For more than 25 years, Douglas Oles has concentrated his practice on helping clients to avoid and resolve disputes on complex contracts relating to construction, supply, real estate development and intellectual property licensing. Today, he is also increasingly involved as a neutral mediator and arbitrator in contract-based disputes.

Mr. Oles has prepared, negotiated and litigated claims resulting in recoveries in excess of $100 million on major projects performed for government agencies and private owners. Most of his work has been in Alaska and the western United States, but assignments have ranged from Europe to South America. As a principal developer of the firm’s international contracts practice, Mr. Oles joined the faculty at conferences of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Construction Law Section and the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, and he chaired the first construction conference to be planned jointly by the Canadian and American Bar Associations.

Presentations

• “Technical Claim Defenses” ABA Construction Forum, Atlanta (October 2011)
• "Resolving Construction Disputes in Canada and the U.S. - Looking Back, Looking Forward" ABA Annual Meeting (August 2011)
• “Forms and Forums in the United States” Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Ottawa (June 2011)
• "Construction Claims Disputes and Liability" Pacific Business & Law Institute (April 2011)
• "Communication - Proper & Timely Notifications ” Construction Seminars Northwest (April 2010)
• Society of Construction Law Conference in Hong Kong (December 2010)
• “Federal Contracting,” ABA Construction Forum, Philadelphia (October 2009)
• Society of Construction Law Conference in London (October 2008)
• London Super Conference (2002-2006)
• “Dispute Review Boards,” OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar (2005)
• “Negotiating Changes to ‘Standard’ Form Contracts,” OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar (2004)

Professional and Civic Involvement

American College of Construction Lawyers, Board member
American Bar Association – Chair, Forum on the Construction Industry (2005-2006)
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
JAMS, Panel of Neutrals
Washington State Bar Association, Construction Law Section
Alaska Bar Association
International Bar Association
President, The Rainier Club (2007-2008)
British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, life member

Courts

Washington State Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Washington
U.S. District Court, Western District, Washington
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Education

J.D., University of Washington, with honors, 1979
B.A., Stanford University, History, with distinction and department honors (Phi Beta Kappa), 1976

Notable

Martindale Hubbell AV rating for over 20 years
Best Lawyers in America since 2009
Who’s Who in America since 2008
International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers since 2007
Washington’s “Super Lawyers” since 2006