Construction Law

Shannon J. Briglia

BrigliaMcLaughlin PLLC
Tysons Corner
 

Title: Partner

Other legal specialties: Surety law

Birthplace: Massachusetts

Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, Virginia Tech; law degree, George Mason University School of Law

Spouse: Steve

Children: Bruce, 22; and Brett, 20

Hobbies: Sports, paper crafting, travel and reading

First job as a lawyer: Pro se law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division

Fan of: Washington Nationals and Capitals

Favorite vacation spot: Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Recently read book: “Beneath a Scarlet Sky” by Mark Sullivan

Career mentors: Michael C. Loulakis and Jon M. Wickwire

What new developments are you seeing in construction law?
The use of public-private partnerships to build or replace public-use projects is expanding in commonality and scope in the United States. No longer exclusively used on mega-projects, we are starting to see local municipalities employ P3s to build, operate and maintain everything from public garages to community centers. This expansion of the model raises new challenges for both the concessionaire/constructor and the owner/user, creating interesting legal issues for resolution by construction lawyers.

Why did you decide to start a construction law firm?
Together with my law partner, I set out to build a firm to deliver high-quality client service and results in a smaller, lower-overhead environment without industry conflicts of interest. Despite opening our doors at the beginning of the 2008 recession, we achieved our goal of providing excellent services from contract review and negotiation to dispute resolution with a bench similar in size and experience to larger firms. It has been challenging and rewarding.