Robert B. Thum
Partner

Mr. Thum has focused on construction and engineering law since 1974, providing contract advice and dispute resolution services to owners (public and private), general contractors, engineers and major trade subcontractors. He has handled a wide variety of cases involving major infrastructure projects (dams, highways and bridges, power plants, rail, airports and water treatment plants), as well as refineries, industrial plants, hospitals, schools, and high-rise buildings. He has provided troubled-project counselling to owners and contractors during the construction of power plants, rail and airport projects, refineries and industrial plants. He negotiated the contract documents for the largest hospital project (using Lean project delivery) and has litigated the two of the largest hospital disputes in California history. Mr. Thum is a member of the American Arbitration Association's National Panel of Construction Arbitrators. For over 20 years he has participated in Alternative Dispute Resolution of construction disputes, and has mediated many cases to settlement. Mr. Thum has published widely on construction law topics, including contract interpretation, scheduling, productivity and damage calculation. He has been invited to speak to numerous industry groups throughout the nation on subjects related to construction law and ADR, including the Project Management Institute, American Association of Airport Executives, Construction Litigation Superconference, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry and Practicing Law Institute.

Mr. Thum is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers. He is also a member of the team awarded the 2008 and 2010 Chambers USA Awards in Excellence in Construction. This award recognizes the best construction firm in the US based on evaluation in several areas, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by clients.

• Westwood Replacement Hospital. UCLA hospital litigation
• Santa Monica /Orthopaedic Hospital. UCLA hospital litigation
• J. A. Jones v. California Commerce Club. Casino
• EMC v. LACMTA. Los Angeles Blue Line rapid transit
• Bechtel Power Inc. v. AES Corporation. Mountainview Power Plant
• M.A. Mortenson v. Kaiser Heath. Kaiser Hospital, San Francisco
• O.T.G. v. City & County of Honolulu. Honolulu Rapid Transit System
• Dillingham/Ray Wilson v. City of Los Angeles. Hyperion Wastewater
• University of California v. Centex Golden. U.C. Davis Medical Center
• TIC/Parsons JV v. Siemens Westinghouse. Ennis Power Plant
• BOECON Corp. v. Catalytic. Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Facilities
• BOECON Corp. v. Nevada Power Company. Reid Gardner Power Plant
• Ebasco Constructors v. CA DWR. Devil Canyon Power Plant
• Enserch Inc. v. Exxon Corp. Santa Ynez Refinery
• Guy F. Atkinson v. State of California. China Basin highway and bridge
• Guy F. Atkinson v. State of California. Arcata highway
• Mitsui v. Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority. Aguirre Power Station
• Morse Diesel v. Stanford University. Stanford Children's Hospital
• Rosendin Electric v. City of Los Angeles. Hyperion Wastewater
• Sisters of Mercy v. Turner Construction, CRS. Hospitals

• Chambers USA, Construction—California (2005-2013)
• Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction (2011-2013)
• PLC Which Lawyer?, Construction—Los Angeles (2011)
• Who's Who Legal, Construction—California (2013)
• Guide to the World's Leading Construction Litigation Lawyers, Euromoney/Legal Media Group (2011)
• Super Lawyers (2005-2011)

• American College of Construction Lawyers, Fellow
• National Panel of Construction Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association
• American Bar Association, Member, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, and Public Contract Law and Litigation Sections
• California State Bar Association, Member, Construction, Real Estate and Litigation Sections

• Board of Directors, Town Hall Theater, 2000 - 2003
• President, Board of Directors, Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation, 1997 - 1999
• President, Board of Directors, Piedmont Children's Choirs, 1993 - 1996
• Commissioner, City of Berkeley, Parks and Recreation, 1986 - 1992
• President, Berkeley Rowing Club, 1976 - 1986