Construction & Surety Law
Practical support for high-stakes construction projects and surety matters.
Construction projects succeed when the contracts are clear and disputes are resolved before they derail progress.
Couhig Partners’ attorneys bring hands-on construction experience as owners and developers, not just as lawyers. Our experience changes how we counsel clients. We understand the costs of delays and defaults, and appreciate how proper documentation on day 30 determines what happens in court on day 300.
We represent owners, contractors, and sureties in matters involving the Louisiana Private Works Act, the Louisiana Public Works Act, the Louisiana Public Bid Law, and the Miller Act on federal projects. Whether you are beginning a new project or responding to a crisis, we provide counsel built for real construction realities.
HOW WE HELP
Construction & Surety Law Practice Areas
From pre-design through acceptance of the work, we help you protect your position and resolve problems before they become expensive issues.
Project Planning & Support
Early project decisions shape how risk is allocated and how disputes will be resolved if problems arise. We work with owners, contractors, developers and sureties to structure and document construction relationships—from drafting and negotiating agreements to advising on change orders and documentation throughout the project. As work progresses, we help ensure that contract requirements are met and project records support your position if issues arise later.
Construction Contracts
Vague contracts become disputes. We draft and negotiate construction agreements that address the issues most likely to cause problems, including how scope changes are handled, how payment flows, and who bears risk when something goes wrong. Getting this language right before work starts is always better than litigating it later.
Contract & Disputes Resolution
Construction disputes usually come down to what the contract required, what happened in the field, and whether anyone documented the difference between the two. We assess each project record honestly by reviewing correspondence, change orders, and job documentation to understand where liability lies and what resolution realistically looks like. When negotiation or mediation can achieve the right result, we pursue it. When litigation is necessary, we are trial lawyers who know construction matters.
Performance Bond Takeover & Completion
A performance bond is a guarantee: if the contractor defaults, the surety is obligated to complete the project and/or pay the subcontractors. When that moment arrives, the surety has to decide quickly how to respond. We help sureties navigate those decisions, manage the path to project completion, and minimize the cost and duration of litigation.
Payment Bond Litigation
A payment bond guarantees that subcontractors and suppliers will be paid even if the general contractor does not pay them. When these claims reach litigation, they are technical and unforgiving. Notice requirements are strict, deadlines are short, and the governing framework depends on whether the project is private, public, or federal. We represent claimants and defendants in these disputes and know what it takes to protect a legitimate recovery right or defeat a claim that lacks merit.
Performance Bond Litigation
When a performance bond claim reaches litigation, the central questions are whether the contractor defaulted and what that default cost the project. We represent sureties and owners in these disputes, building the case around what the contract required, what the contractor delivered, and where the documented record shows the two diverged.
GET IN TOUCH
Talk With a Construction & Surety Lawyer
Construction problems do not wait for a convenient moment. Tell us where things stand and we will give you a straightforward assessment on your options and what it will take to move forward.
Share a few details about your matter and someone from our team will follow up promptly.
