Construction Archives - The BTI Consulting Group

Christopher J. Olsen

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:17 +0000

From billion-dollar infrastructure projects to complex public works and commercial projects, Chris guides clients through every phase of the construction process—from contract negotiation and risk management to litigation, arbitration, bid protests, and administrative proceedings. His work spans projects involving federal, state, and local government entities, as well as the private sector.

With extensive first-chair trial experience, Chris has a proven record of delivering results successfully in state and federal courts, securing favorable arbitration awards, and arguing before appellate courts. He regularly navigates multi-million-dollar claims involving delay, acceleration, construction defects, scope changes, payment disputes, and performance guarantees, often on projects exceeding $1 billion in value.

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Michael A. Branca

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:17 +0000

Michael A. Branca has been involved with a wide variety of projects, both public and private. In the public arena, Mike has provided counsel on high profile federal health care facilities, courthouses, and military construction projects, civil works to include dam construction and remediation, rail, bridge and highway projects, and solar power facilities. In the private sector, in addition to all manner of general building projects, Mike has extensive experience providing counsel, arbitrating and litigating substantial claims on power generation facilities, including nuclear, fossil, hydroelectric, and solar.

Mike was elected a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers in 2019. He has been recognized since 2007 as one of the leading lawyers in the field of Construction Law by Chambers USA. Mike has been noted by one Chambers source as having “a niche specialty relating to federal acquisition regulations.” One client reported that Mike was “very knowledgeable in how federal law applies to federal projects” and was “deemed to be a go-to lawyer for projects that involve the Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

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Philip M. Hirshberg

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:02 +0000

Phil has over 20 years of experience handling complex civil litigation matters, including multi-party construction defect disputes, toxic tort/asbestos matters, premises liability and commercial litigation. Phil has represented clients in all aspects of the litigation process, including jury and bench trials, dispositive motions, mediation, arbitration and appeals. In his construction practice, Phil has represented owners, contractors, and suppliers in connection with construction defect lawsuits, mechanic’s lien and payment disputes, and construction site injury claims. He has also represented retailers and shopping center owners in landlord-tenant matters and lease disputes. While in law school, Phil was a judicial intern for the Honorable Theodore McMillian of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis, Missouri, and served as a Notes and Comments editor of the Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law.

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John C. Crossley

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:01:36 +0000

John Crossley is the lead practice area leader of the firm’s Energy, Infrastructure, and Resources practice. He focuses on advising clients in the development, acquisition, and sale of renewable energy projects across the United States. His work spans the full project lifecycle—from site acquisition and permitting to project and portfolio transactions, including tax equity and debt financing. John represents both sponsors and financing parties in wind, solar, battery energy storage, carbon capture, hydrogen, and other clean energy infrastructure transactions.

In addition to his core energy practice, John advises clients on the development of data centers, including hyperscale facilities, and other energy-intensive infrastructure. These projects benefit from his combined experience in energy law, real estate, and M&A, allowing him to guide clients through site acquisition and development, leasing, energy procurement, and regulatory strategy for complex infrastructure developments.

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Sonia J. Taylor

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:01:10 +0000

Sonia J. Taylor is known for delivering strategic, cost-effective legal counsel and building trusted client relationships. Sonia advises and defends employers in internal investigations, administrative proceedings, arbitrations, and litigation involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour violations, including representative and class actions.

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Paul E. Ryzuk

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:57 +0000

Paul Ryzuk is a partner in Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Infrastructure and PPP and Construction groups. Paul’s unique professional background of combined legal and technical experience equips him to understand and provide tailored advice to clients about complex construction matters with large document productions, both in arbitration and conventional court proceedings. His practice spans across multiple jurisdictions in Canada and involves both public and private sectors.

In addition to providing strategic advice and risk management through tendering, procurement and construction, Paul possesses a wealth of experience guiding owners, developers, contractors, and suppliers through a variety of disputes, including delay claims, breach of contract, negligence, faulty design work, differing site conditions, professional liability, warranty claims and builders’ liens.

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Richard H. Grafton

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:56 +0000

Richard H. Grafton has extensive experience in products liability, personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, and construction defect litigation. Rich has tried cases throughout the State of Texas, including in some of the more notorious venues for corporate clients. Rich has extensive experience defending alleged defects in automobiles, light trucks, school buses, tires, heavy trucks, commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles and trailers, manufactured housing, consumer products, commercial construction projects, and industrial equipment. Rich has an undergraduate engineering degree and spent six years working in the construction industry before attending law school. He later received an M.B.A and his J.D. with honors. Rich relies upon his technical background and business experience, as many cases involve complex engineering and financial issues. Rich is admitted to all federal courts in Texas. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, by BL Rankings, from 2007- Current. He is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, and is a member of Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC). When not working, Rich is an full time husband and father to three adult children, part time traveler, aspiring outdoorsman, and hunter.

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Wendy K. Venoit

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:41 +0000

Wendy has 30 years of experience as a construction lawyer and arbitration advocate, focusing her practice on representing contractors and owners in litigation and arbitration of construction disputes. Wendy has extensive first chair experience in domestic and international construction disputes, including litigation in state and federal forums and mediation and arbitration before the AAA, JAMS, LCIA, ICDR and ICC. She is also regularly asked to counsel clients with respect to ongoing construction projects (serving as project counsel) to draft and negotiate contracts, interpret contract terms, assert and defend claims, and resolve disputes so as to avoid litigation. Wendy serves as co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate and Construction Industry Team.

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Christopher J. Brasco

tthorp — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 23:59:41 +0000

With more than 35 years of experience untangling complex liability-knots on high profile construction projects across the globe, Chris Brasco is uniquely qualified to protect his clients’ bottom line interests by crafting solutions which appreciate the varied perspectives and issues affecting their projects. He continues to sharpen his knowledge by lecturing nationally to leading industry groups on the risk-shifting trends and claims pricing developments that inspire breakthrough project solving. In recognition of his work delivering talks to construction industry trade groups on trend-setting issues, Chris was awarded the Paul F. Phelan Memorial Award by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. He is also a frequent lecturer at national events hosted by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACE). Emblematic of Chris’ difference making skill-set, he was involved with the federal government in negotiating the successful reprocurement of mission-critical projects throughout Afghanistan after the program-wide default of a large government contractor which occurred during the height of U.S. involvement.

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Andrea J. Bernard

tthorp — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:17:38 +0000

Clients say they appreciate my ability to give practical, results-oriented advice. I look at the big picture and strategize cases from start to finish, deciding early on how I’ll drive a matter but keeping an open mind to make tactical adjustments as the situation warrants. I like to get to the point, find the right answers and position my clients to secure the most effective and efficient resolutions possible.

With three decades of experience, Andrea Bernard handles litigation for manufacturers, contractors, financial institutions and others involved in employment, construction and commercial disputes. Andrea primarily represents Michigan-based companies and organizations, vigorously advocating for them in cases across the country.

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