construction Practice Group Leader Jeffrey R. Appelbaum. "His background also further enhances the government contracts practice we began building when Larry Prosen joined our Washington office. In addition, we are impressed by John's experience with stadium projects, an area in which we also do a great deal of transactional work nationally." Washington office partner-in-charge David A. Wilson added, "We are pleased to welcome yet another top-notch lawyer to our office as we continue to expand the services we offer our clients."

Since Prosen's arrival in June 2012, the D.C. construction and government contracts groups have had several noteworthy representations and successes, including the Ft. Meade DISA Campus Project appeal, involving a $460 million project that generated a claim by a team of Hensel Phelps Contracting Company, M.C. Dean, Inc. and Southland Industries. Following a multi-day mediation, the team obtained a significant recovery from the U.S. government for the clients. In addition, the team successfully represented Desbuild/Limak/Group 77 JV as intervenor in a bid protest filed with the GAO by a disappointed offeror on an $85 million contract awarded to the client for a warehouse, chiller plant and emergency back-up building systems for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

Bergin represents clients on both private and public construction projects including Major League Baseball and National Football League stadiums, power plants, schools, hospitals and others, both in the United States and internationally. In one of his significant representations, he has worked for 12 years on a matter involving the construction of a Major League Baseball stadium. The complex case, a six-week bench trial involving more than $20 million in claims, encompassed multiple parties and issues including three complaints, five parties and 15 counts. Ultimately, all parties and counts were dismissed except for one, which Bergin continues to defend. He also recently obtained a complete defense verdict for a government contractor working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a case involving claims of more than $20 million.

"Thompson Hine is well known and respected in the construction sector and has the right platform for my clients," said Bergin of his decision to join the firm. "I am impressed with the firm's focus on value, and I know my clients will benefit from the additional resources of my new partners in a variety of practice areas and geographic regions."

About Thompson Hine LLP. Established in 1911, Thompson Hine is a business law firm dedicated to providing superior client service. The firm has been ranked among the top four in the country for "Value for the Dollar" and "Commitment to Help," by in-house counsel and among the top ten firms for client service excellence, according to The BTI Client Service A-Team: Survey of Law Firm Client Service Performance. With offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington, D.C., Thompson Hine serves premier businesses worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ThompsonHine.com.

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