Helen J. Lauderdale Senior Counsel

Litigator and counselor Helen Lauderdale guides clients to resolve their business disputes, with a practice emphasis on construction and public contract law, contract drafting and negotiations, course of construction counseling, claims and litigation. Her construction industry clients include owners, general contractors and engineering firms. Helen advises regarding breach of contract, extra work, delay, construction defect, contract termination damages and False Claims Act violation claims. She also represents public and private owners on bid procedures, procurement strategies and bid protests.

Helen’s practice includes drafting and negotiating construction agreements, and she advises local public agencies on public contracting issues, prequalification, bidding and contract forms. She has drafted contracts for owners, architects, engineers, general contractors and design-builders for projects involving apartment buildings, manufacturing facilities, airports, courthouses, shopping centers, hotels, tenant improvements and private homes.

Additional disciplines and industries in Helen’s background include telecommunications, healthcare, chemicals and art. In the area of financial services, she has represented mortgage lenders in claims of breach of contract, negligence and fraud against borrowers, loan originators and appraisers.

Helen is a long-serving co-author of “The Year in Review: Developments in California Design and Construction Law,” which is published in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s annual construction law update program. She also has contributed to CEB’s treatise California Mechanics Liens and Related Construction Remedies and to construction law updates by Aspen Law Publisher. Additionally, Helen is active in civic matters; she served as campaign treasurer for two successful local ballot measures that raised funds for public schools and libraries.