Press Release
Albert Bates, Jr., Named Vice-Chair of Duane Morris Construction Group
PITTSBURGH, September 2, 2011—International law firm Duane Morris LLP has named partner Albert ("Albee") Bates, Jr., of the firm's Pittsburgh office the vice-chair of its highly regarded national Construction Group. He joins partner and division chair Robert Prentice, based in Philadelphia, in leading the practice.
"Since joining Duane Morris in 2007, Albee has established himself as a key member of the Construction Group," said Prentice. "He is a well-respected trial lawyer and arbitrator with a keen grasp of client needs, and I'm certain he will bring those skills to bear in his new leadership role."
"The Construction Group has thrived during the past several years, and our goal moving forward is to grow strategically while continuing to provide exceptional and efficient client service," said Bates.
Bates focuses his practice on resolving disputes on large and complex construction projects. He has extensive litigation and domestic and international arbitration experience, with an emphasis on the resolution of construction claims; commercial contract matters; and other complex technical, environmental and business disputes. Bates also regularly serves as an arbitrator and mediator for domestic and international construction and commercial disputes.
Bates is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in the areas of alternative dispute resolution and construction law and has been recognized as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" by Philadelphia magazine in the field of construction litigation since 2004. Bates was selected as Best Lawyers' "2010 Pittsburgh Construction Lawyer of the Year," and recently completed his term as Chairman of the Construction Section of the Allegheny County Bar Association.
Bates serves on the board of directors of the American Arbitration Association and chairs the AAA's National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee. A Fellow in the College of Commercial Arbitrators and a certified mediator with the International Mediation Institute, Bates is a charter member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.
Bates earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law, his M.B.A. in finance from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management and his B.A., cum laude, from Washington & Jefferson College.
About the Duane Morris Construction Group
Duane Morris' Construction Group is nationally ranked by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business among the leaders in the industry, and has repeatedly been named a finalist for the prestigious Chambers USA Award for Excellence in Construction. In addition, U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers named the group a top-tier national practice as part of its inaugural Best Law Firms list in 2010. With a significant presence throughout its U.S. offices, the group's lawyers assist clients in addressing the legal challenges of engaging in the design, development, financing, performance and management of major construction and government procurement contracts, and have special experience working on complex, high-visibility projects.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 700 attorneys in offices across the United States and around the world, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today's evolving global markets.
