Lawyer Bio : C. Allen Gibson Jr.

C. Allen Gibson Jr.

Charleston

As the Practice Group Leader for Womble Carlyle’s Construction Practice Group, Allen has more than twenty five years of trial experience in state and federal courts as well as in arbitration proceedings. He represents a wide variety of businesses involved in the construction industry including owners, developers, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and sureties. Allen has extensive experience negotiating contracts on behalf of his clients. In addition, he provides advice and counsel on dispute resolution, payment claims, delay claims and other issues impacting construction projects. He also represents manufacturers who supply products to the construction industry. Allen is an active mediator and arbitrator of construction disputes and has provided services for parties throughout the country.
 
Representative Matters
Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.

  • Representation of Construction Manager in multimillion dollar claims arising out of termination of contractor on hospital project.
  • Defense of Design/Build contractor in multi-million dollar claims brought by subcontractors on a bridge project.
  • Defense of national product manufacturer in class action and other suits throughout the state alleging defective product.
  • Representation of developer in claims against design professional, contractor and surety resulting in multi-million dollar combined settlement and verdict.
  • Representation of numerous owners and contractors in preparation and negotiation of contract documents.
  • Representation of public agencies in contract negotiations and claims handling.

Additional Biography Info

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Professional Activities

  • American Arbitration Association: Construction Arbitration Master Panel, Current Member of Panel of Commercial Arbitrators, Completed numerous AAA courses on arbitration and mediation.
  • American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Industry: Chair, 2001-2002, Member of Governing Committee, 1997-2001, Chair of Division 5, 1994-1997, Liaison to Governing Committee, 1991-1993.
  • American Bar Association, TIPS Fidelity & Surety Committee: State Chair of Young Lawyers Committee, 1995-1998.
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American College of Construction Lawyers: Fellow, Board of Governors, 2007-2010, Treasurer, 2012-2014.
  • International Association of Defense Counsel: Fidelity and Surety Committee, Vice Chair, 1995-1999, Construction Law and Litigation Committee Member, Defense Counsel Trial Academy Faculty, 1995.
  • South Carolina Bar: Board of Governors, 2009-Present, House of Delegates, 1992-Present, Judicial Qualifications Committee, 2006-2009, Nominating Committee, 2002-2005, President, Young Lawyers Division, 1989-1990, Construction Law Committee Member.
  • United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Approved Mediator.
  • National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee, Former Member.
  • City of Goose Creek, SC, Former Special Municipal Judge.

Admitted to bar: 1982, South Carolina.  Admitted to practice before the United States District Court of South Carolina, 1982; the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1984; and the United States Court of Federal Claims, 2011.

Named Best Lawyers Charleston, SC Construction Lawyer of the Year.
The Best Lawyers In America, Construction Law.
South Carolina Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation.
The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Construction Law.

Civic Activities

Board of Directors, Harbor National Bank, 2010 - Present; Chair Lowcountry South Carolina Selection Committee, Jefferson Scholars Program, 1996-2005; Board Member, Trident Technical College Foundation,  1992-1995; Youth Baseball and Soccer Coach, City of Charleston Recreation Department, 1991-2001; Leadership Trident, 1988-1989; Former Board Member, Charles Webb Easter Seal Center.

Education

B.A., Economics, 1979, University of Virginia College of Arts & Sciences, - with High Distinction; Echols Scholar.

J.D., 1982, University of Virginia School of Law; Order of the Coif; Lile Moot Court Competition Semi-Finalist; Trial Advocacy Program Participant.

Prior Legal Experience

Principal, Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A., 1989-2011; Associate, Buist Moore Smythe McGee P.A., 1982-1988.

Publications

Contributing Author, Handbook on Construction Arbitration and ADR, American Arbitration Association, 2010.

Contributing Author, Handbook On Mediation, American Arbitration Association, 2010.

Contributing Author, The Annotated Construction Law Glossary, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, 2010.

