Matthew Sullivan
Partner
Matt’s law practice primarily involves construction law, including architect/engineer liability, construction defects, delay claims, mechanic’s liens, and bond claims. The majority of his practice involves dispute resolution through trial and arbitration, and he also assists clients in construction contract drafting and negotiation. He serves as the principal legal advisor to several construction, architecture and engineering firms. In addition, he regularly serves as an arbitrator and mediator of complex construction claims and other business disputes.
He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Law where he teaches courses on Construction Law and Construction Litigation.
Prior to entering law school, Matt was employed as a Project Manager for Fluor Daniel, Inc., one of the world’s largest engineering/construction corporations. He has worked on various types of construction projects, including high-rise office buildings, parking structures, high-tech facilities, warehouses, and manufacturing plants located in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia.
St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D. (1990)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, B.S., Building Construction (1982)
State Bar of Texas Construction Section—Past-Chair (2019), Chair-Elect (2017), Treasurer (2016), Secretary (2015) and Member of Council (2004-2007)
Construction Section of the Travis County Bar (Chairman 1999-2000)
Associated Builders and Contractors (former Austin Chapter Director, former Austin Chapter officer and National Board member)
Matt serves as a neutral on the Construction Panel of the American Arbitration Association and serves as an arbitrator and mediator in private arbitration.
Admitted to practice in Texas, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; and all U.S. District Courts in Texas.
Matt has published in excess of one dozen articles on construction law, real estate matters relating to construction, construction litigation, and loss prevention and has served as a speaker at numerous seminars on construction law. He also conducts loss prevention and other seminars for clients throughout Texas and several other states.
Matt has handled matters in numerous counties throughout Texas and in several other states. A sample of matters includes:
Numerous property damage claims involving allegations of defective design and/or construction including:
Represented large institutional building owner in connection with claims against the design and construction team on an approximately 600,000 s.f. office building and 600,000 s.f. parking garage;
Represented general contractor in connection with claims for defective design of portions of water treatment plant;
Represented engineering firm in connection with collapse of tunnel at a large strip mine;
Represented developer in a claim by a condominium HOA and several individual owners in connection with 16 buildings;
Represented engineer in claim due to water infiltration and mold at three public schools;
Represented engineer in claim by owner for defective design and construction;
Represented architect in claim due to water infiltration and mold at public high school;
Represented engineers in claims by owners of public and university sports arenas; and
Represented architect in water infiltration claim involving several buildings at a private university.
Numerous delay, acceleration, and/or lost productivity claims on various projects including:
Represented mechanical contractor seeking damages against EPC contractor for added work and lost productivity on $1.6 billion solar power generation project in a three week arbitration;
Represented design professional in connection with $30 million delay claim by owner on Travis County Justice Center;
Represented contractor defending delay multi-million dollar claims on grain mill projects in several states;
Represented contractor defending lost productivity and cumulative impact claim by subcontractor on $100 million education facility;
Represented several contractors or design professionals in connection with delay claims on water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants,
public schools, professional and major university sports arenas, strip mine and semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
Numerous personal injury claims including:
Death of worker at jobsite; drowning death of child; deaths of six individuals at an intersection; death of infant at a medical facility; death of individual at a medical facility; death of individual in parking lot; numerous other serious personal injury claims involving substantial alleged damages;
Represented various clients in connection with assertion and defense of wrongful termination of contract claims;
Payment claims and other business disputes;
Americans with Disability Act claims involving accessibility of buildings;
Substantial claims arising out of floods and surface water drainage;
Representation of design professionals in administrative and disciplinary matters at the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and Texas Board of Professional Engineers;
Representation of licensed or registered members in administrative matters at state agencies.
Editor-in-Chief, St. Mary’s Law Journal
Phi Delta Phi Legal Scholastic Honor Society
Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation (2003 – present) and Construction Litigation (2023), Woodward/White, Inc. (2003 – present)
Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation, Thomson Reuters (2003 – present)
Top 50 list: 2018 Central/West Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell