Robert C. Hendrickson practices in the areas of construction law, business litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Hendrickson has more than 25 years of experience in construction law, including experience with all phases of engineering and construction contracting, design, bidding, change orders and claims, errors and omissions claims, mechanics liens and bond claims, public and private work, litigation and alternative dispute resolution; insurance claims and disputes regarding design and construction coverage; and arbitration, mediation and other forms of ADR. He has diverse project experience ranging from large civil industrial and commercial projects to failed real estate development projects and construction defect litigation, and has established working relationships with the top consultants in these areas. He has a balanced practice, representing owners, developers, contractors and design professionals both as plaintiffs and as defendants. He is actively involved as a speaker and participant in a number of construction industry trade groups.

Mr. Hendrickson has substantial experience in business and commercial litigation, having represented a wide range of business entities from start-up companies to established financial institutions. He has successfully litigated, tried, and arbitrated a significant number of business cases, including sales of goods, business torts, insurance coverage, and real estate development, including related financial services.

Mr. Hendrickson has served as a neutral arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association (Construction Panel) for over 15 years and has participated as an advocate representing clients in over 50 arbitrations, mediations, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Legal Advisory Committee of the California Associated General Contractors, the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California, and a construction panel arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

Licensed as a Professional Engineer (Civil) in California, Mr. Hendrickson is a 1979 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, and a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (M.S. Civil Engineering, B.S. Civil Engineering, with honors).

Areas Of Practice

Construction
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Commercial Litigation

Representative Matters

Successfully defended large international EPC contractor against claims by electrical supplier involving a major telecommunications facility.
Recovered increased costs for owner/developer arising from strural errors which led to costly overruns.
Recovered $1.5 million arbitration award (including attorneys fees) for master real estate developer against builder.
Successfully defended large national engineering firm from catastrophic gas pipe explosion which have resulted in nearly $100 million in total settlements.
Recovered $1 million arbitration award on behalf of international combustion boiler firm against EPC contractor on failed power plant project.
Successfully defended owner and engineering firm from contractor claims involving construction of clean coal power plant.
Recovered significant damages on behalf of general contractor on school project with defective plans.
Recovered significant damages for exterior cladding subcontractor against at-risk construction manager on large commercial/residential highrise.
Have negotiated and drafted numerous contractor and design professional agreements, including familiarity with all standard industry forms of agreement.
Frequent arbitrator for AAA and private referrals.
Successfully defended city and engineer against contractor claims arising from waste water treatment plan and SCADA.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association
- Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
Associated General Contractors (California)
- Legal Advisory Committee
American Arbitration Association
- Member, Panel of Construction Arbitrators

Admissions

California
California Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Tax Court

Education

University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D., 1979
University of California, Berkeley, M.S. Civil Engineering, 1975
University of California, Berkeley, B.S. Civil Engineering, with honors, 1974

Experience

Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2006-present
Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP
- Partner, 1987-2005
Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges
- Associate, 1979-86

Honors and Awards

California Super Lawyers, Construction Law, 2007-present
Included in International Bar Association's California 2007-2009 Who's Who Legal, Construction Law

Selected Publications

"Time, Payment, and Communications Risks: Managing the Dangers," program materials for ABA Construction Forum Committee's Annual Meeting, 2004
Co-Author, "Advanced Construction Law in California," course materials for National Business Institute, 2003 and 2004
Co-Author, "Construction Issues in California," course materials for Lorman Institute, 2002 and 2003
Co-Author, "Mechanics' Lien Law Strategies in California," course materials for National Business Institute, 2000, 2001 and 2002
Co-Author, "California Construction Law," course materials for National Business Institute, 1998, 1999 and 2001

Selected Speaking Engagements

Panelist, "Notes from the Jury Box: Jury Trials in Complex Construction Cases" Construction SuperConference 07 San Francisco, The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, December 14, 2007
"Riskless Business: Should Risk Be Managed Without Mandatory Indemnification Clauses?" Association of California Water Agencies, CLE Workshop for Law Professionals, Costa Mesa, California (2005)
"Time, Payment and Communications Risks: Managing the Dangers," ABA Construction Forum Committee's Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, Arizona (2004)
"Advanced Construction Law in California," National Business Institute, San Jose (2003) and San Francisco (2004)
"Negotiating and Drafting the Right Dispute Provisions - From the Litigator's Perspective," presented with Rick Seabolt. Sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel - America, Palo Alto & San Francisco (2004)
"Construction Issues in California," Lorman Education Services, San Francisco (2002, 2003) and Oakland (2002, 2003)
"Fundamentals of Construction Law," American Bar Association, Construction Forum, San Francisco (2002)
"Mechanics' Lien Law Strategies In California," National Business Institute, San Francisco (1998-2002) and San Jose (2002)
"California Construction Law," National Business Institute, San Francisco (1998, 1999 and 2001)
"Cracked Welds - A Big Problem Waiting to Happen," AGC Legal Advisory Committee (February 1998)
"A Cure for Construction Defect and Design Problems," Lamberson Koster/Gallagher Client Seminar (September 1997)
"Structural Performance and Failures," Stanford University, College of Engineering, CE 287 Guest Speaker (1993-2004)
"Construction Engineering and Management Seminar," UC Berkeley, College of Engineering, CE 298-5 Guest Speaker (1992-2000)