Contributing Author, South Carolina Damages, Second Edition, South Carolina Bar, 2009.

Contributing Author, Handbook on Construction Arbitration ADR, American Arbitration Association, 2007.

Contributing Author, Performance Bond Manual, ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, 2006.

Contributing Author, South Carolina Damages, South Carolina Bar, 2004.

Co-Author, Construction Damages and Remedies, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, 2003.

Author, South Carolina Mechanics Lien Law, LienLawOnLine, 2001 (updated quarterly).

Presentations

Maximizing Efficiency & Economy in Arbitration: Challenges at the Preliminary Hearing, American Arbitration Association University, November, 2011.
 
When it Comes to the Lay of the Land, Forum Matters, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, October 2011.

Results-Effective Arbitration, Within Budget, Joint Meeting of the N.C. and S.C. Construction law Sections, September 2011.

Construction Project Coordination, ICSC US Shopping Center Law Conference, October 2008.

Effective Presentations in Arbitration, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (Division 1), September 2008.

Controlling Your Own Destiny, American Arbitration Association Construction Conference, May 2008.

Construction Arbitration, Charleston School of Law, April 2008.

The Changing AIA Documents: What You Need to Know About the 2007 Edition, International Association of Defense Counsel, July 2007.

Legal Issues Associated with the SCWARN Agreement, South Carolina Water & Wastewater Agency Response Network, January 2007.
 

Legal Issues Associated with the SCWARN Agreement, South Carolina Water & Wastewater Agency Response Network, January 2007.

Neutral Experts and Standing Neutrals: Using Substantive Expertise to Assist in Dispute Resolution, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution (Awarded Best Original Material), April 2006.

Making Pass-Through Claims Work for You: The Practical and Ethical Dilemmas for Counsel and Their Clients, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, December 2005.

Legal Update for Design Professionals, South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers, May, 2005.

Delays, Liquidated Damages and Waiver of Consequential Damages, International Association of Defense Counsel, February, 2005.

Risk Management and Long Term Liability Issues, American Society of Civil Engineers, April 2004.

Arbitration and Mediation, NALS, March 2004.

South Carolina Mechanic's Liens, Charleston County Bar, October 2003.

Fundamentals of Construction Law, American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, November 2002.

South Carolina Mechanic's Lien Law, Association of Credit Management - Steel Joist Deck Construction Group, May 2002.

Construction Contracting for Public Entities in South Carolina, Lorman Educational Services, April 2002.

Design Professional Liability to Third Parties Arising From "Special Relationships" in South Carolina, American Society of Civil Engineers, September 2001.

Construction Contracting for Public Entities in South Carolina, Lorman Educational Services, April 200.

Risk Shifting in Government Construction Contracts, American Bar Association Section of Public Contract Law, July 2000.

Effective Mediation Techniques, ADR Currents, American Arbitration Association, June 2000.

The Construction Lawyer's Toolbox, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Industry, May 2000.

Identifying and Managing Project Risk, South Carolina Bar Construction Law Section, January 1999.

Construction Contracting for Public Entities in South Carolina, Lorman Educational Services, December 1998.

Advanced Project Delivery Systems, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Industry, October 1998.

Construction Advocacy, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Industry, April 1997.

Risk Management in Construction, Lorman Business Center, October 1996.

Construction Round-Up, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Industry, May 1996.

Trail Academy Instructor, July 1995 - International Association of Defense Counsel.

South Carolina Law of Punitive Damages, National Business Institute, 1993.

Fundamentals of Construction Law, American Bar Association Forum on Construction Industry, October 1993.

South Carolina Construction Law, National Business Institute, November 1992. 

Trial Techniques Seminar, Charleston County Bar Association, October 1990.

Additional Information

Honors:
Named Best Lawyers Charleston, SC Construction Lawyer of the Year
The Best Lawyers In America, Construction Law
South Carolina Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Construction Law

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Areas of Proficiency

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Business Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Construction
  • Product Liability

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