John R. Heisse
Partner

• Panama Canal Expansion Project. Advised the Panama Canal Authority on the selection of appropriate project delivery methods, phasing and contracting strategies for this $5 billion project, consisting of the construction of new sets of locks at the Atlantic and Pacific ends of the canal, the excavation of new canal sections to access the Pacific locks, and the dredging of both the inland and oceanside waterways. (Panama City, Panama)
• Solar Electric Generating Facilities System (SEGS). Represented the BOM contractor in arbitration of a dispute with the developer of the first segment of the nation's largest solar field. The dispute involved the failure of the solar field to achieve warranted production efficiencies, which resulted in a dramatic reduction of power generated. Since the payment for O&M services was pegged to power generated, this underperformance resulted in significant operating losses for the contractor. The arbitration involved complex engineering issues of thermodynamics and energy conversion. (Mojave Desert (Daggett), California)
• Desalinated Water Pipeline Failure. Represented an EPCM contractor in ICDR arbitration with an owner after the catastrophic failure of the internal lining in over 100 miles of water pipeline. (Santiago, Chile)
• Citizens Bank Ballpark. Represented a general contractor for the construction of the home of the Philadelphia Phillies in the resolution of subcontractor claims for delay, disruption and extra work. The claims of all but one subcontractor were resolved amicably; shortly before the commencement of trial for the remaining dispute, the parties agreed to transfer the dispute from the local trial court to a private arbitration proceeding before agreed-upon neutral arbitrators. The case was successfully resolved through a multi-week arbitration. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• St. John's Health Center. Represented a general contractor and its surety during construction of a roughly $200 million central plant and inpatient building. Worked closely during construction with the contractor's team to identify and resolve disputes where possible, and ultimately settled close-out disputes with the owner, designers, construction manager and dozens of subcontractors. Also represented the completing surety in a trial against the controls subcontractor and an arbitration with the MEP designer. (Santa Monica, California)
• Commerce Club Hotel and Casino. Represented a general contractor and its surety in developing and resolving claims for additional scope, alleged defects, delay and disruption between the contractor and the owner as well as between the contractor and dozens of subcontractors. Successfully resolved all claims prior to commencement of trial. (Commerce, California)
• Honolulu Area Rapid Transit (HART). Represented the city and county of Honolulu in litigation with a contractor following the cancellation of a planned $2.2 billion rapid transit system after the initial phase of project development had been performed. (Honolulu, Hawaii)
• Sky Valley Project. Represented a large Japanese home builder in arbitration of a complex construction dispute involving landslide repair and civil engineering work at a large, high-end residential and golf course project constructed on seismically active land. This arbitration centered on issues of geotechnical engineering and soils analysis. (Vallejo, California)
• University of California's Mt. Zion Outpatient Cancer Center. Represented an owner against contractor claims on a multi-prime contract involving 42 trades and construction of a state-of-the-art cancer center. Successfully resolved all issues and closed all contracts without litigation. (San Francisco, California)
• Projects at the University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco. Represented a public owner in disputes arising on several projects, including seismic upgrade projects involving defective design, and disputes with contractors on hospital, student housing, and mixed use facility projects on both the Berkeley and San Francisco campuses. (Berkeley and San Francisco, California)
• PETCO Park. Assisted in the negotiation and drafting of design-build contracts between the City of San Diego and the San Diego Ballpark Builders joint venture for the construction of the home of the San Diego Padres. (San Diego, California)

• Chambers USA, Construction—California (2004-2012)
• Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction (10 years)
• Legal 500 US, Real Estate & Construction Litigation—Leading Lawyer (2007-2012)
• PLC Which Lawyer?, Construction—San Francisco & Silicon Valley (2011-2012)
• Who's Who Legal, Construction—California (2005-2011, 2013)
• Best of the Best USA, Construction, Euromoney/Legal Media Group (2012)
• Guide to the World's Leading Construction Litigation Lawyers, Euromoney/Legal Media Group (2011)
• Super Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers in Northern California (2009, 2010, 2012)

American College of Construction Lawyers, 2005 – Present (Board of Governors, 2012 – Present, Co-Chair, Public Contract Committee, 2010 – Present)

American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, 1985 – Present (Chair, 2003 –2004, other leadership positions, 1995 – 2003)

American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, 1985 – Present (Chair, Construction Claims Committee, 1998 – 1999, Vice Chair, 1995 – 1997)

American Bar Foundation, Fellow

Catholic University of America School of Engineering, Executive Board, 2007 – Present

Board Member, Legal Community Against Violence, 1994 – 2009; Chair, 1994 – 1997

National Board Member, ACE Mentor Program, 2007 – 2010; Leadership Circle, 2010 – Present

Executive Board, Catholic University of America, School of Engineering, 2007 – Present

Mediator, San Francisco Bar Association Early Settlement Program, 2004 – Present

Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association, National Panel of Construction Arbitrators

Presentations/Speaking Engagements
"Imposing and Meeting Pre-Qualification Requirements: How to Handle Protests." Construction Superconference (2011).

"Ethical Problems in Federal Contracts." American College of Construction Lawyers (2011).

"Attracting and Retaining a Diverse Workforce." Associated General Contractors of California (2008).

"Risk Allocation in Standard Form Agreements: Who’s the Fairest of Them All?" ABA Forum of the Construction Industry (2006). Moderator

"Forensic Scheduling and the As-Built Delay Analysis." Construction Superconference (2006). Panelist

"Construction Law for Accountants." California CPA Foundation (2004).

"Fundamentals of Construction Law." ABA Forum of the Construction Industry (2002).

"Best Value Procurement and Other Alternatives to the Lowest Responsible Bidder." Associated Builders and Contractors (2001).

"Proving Damages Through Lay and Expert Witnesses." ABA Forum of the Construction Industry (1999).

"The Accountant’s Role in Litigation." AICPA National Conference (1998, 2000).