Construction
With decades of experience in every facet of construction law, Downey Brand’s Construction Law Practice Group represents all players in the construction process, including owners, general contractors, architects, engineers, subcontractors of every tier, materials suppliers and sureties. Our experience spans both public and private works, and includes the entire construction spectrum from heavy civil, roadway, water, power plant, and other infrastructure projects, to steel high-rise structures, to site improvement and development projects.
We help our clients devise practical solutions to problems that may arise during the earliest phases of project conception and design, through contract drafting, bidding procedures and protests, and dispute management during design and construction. Where disputes cannot be avoided, our group has extensive experience with litigating virtually every category and subcategory of construction dispute. Scope-of-work disputes, change order battles, critical path delay claims, design conflicts, project close-out, warranty and defective work claims, payment and performance bond issues, and prompt-payment disputes are frequent subjects of our practice. After construction is complete, we are equally well-versed in indemnity and insurance coverage issues associated with construction defect claims.
In addition to the construction specific experts in the group, we can tap into Downey Brand’s numerous other practice-area experts, including those from our corporate, tax, water, environmental, land use, real estate and employment law practice groups. The attorneys in these groups work seamlessly to bring the right expertise to bear on any problem our clients may encounter.
Downey Brand has the largest litigation practice of any firm in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley. Consequently, our group can easily buttress its own considerable litigation experience in cases with larger staffing demands. Our experience in virtually every state and federal court in California means that Downey Brand’s practice is well-suited to handle cases located throughout the state.
Through participation in community affairs and representation of clients, we have a wealth of practical knowledge and contacts to help facilitate any transaction.
Additionally, members of the Construction Group not only keep current with evolving changes in the law, but often take the lead by making presentations and speeches to interested groups and writing papers for publication in leading law and industry journals. Beyond keeping abreast of the legal side of the construction industry, our attorneys participate in several trade organizations to appreciate our clients’ viewpoints and concerns.
Selected Experience
- Lead counsel for a school district in connection with approximately $70 Million in new school construction. The general contractor overbilled the district millions of dollars and abandoned the projects. Successfully mediated 13 subcontractor claims in 3 days. Downey Brand successfully brought claims against the general contractor, its principals, an assistant superintendent of the district, and the general contractors’ accountants. The California Attorney General issued numerous criminal indictments against the general contractor’s management team and a school district assistant superintendent based on the ground work performed by the Downey Brand team.
- Represented general contractor in a $20 million dollar termination for default case involving a large California state agency which involved critical path delay and additional scope of work disputes.
- Successfully represented a Pavement Maintenance Material Supplier as lead counsel in a patent infringement action. The action resolved with favorable results at the early stages of the litigation, which allowed the client to proceed with the use of its propriety product, saving the client more than half a million dollars in material costs.
Trade Groups
- Association of Commercial Real Estate (ACRE)
- Associated General Contractors of California (AGC)
- Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN)
- Builders’ Exchange of Stockton
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- North State Building Industry Association (BIA)
- Real Estate and Construction Networking (RECON)
- United Contractors
- Urban Land Institute (ULI)
- Lead counsel for a school district in connection with approximately $70 Million in new school construction. The general contractor overbilled the district millions of dollars and abandoned the projects. Art successfully mediated 13 subcontractor claims in 3 days. Downey Brand successfully brought claims against the general contractor, its principals, an assistant superintendent of the district, and the general contractors’ accountants. The California Attorney General issued numerous criminal indictments against the general contractor’s management team and a school district assistant superintendent based on the ground work performed by the Downey Brand team.
- Represented general contractor in a $20 million dollar termination for default case against a large California state agency which involved critical path delay and additional scope of work disputes.
- Successfully represented a Pavement Maintenance Material Supplier as lead counsel in a patent infringement action. The action resolved with favorable results at the early stages of the litigation, which allowed the client to proceed with the use of its proprietary product, saving the client more than half a million dollars in material costs.
- Successfully represented general contractor to collect outstanding amounts owed to client after several developers filed for bankruptcy protection. Collected all outstanding amounts owed to client, including interest and attorneys’ fees.
- Drafted and negotiated over $90 million worth of construction and design contracts for a dental school in San Francisco.
- Successfully defended general contractor in extra work claims arising out of a construction project at CSU Chico.
- Represented site improvement contractor in several lawsuits arising from failed subdivision projects. Recovered over $7.5 million.
- Co-counsel to public works contractor in multi-year public works default termination dispute presenting a matter of first impression for California’s Appellate Courts.
- Represented subcontractor in multi-party complex litigation over multi-million dollar high school construction project.
- Continued representation of a large lumber company on projects throughout California where mechanics liens and/or stop payment notices become necessary.
- Continued representation of one of the largest metal building companies in the United States on projects ranging in scope from event centers and Indian casinos to car washes.
Brenda C. Bass
Brenda C. Bass
Senior Associate

Brenda Bass advises public agency and private clients on environmental review requirements, as well as applying for and complying with water quality permits. She is also experienced in litigating CEQA and groundwater quality issues for clients throughout California.
Sacramento 916.520.5385 direct
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5385 direct
Kelly M. Breen
Kelly M. Breen
Counsel

