Washington, D.C. – March 1, 2021 – Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the addition of international construction litigation and government contracts veteran Lawrence M. Prosen to the Construction Law Group as a shareholder, based in Washington, D.C. Prosen brings a distinguished resume that includes experience in all aspects of government contracts, from regulatory compliance to claims and bid protest litigation. He has represented many of the country’s largest contractors and subcontractors, including Raytheon, AECOM, and Performance Contracting Group, in litigation matters and contract disputes, including delay, impact, loss of productivity, and geotechnical/differing site condition claims. Joining with Prosen are two associates Benjamin L. Williams and Caitlin E. Trevillyan.
Prosen has been a trusted adviser and has significant experience providing representation in connection with construction and infrastructure projects in more than 20 countries across six continents for clients in various sectors, including infrastructure, environmental, process and manufacturing, commercial, energy production/transmission, refugee and war zone communications and security, and real estate. Domestically, he has successfully represented clients in federal and state construction and government matters in more than 30 states.
“We are pleased to welcome Larry to the team and are excited to have a distinguished multinational litigator join the practice. Between the pandemic, historic low-interest-rates, and the Biden administrations focus on infrastructure there has been extraordinary activity in the construction and commercial real estate spaces, coupled with an increased focus on contract matters and transactional work,” said Bruce Ficken, chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Construction Law Group. “Our clients will benefit greatly from having a well-regarded resource who has represented developers, owners, buyers, and sellers in all facets of transactional and construction law, as well as advising on government contracts.”
Well versed in all aspects of construction contracting and litigation, Prosen also focuses on government contracts, representing clients in all manner of administrative and judicial procurement matters, including the preparation, prosecution and appeal of complex claims, performing small business administrative-related advisory services and advocacy and assisting clients in performing internal compliance reviews and representing clients in suspension and deferment matters. Prosen has represented clients in front of nearly every federal agency, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Interior, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, General Services Administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, among others. He has represented protesters and intervenors in more than 100 GAO bid protests and he has shown exceptional value in having both significant real estate experience and the ability to provide true “cradle to the grave” representation for developers, purchasers, and sellers on transactions and development deals.
Lauded throughout his career by his peers, Prosen has been recognized by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers Magazine, the Legal 500, and Legal Leader. He is AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He also holds the unique distinction of being a founding fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, and a member of the Jefferson Society, an invitation-only group of architect/lawyers. Prosen was also the first editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Construction Arbitration and ADR.
“Larry has proven to be a knowledgeable, reliable, and a trusted asset for his clients when it comes to construction law — regardless of the side he is representing,” said Jonathan M. Grossman, office managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. “Cozen O’Connor clients are fortunate to have not just a distinguished litigator of this caliber joining the team, but also one of the rare attorneys with a background in architecture.”
“I have been familiar with Cozen O’Connor from when I grew up in Philadelphia. Over the years, I have appreciated the modern focus Cozen O’Connor places on clients and the broad range of services it brings to bear. I have also seen the respect that the Construction practice has garnered,” Prosen said. “I look forward to collaborating with my peers across the firm’s numerous practice areas and being part of a team that can handle the complex world of construction and real estate transactions from every step of the process. In these highly regulated environments and financial times, there will be a significant need for counsel with deep experience in the industry to help navigate this complex and often very challenging area of the law.”
The addition of Prosen to the firm’s Construction Law Group continues the build-out of the team in Washington, D.C. with senior talent, complementing the hires of Stephen M. Seeger and Jesse S. Keene, two of the country’s premier construction industry litigators, who joined the firm in September 2019. Prosen joins a team of more than 40 attorneys in the firm’s nationally recognized Construction Law Group.
Prosen earned a dual degree at the University of Maryland, where he received a B.S. in architecture and a B.A. in history. He received his J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, where he was the lead articles editor of the CommLaw Conspectus Law Journal.
Benjamin L. Williams represents a diverse range of clients in the government contracts and construction industry including defense contractors, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, insurers, and sureties. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in art and architecture and his law degree, cum laude, from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.
Caitlin E. Trevillyan focuses her practice on construction litigation, government contracts, bid protests, contract claims and appeals, and project and business counseling. She has prosecuted multiple bid protests before GAO and WMATA, and received favorable outcomes. She has prepared government contracts compliance manuals for service-based logistics contractors, as well as other claim letters, teaming agreements, subcontracts, and more for various clients. Trevillyan earned her bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University and her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. While in law school, she worked as a law clerk at the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office in St. Clair County.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.