Anthony L. Meagher

Anthony L. Meagher

Partner
Co-Chair, Construction
About

Tony Meagher is an experienced construction lawyer, who, for over three decades, has worked with clients on projects nationwide and internationally. Tony is a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried many construction and other commercial disputes before judges, juries and arbitration panels. He is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and a trained neutral with broad arbitration and mediation experience, which includes being a member of the panel of construction arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association.

Tony’s clients have included developers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers and sureties. Disputes he has handled involve stadiums, industrial facilities, office buildings, hotels, universities and other schools, retail, mixed-use and multi-family projects. He also has handled many cases involving defective design and construction, defective construction materials, equipment and other products, and cases involving major property damage, death and serious personal injury suffered on construction sites. 

Aside from his disputes work, Tony frequently assists clients on the front end of construction projects, drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts on major industrial and professional sports facilities, public facilities, and many other types of commercial developments.  During projects, he helps clients trouble-shoot issues that arise in an effort to avoid or at least minimize disputes.

In addition to construction matters, Tony has handled a wide variety of other real estate and business litigation, including business tort matters and disputes involving leases, commercial real property sales, brokerage commissions, property boundaries, easements, restrictive covenants, and other similar issues.

Bar admissionsMaryland
CourtsUnited States District Court for the District of MarylandUnited States Court of Appeals for MarylandUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

EXPERIENCE

Tony has represented:

  • The American subsidiary of an Italian cement manufacturer in a multi-week AAA arbitration relating to the construction of a new cement plant (half-billion dollar project value) along-side an existing and operating plant.  Successfully defended against the contractor’s claim for in excess of $50 million in additional costs relating to delays and alleged scope changes
  • An international EPC contractor in claims relating to US chemical plant project. Lead counsel in 10+ day AAA (ICDR) arbitration seated in New York, resulting in substantial award for contractor, together with interest, fees, and costs
  • The owner of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan in construction matters relating to its redevelopment, including two arbitrations, the last involving a claim in excess of $3.5 billion for delay in the completion of infrastructure and turnover of development sites.  Damage claim denied in its entirety
  • A major Washington-area developer in construction and real estate disputes involving several office, multi-family, and mixed-use projects
  • Two National Football League franchises in connection with construction of their new football stadiums. Matters included defense of two multimillion-dollar claims, negotiation of a complex closeout agreement, and pursuit of substantial design claims
  • A steel manufacturer on a nationwide basis in construction claims and construction product defect cases. Matters have included construction claims for payment on major stadiums and arena projects, roof collapses due to snow and other overload conditions and construction injury cases, including wrongful death, and other serious personal injury matters
  • A cement manufacturer, as project counsel, on a multi-hundred–million-dollar cement plant modernization project. Representation included drafting and negotiating in excess of 30 design, construction and equipment supply contracts; advising the client on day-to-day project performance issues; and handling the defense and resolution of several significant construction claims
  • An international developer of a Caribbean resort hotel, including negotiation of construction management contract and arbitration of claim for defective performance
  • A poultry supplier in negotiation of numerous design and construction contracts for several projects, including a prototype industrial processing facility for poultry litter. The representation included drafting and negotiation of a sizeable design-build construction contract and handling a construction claim relating to site work
  • A national outlet mall developer in defense of a multimillion-dollar claim involving construction of new retail space
  • Several commercial retailers and other parties in disputes regarding the buildout of leased premises
  • Several municipalities in construction matters relating to the construction of correctional facilities, schools and other public facilities, including drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts, and litigating or arbitrating construction claims
Education
  • J.D., University of Maryland School of Law 1988
    Order of the Coif
    Co-Chair, Moot Court Board
    with honors
  • B.A., Texas Lutheran University 1985
    summa cum laude

Awards

  • Chambers USA
    • Band 2, Maryland Construction (2022-2023)
    • Spotlight Table, Maryland Construction (2021)
      Chambers comments, "Cochair of the firm's construction group Anthony Meagher has key experience in a wide range of disputes, including contractual and defect claims." Clients say, "He is a sharp lawyer and an excellent construction litigator."
  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Recommended, Construction (Including Construction Litigation) (2015-2023)
      The Legal 500 comments, "The group is jointly chaired by Anthony Meagher, who focuses primarily on construction disputes." 
  • The Best Lawyers in America, every year since 2005, Construction Lawyer of the Year 2015
  • Benchmark Litigation—Local Litigation Star, Construction
  • Super Lawyers, Construction
  • Who’s Who Legal:  Construction
  • Who’s Who Legal:  Thought Leaders-Construction                                      
  • Maryland’s Legal Elite, SmartCEO magazine

Insight Overview

Anthony frequently lectures on construction related topics for the ABA, Lorman Education, Federal Publications, and the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers. He also has authored several papers on construction topics.

Seminars

  • Speaker, Outkicking Your Coverage: Construction Insurance and Risk Management Strategies   International Council of Shopping Centers, October, 2018
  • Speaker, Advocacy Practicum:  Handling Delay Claims, ABA Forum on Construction Law, April 2018
  • Speaker, MSBA Advanced Real Property Institute:  AIA 2017 Documents, Maryland State Bar Association, Real Property Section, September, 2017
  • Faculty Member, ABA Forum on the Construction Law Trial Academy (bi-annual program), 2014-present
  • Chair, ABA Forum on Construction Law Trial Academy, Washington, DC, June 26 – 28, 2012
  • Speaker, "What is a Schedule Good For? A Study of Issues Posed by Schedules for Complex Projects," ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Houston, February 2, 2012

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Former Chair, Construction Law Section (formerly Construction Cases Committee of the Litigation Section) of the Maryland State Bar Association
  • ABA Section of Public Contract Law
  • ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
    • Member, Governing Committee, 2006 – 2009
    • Former Chair, Steering Committee of Division Five-Contract Negotiation, Performance and Administration

Connect

Phone

+1 410 580 4214
(Work, Baltimore (Mount Washington))