Kelly Breen has a proven track record of helping clients navigate complex business issues with a common sense approach that achieves optimal results. She applies the right balance of aggressive advocacy, robust understanding of the law, and creative problem-solving to every case she handles.
Sacramento 916.520.5485 direct
Counsel
Sacramento 916.520.5485 direct
Joseph G. De Angelis
Joseph G. De Angelis
Partner

For more than 20 years, Joe De Angelis has combined his legal skills and accounting background to guide his clients through complex tax planning and business transactions. His substantial experience as a certified public accountant is extremely valuable to clients requiring practical business solutions for complex legal issues.
Sacramento 916.520.5308 direct
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5308 direct
Jamie P. Dreher
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5478 direct
Reno 775.329.5900 direct
Cassandra M. Ferrannini
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5387 direct
Nicole E. Granquist
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5369 direct
Christopher Miles Kolkey
Senior Associate
Sacramento 916.520.5320 direct
Bret F. Meich
Bret F. Meich
Partner

With a proven track record of trying and winning complex business cases, Bret Meich counsels clients through a range of strategic decisions in order to effectively resolve disputes. He practices primarily in the area of general litigation, and he emphasizes professional, high-quality advocacy from case inception through post-trial appellate work.
Reno 775.997.7418 direct
Partner
Reno 775.997.7418 direct
James Robertson
James Robertson
Partner

James Robertson uses a unique combination of legal skills and business leadership experience to provide his clients with practical and efficient legal advice and to counsel his clients through complex business transactions and an increasingly burdensome regulatory environment.
Sacramento 916.520.5363 direct
Partner
Sacramento 916.520.5363 direct
Reno 775.329.5900 direct
M. Max Steinheimer
Of Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3926 direct
Sacramento 916.444.1000 direct
Matthew J. Weber
Partner
Stockton 209.472.3922 direct
Sacramento 916.444.1000 direct
Jennifer L. Williams
Jennifer L. Williams
Counsel

Regional public entities, businesses, sole proprietorships, and individuals have benefited from Jenny Williams's legal counsel. In today's challenging economic climate, an increase in case filings have reduced the court's availability to hear oral arguments and resulted in significant delays in obtaining trial dates.
Stockton 209.472.3918 direct
Counsel
Stockton 209.472.3918 direct
Sacramento 916.444.1000 direct
Press Releases
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October 1, 2020Downey Brand Welcomes New Bankruptcy Litigation Associate Paul Gaus
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January 15, 2020Downey Brand Names Two New Partners
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December 13, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes Brenda Bass to Natural Resources Practice in Sacramento
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July 1, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes New Counsel Kelly Breen
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June 7, 2019Downey Brand Welcomes New Litigation Attorney Michael J. Laino
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December 31, 2018Downey Brand Names New Partner
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December 12, 2018Downey Brand Welcomes Two New Associates to its Sacramento Office
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December 11, 2018Downey Brand’s San Francisco Office Welcomes Meghan Quinn
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July 31, 2018Solano County Landowner Prevails in Fraud and Trespass Lawsuit Against EDF Renewable Energy, Inc.
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June 21, 2018Bret Meich Earns Nevada Legal Elite Recognition
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June 2, 2017Litigation Attorney Bret Meich Recognized as Legal Elite: Nevada’s Top Attorneys
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January 6, 2017Downey Brand Names New Partners and Counsel
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April 20, 2016Announcing CEQA Chronicles
A Blog Focusing on Environmental Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act -
January 1, 2015Downey Brand Names Four New Partners
Speaking Engagements / Events
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November 19, 2020BPC Expert Briefing: CEQA Update 2020
Bay Planning Coalition's 8th Annual CEQA Update -
November 11, 2020CEQA and Environmental Impact Reports: 2020 Cases, Standards, Mitigation Measures, Exemptions and Lead Agencies
Strafford Webinars -
September 10, 2020Greenhouse Gas Emission Impacts in CEQA & NEPA Environmental Review
Environment, Land Use and Real Estate Section of the BASF Barristers Club -
November 18, 2019BPC Expert Briefing: CEQA Update 2019
Bay Planning Coalition's 7th Annual CEQA Update -
November 27, 20182018 ACWA Legal Briefing & CLE Workshop Presented by Downey Brand LLP
ACWA 2018 Fall Conference & Exhibition -
November 2, 2016Legal Updates in the Construction Industry
Presenter, Building Opportunity Conference -
April 27, 2016Construction Law 101: Covering the Basics
Presenter, Metro Chamber 2016 Seminar Series
Legal Alerts
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April 16, 2020CalEPA Issues Statement on Enforcement and Compliance Requirements During COVID-19 Pandemic
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April 8, 2020Sacramento County Health Officer Extends Stay at Home Order through May 1, 2020; Additional Clarifications for Essential Businesses
Downey Brand COVID-19 News and Updates Public Agency -
March 23, 2020UPDATED: Additional Guidance Provided on Critical Infrastructure Worker Designations in Wake of Statewide Order to Stay Home
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March 20, 2020Statewide Order to Stay Home Prompts Questions Regarding Critical Infrastructure and Worker Classifications
Downey Brand COVID-19 News and Updates Public Agency -
September 10, 2019State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredge or Fill Material to Waters of the State Becomes Effective on May 28, 2020
Environmental Law -
March 2015SB 854 Public Bid Requirements Take Effect March 1, 2015
Construction Law -
October 8, 2014California Legislature Clarifies and Expands Prevailing Wage Laws
Employment Law -
April 2012Changes are Coming
Construction Law