Douglas S. Oles | Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP

Douglas Oles helps his clients avoid and resolve disputes on a wide variety of complex public and private contracts in the construction, supply, energy and real estate development industries. He also works as neutral mediator and arbitrator in contract-based disputes. With more than three decades of transactional, litigation and arbitration experience, Douglas is deeply committed to helping his clients solve problems promptly and cost-efficiently. He has represented both claimants and respondents in resolving multiple disputes over $100,000,000 and in a wide variety of smaller cases.

Representing construction clients across the United States, Douglas has participated in a number of high profile infrastructure projects. He has also worked on various commercial contracts in Europe, Asia and South America.

Douglas is a leader in a variety of construction industry groups that keep him at the forefront of new developments in contracting and claim resolution.

Representative matters

General Matters

Represent electrical trade contractor in preparing and settling claims for multiple changes on two apartment buildings

Represent California software developer in successful contract-based arbitration against a Nevada casino customer

Assist New York-based contractor in preparing and litigating complex claims involving Differing Site Conditions during tunnel construction

Represent general contractor in complex claims involving incomplete design and delay on a multi-prime power generation plant project in Alaska

Represent general contractor on complex contract dispute involving construction of new computer chip manufacturing facility

Represent general contractor in complex multi-party claims involving design warranty and delay on corporate headquarters for international athletic product manufacturer

Advise general contractor on handling differing site conditions on Corps of Engineers dam project

Assist large real estate developer in setting up design-build contracts for 1000+ unit residential development

Assist foundation contractor with multiple issues during construction of high rise in San Francisco

Defend foundation contractor against claims arising from tilting highrise built by others in San Francisco

Assist with review and negotiation of contracts for design and construction of private space launch facilities in Florida

Represent Swiss company in defending against contract-based claims by U.S. investor

Represent international contractor in appealing Contracting Officer decision denying multiple claims on military base in New Jersey

Assist private developer in negotiating sale of large commercial property in Bellevue, WA

Defend owner developer against multiple complex claims on high rise hotel development

Publications & Presentations

Presentations

Speaker, “Getting Paid: Prompt Payment Act from the Perspectives of the Government, Primes & Subs,” Navigating Federal Government Contracts Northwest 2019, Seattle, Washington, October 30, 2019
Speaker, “Consequential Damages and Indemnity in Construction Agreements,” International Bar Association, Seoul, Korea, September 24, 2019
Speaker, “Issues in Design-Build Contracting,” Washington State Bar Association, Construction Law Committee, Seattle, WA, June 7, 2019
Speaker, “Everything You Need to Know About Design Build Projects,” Federal Government in the Last Frontier, Anchorage, AK, March 19, 2019
Speaker, “The Rules of Contract Interpretation in Construction Contracts,” International Academy of Construction Lawyers, Cologne, Germany, April 5, 2019
Speaker, “Federal Design-Build Challenges,” Navigating Federal Government Contracts Northwest 2018, Seattle, WA, October 2018
Panel speaker, International Bar Association, IBA Annual Meetings, Vienna, 2015; Washington D.C., 2016; Sydney, 2017
Panel Chair and Speaker on Design-Build Contracting, Society of Construction Law conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 2016
Speaker on Keystone XL Pipeline, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers conference, St. John’s, Newfoundland
Panel Chair and Speaker on Choosing Governing Law and Venue for Disputes in International Arbitration, Society of Construction Law Conference, Kuala Lumpur, September 2014
Speaker on Contract Eschatology: Suspension & Termination, International Construction Law Conference, London, September 2012
Panel Chair and Speaker on Contract Negotiation and Drafting, Society of Construction Law Conference in Melbourne, May 2012
Speaker on Technical Claim Defenses, ABA Construction Forum, Atlanta, October 2011
Speaker on Resolving Construction Disputes in Canada and the U.S. – Looking Back, Looking Forward, ABA Annual Meeting, August 2011
Speaker on Contract Forms and Forums in the United States, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Ottawa, June 2011
Speaker on Construction Claims Disputes and Liability, Pacific Business & Law Institute, April 2011
Speaker on Communication – Proper & Timely Notifications, Construction Seminars Northwest, April 2010
Panel Chair and Speaker on Differing Site Conditions, Society of Construction Law Conference, Hong Kong, December 2010
Speaker, Federal Contracting, ABA Construction Forum, Philadelphia, October 2009
Speaker, Society of Construction Law Conference, London, October 2008
Speaker on various construction-related topics, London Super Conference, 2002 – 2006
Speaker, Dispute Review Boards, OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar, 2005

Publications

Co-authored, “The International Comparative Legal Guide To: Construction & Engineering Law 2019”, U.S. chapter, July 2019
Co-authored, “The International Comparative Legal Guide To: Construction & Engineering Law 2018”, U.S. chapter, July 2018
Co-Author, “50 State Survey of Licensed Design Professional’s Stamping and Sealing Obligations,” Washington, ABA Forum on Construction Law, April 2018
Co-Author, “But There’s a Catch–California’s Wage-Credit Restrictions on IAF’s Still Stand,” ABA’s The Dispute Revolver, August 16, 2016

Affiliations

President, American College of Construction Lawyers, 2018
Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers, 2004 – present
Board Member, The Beavers, 2019
Member, International Bar Association
Past National Chair, American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, 2005 – 2006
Honorary Fellow, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers
Fellow, International Academy of Construction Lawyers
Programs Coordinator, Society of Construction Law
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Board Member, JAMS – Global Engineering & Construction
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
Washington State Bar Association, Construction Law Section
Past President, The Rainier Club, 2007 – 2008
Life Member, British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation-Construction, 2021
Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, 2003 – present
Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Construction, 2018 – present
Who’s Who in America, 2008 – present
International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers, 2007 – present
Super Lawyers, 2003, 2006 – present
Martindale Hubbell highest AV rating for over 20 years

News & Insights

Practice Areas

Education

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

Bar Admissions

Washington State Courts
Alaska State Courts
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