Zach is a seasoned attorney dedicated to serving the needs of clients in the real estate development, design, and construction industry, as well as companies doing business with government entities. In addition to his private practice, Zach serves as General Counsel to the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee.

Zach prefers to spend his time helping clients avoid claims by advising them on contracts and risk management. He has experience assisting clients with traditional design-bid-build projects, as well as more specialized delivery methods such as design-build, progressive design-build, public-private partnerships (P3), and integrated project delivery (IPD). His work spans projects ranging from roads and pipelines to commercial, industrial, and residential developments. Having represented owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers, Zach offers clients a practical understanding of the interests, risks, and incentives of all project participants.

Despite his emphasis on litigation avoidance, Zach is an experienced litigator. He has successfully handled cases involving multi-million-dollar claims and has guided clients through a variety of legal proceedings, including claims for monetary damages, as well as permitting disputes, bid protests, and other administrative proceedings.

Zach is an active member of the American Bar Association and the ABA Forum on Construction Law, the nation’s leading organizations for construction attorneys. He currently serves as Chair of the ABA Forum on Construction Law Division 2 (Contract Documents), playing a leadership role in advancing education, collaboration, and best practices within the construction law community.

In addition, Zach is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and Kentucky Bar Association. He serves in the Tennessee Bar Association House of Delegates and has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is also active in several industry groups, including the Legal Counsel Forum and Risk Management Committee of the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the Claims Avoidance and Claims Reduction and Management Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Before becoming a lawyer, Zach worked as a construction professional on water and wastewater projects. He is also a combat veteran, having served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. Today, he brings that experience from the battlefield to the boardroom—with the biggest benefit being much better food.

Trevecca Nazarene University, B.A.

University of Memphis, JD, magna cum laude

Law Review; Moot Court, Exec. Bd.; Memphis Assoc. of Law & Business, Pres.

Extern for Hon. Bernice Donald, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Tennessee

Kentucky

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. District Court:

Eastern District of Tennessee

Middle District of Tennessee

Western District of Tennessee

Eastern District of Kentucky

Western District of Kentucky

Discovery Deskbook for Construction Disputes, 2d Ed., Ch. 7 Discovery by Deposition (ABA 2015)

More Sticks & Bricks, A Lawyers Guide to Advanced Construction Systems and Techniques, Ch. 9 Modular Construction (ABA 2018)

The Allocation of Differing Site Conditions Risk, Tunneling & Underground Constr., Vol. 9 No. 1, Mar. 2015

Differing Site Conditions:  Recent Decision Affirms Contractor Reliance on Owner-Provided Geotech Info, Tennessee Road Builder Magazine, Mar. 2014

Subcontracting is a risky business:  Ensuring payment on public-private partnerships, Insurance, Surety & Liens, ABA Forum on Construction Law (Dec 2013)

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for his work in Construction Law and Construction Litigation

Super Lawyer, Construction Litigation (TN, AL, and MS)