Tracy L. McCreight, P.C.

Partner

  • Tracy L. McCreight, P.C.
  • Phone: +1 512 277 2260

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    Terrace 7
    2801 Via Fortuna, Suite 200
    Austin, TX 78746-7567
    USA

Tracy L. McCreight practices in all aspects of complex commercial litigation and construction litigation, including contract, real estate, general business and partnership disputes, including pre-litigation dispute resolution.  With more than 20 years of experience, Ms. McCreight is a trusted advisor to her clients.  Her practice includes extensive experience in Texas state courts, federal courts, and various arbitration forums, on both sides of the docket.  In her construction practice, Ms. McCreight focuses on representing commercial owners in construction defect matters and contract disputes.  She serves on the firm’s Professional Standards Committee, as well as on the steering committee for the firm’s Women’s Impact Network for Success.

Ms. McCreight is a 2002 graduate, with honors, of the University of Texas School of Law and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Maryland.

Areas of Practice

  • Construction Law and Litigation

  • Commercial Litigation

Representative Matters

  • In arbitration, obtained a full recovery for an insurance company seeking indemnification from a claims handler who errantly denied a claim.
  • Obtained a defensive summary judgment for a real estate organization and its affiliates. In a real estate transaction, the plaintiff claimed that certain information about the apartment complex it purchased had not been disclosed by the defendants. The summary judgment declared that the plaintiff take nothing against the defendants. The defendants were also awarded attorneys’ fees.
  • Obtained a $7.9 million arbitration award for a limited partner who is a majority equity investor in the construction and operation of a high-end living community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

  • Represented a joint venture which included an Engineering News-Record top five firm, managing the legal issues and relationship with a governmental agency owner during completion of major civil infrastructure that experienced significant delays and defects; then resolved a $40 million claim by the governmental agency owner against the client for a fraction of the claim, via an “early” mediation process, conducted virtually.  This matter is thought to be the largest construction suit in Travis County/Austin history.

  • Obtained a jury verdict for a hotel owner on a foundation defect case.

  • Obtained a multi-mllion dollar arbitration award for hotel owner concerning claims of breach of contract against a general contractor in which its parent company was found liable for fraud; had arbitration award confirmed in federal court against parent company, a non-signatory to the contract.

  • Obtained an arbitration award for a real estate investor and defeated the opposing party’s efforts to vacate the award.

  • Obtained an arbitration award for an online university against a claim made by a former student.

Admissions

  • Texas
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Education

  • University of Texas School of Law, J.D., with honors, 2002
  • University of Maryland, B.A., magna cum laude, 1994

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 2019-present

  • Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr PC
    - Shareholder, 2013-2019
    - Associate, 2012-2013

  • The Davis Group Attorneys & Counselors PC
    - Attorney, 2010-2012

  • Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
    - Associate, 2004-2009

  • Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP
    - Associate, 2003-2004
    - Law Clerk, 2002

Professional Activities

  • Duane Morris Professional Standards Committee
  • Duane Morris Women's Impact Network for Success (WINS) Steering Committee
  • Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation
    - Board of Directors, 2018-2022
    - Chair, 2019-2020

  • Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association
    - President, 2018-2019
    - President-elect, 2017-2018
    - Board of Directors, 2014-2019
    - Mentor, 2013-2018

  • Texas Law IL Mentor, 2021-2023
  • Center for Women in Law Institute at Texas Law
     - Faculty, 2016-2018

  • Barbara Jordan Inn of Court
    - Barrister, 2016-2018, 2022-2023

  • Austin Bar Association
    - Civil Litigation and Construction Sections, 2009-present

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2024
  • Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2021 and 2023

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
    - Pro Bono Family Law Attorney, 2011-2016

  • Big Brothers and Big Sisters of New York City
    - Workplace Mentor, 2005-2007

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Construction Negligence and Responsible Third Party Issues," Houston Bar Association Construction Law Section, May 20, 2021
  • Speaker, "Construction Disputes: Strategies and Best Practices to Manage Complexities and Challenges," The Knowledge Group Online CLE, April 28, 2020
  • Speaker, "Half-Day Ethics CLE," Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, Austin, Texas, March 6, 2020
  • Speaker, "Trends and Updates in Contracts Litigation: Tips and Tactics Explored," The Knowledge Group, Webinar, November 18, 2019

  • Speaker, "Third-Party Practice: Risks and Rewards of RTPs vs TPDs," State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section Annual Construction Law Conference 2019, San Antonio, Texas, March 1, 2019

  • Speaker, "Managing Engineering Liability and Risk Seminar," Half Moon Education Inc., Austin, Texas, January 25, 2019

  • Moderator, "In-House Counsel Pop Quiz: Recent Trends in Texas Law,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Austin, Texas, August 2, 2018

Media Hits

Selected Publications

  • Co-author, "Whose Testimony Is It Anyway--Can Expert Witnesses in Construction Trials Testify as to Industry Standards in Unambiguous Contracts?" Construction Law Journal, Winter 2022
  • Author, "Third-Party Practice: Risks and Rewards of RTPs vs TPDs," State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section Annual Construction Law Conference 2019, San Antonio, Texas, March 1, 2019

  • Author, "Joint and Several Contractual Liability and Settlement Credits:  A Look at the 'One Satisfaction Rule in Texas,'" State Bar of Texas, Construction Section, Annual Conference, March 2017

  • Author, "At What Point Does a Surety’s Obligation Pursuant to a Performance Bond Terminate?" Construction News, May 25, 2016

  • Author, "10 Tips for Reducing the Risk of a Contract Dispute," Construction Executive Risk Management, October 27, 2015