Scott R. Sleight

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Direct Dial: 206-340-4616
Ph: 206-287-9900
Fx: 206-287-9902


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Sccott R. Sleight Attorney

Practice Areas

  • Construction Law
  • Real Estate Law

Practice Description

Mr. Sleight is a partner with Ahlers & Cressman PLLC.  His practice emphasizes construction and real estate development, including representation at the front end, during and at the conclusion of projects.  Over the past several years, he has drafted and negotiated construction contracts for owners and contractors for significant data centers, mixed-use commercial and medical projects across the United States and Canada, including development and negotiation of three-party integrated agreements joining the owner, architect, and contractor under a single agreement, design-build agreements and utilizing joint ventures to facilitate sales tax and B&O tax exemptions in Washington.  Inevitably, disputes arise and Mr. Sleight assists owners and contractors with prosecution and defense of claims in arbitration or litigation.  He has participated extensively in effective methods of dispute resolution.  Mr. Sleight has also drafted and consulted on bid protests.  Mr. Sleight’s experience extends to insurance coverage matters including obtaining coverage for policyholders and managing insurance-appointed defense counsel.

In 2011, Mr. Sleight was named a Super Lawyer by Washington Law & Politics magazine and in 2008 was recognized as a top-10 real estate lawyer by Washington CEO magazine.  He is rated 10.0, superb, by Avvo.com.  Mr. Sleight was named an "Amazing" construction lawyer in the March 2006 edition of Washington CEO magazine.  From 2004 through 2010, Mr. Sleight was named a "Rising Star" by Washington Law & Politics magazine.

Representative Work

  • Extensive contract negotiation involving commonly used form agreements including all American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ConsensusDOCS Forms.
  • Obtained attorneys’ fees judgment and dismissal of significant liens filed by development manager and equity investor against downtown Seattle condominium project while facilitating unit closings through lien release bonds.
  • Obtained summary judgment dismissal of subcontractor/bond and retainage claims in excess of $4,000,000 on Stadium High School Renovation Project.
  • Obtained affirmative arbitration award and fees for multi-family developer in arbitration against site work contractor pursuing claim in excess of $500,000.
  • Negotiation of contracts and claims management for large mixed-use retail/office/residential projects in Seattle and Bellevue on behalf of general contractors, including the Bravern, Advanta, and 9th & Stewart.
  • Negotiation of contracts and claims management for significant healthcare expansion projects, including Virginia Mason, Good Samaritan and MultiCare.
  • Negotiation of contracts on behalf of contractor for data center projects owned by RBC, TELUS, Verizon, IBM, eBay, Intel, and Goldman Sachs.
  • Negotiation of GC/CM contract for the development of City of Puyallup City Hall.
  • Negotiation of Integrated Agreement joining owner, architect, and contractor under single agreement utilizing lean method of delivery for significant hospital project in California.
  • Negotiation of several joint venture structures to facilitate sales tax and B&O tax exemptions on projects in Seattle and Bellevue.
  • Negotiation of contracts and claims management for several large downtown Seattle hotel and condominium projects.
  • Prosecution and defense of claims for additional compensation on public and private projects, including MultiCare Emergency Department Expansion, Stadium High School Renovation, C710 and C800 Sound Transit Projects, Marion Oliver McCaw Symphony Hall, IDX Tower, University of Washington Tacoma Campus, multi-phase condominium projects, Federal Correctional Institute in Fort Worth, Texas, governmental housing project in Alaska, Washington Mass Transit Authority Highway Project, and the Golden Gate Bridge Retrofit Project.

Reported Decisions

  • American Best Food Incorporated, et al. v. Alea London, Ltd. – (Decision Issued March 18, 2010) (establishing duty to defend policyholder and bad faith as matter of law)
  • American Best Food, Inc. v. Alea London, Ltd., 138 Wn. App. 674, 689, 691, 158 P.3d 119 (2007 ) - Appeals Court No. 57181-8-I (Review Granted 163 Wn.2d 1039 (2008))
  • Pacific Industries, Inc. v. Singh, 120 Wn. App. (2003) (establishing lien not frivolous)

 

Professional Associations

  • Trustee, Construction Law Section of Washington State Bar Association (2006–2011)
  • Moderator – “Seattle State of the Market” Presentation by Bisnow Media Corp. November 8, 2011
  • Speaker, Strafford Publications, Inc. – “Integrated Project Delivery Agreements in Construction Contracting” Live National Webinar July 13, 2011
  • Speaker, Lean Construction Institute - "Introduction to Lean Construction" Vancouver, B.C. January 22-23, 2009
  • Instructor, AGC Supervisory Training Program "Contract Documents and Construction Law"
  • Co-Chair, Contract Solutions Group "Improving Construction Change Order Management Workshop"
  • Speaker, Associated General Contractors of Washington "Fundamentals of Construction Law"
  • Speaker, Lorman CLE - "AIA Contracts in Washington" (2005-2008 and 2010) (including 2007 Design-Build Forms and A201 General Conditions)
  • Speaker, Lorman CLE - "Change Orders in Washington"
  • Speaker, Lorman CLE - "Construction Delay Claims in Washington"
  • Speaker, National Business Institute CLE -"Advanced Construction Law in Washington"
  • Speaker, Various Topics for Associated Builders & Contractors
  • Externship, The Honorable Barbara Jacobs Rothstein, Federal District Court 1996
  • Editor, Seattle University Law Review

Education

  • 1997 - J.D., cum laude, Seattle University
  • 1994 - B.A., cum laude, University of Washington, Earning the Distinction of Phi Beta Kappa