Elaine Lee | Lawyer

Elaine Lee represents owners, contractors and design and engineering professionals in construction litigation and counseling, as well as clients in a diverse range of commercial litigation matters.

Elaine has advised and advocated for clients in major construction projects, including public infrastructure, commercial buildings and cultural icons. With experience in all stages of dispute resolution—from early-stage claim development and mediation, to discovery, motion practice and trial in both state and federal court and arbitration, as well as appeals—combined with a dedicated focus on construction-specific issues and practices, Elaine helps clients find their advantage in high-stakes situations.

Elaine also has a broad litigation background, with experience in consumer class action defense, contract disputes and negotiations, employment litigation, advising startup clients and internal investigations. Her pro bono work includes disability rights and public benefits impact litigation and human rights advocacy.

Representative Experience

Won arbitration award on behalf of general contractor and subsequent challenge and appeal of that award concerning defects and delay in the construction of a detention center in Southern California.
Helped facilitate close-out of several subcontractors on public transportation infrastructure project in Los Angeles.
Represented joint venture general contractor in state court litigation against the design joint venture for design and engineering defects related to expansion of the BART system in Northern California.

Represented the general contractor of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco in state court litigation related to the settling and leaning of the nearby Millennium Tower.

Represented owner and and general contractor of The Broad Collection art museum in state court litigation against the subcontractor for delay and design issues.

Represented engineering firm in state court litigation concerning construction of gas compressor station.

Represented a national bank in a CLRA putative class action brought by a purchaser of prepaid gift cards, including achieving dismissal of appeal to the Ninth Circuit.

Worked with in-house counsel of a leading LA tech company to investigate, defend and favorably settle putative class action based on alleged violation of the CLRA and UCL.

Professional Highlights

Member of the team shortlisted for the Chambers USA 2021 “Construction Law Firm of the Year” award, awarded the 2018 Construction Lawyers Society of American Law Firm Award, ranked Tier 1 Construction Law in 2023 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms, and named U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ 2016 national “Law Firm of the Year – Construction Litigation.”
Recipient of the firm’s Stimson Fellowship, which allowed Elaine to spend a year working with the Shriver Housing Project-Los Angeles, a groundbreaking initiative that provides legal representation to low-income litigants in housing law cases.
Publications
- “Quicker But Less Dirty: The Biden Administration Both Streamlines and Seeks to Expand NEPA Environmental Review,” The Construction Lawyer – American Bar Association, vol 41 (2022).