Adams and Reese is pleased to announce that Susan Eccles has been appointed Partner in Charge of the firm’s Baton Rouge office. Adams and Reese has a Partner in Charge in each of its offices throughout the southern United States and Washington, D.C.
Eccles maintains a diverse legal practice centered on construction, state and federal procurement/government contracts, commercial litigation, and professional liability.
Eccles stays abreast of the latest trends in the construction industry, including Louisiana code changes, proactive tips to prevent construction defects, latest requirements on OSHA workplace inspections, and risk allocation strategies for design professionals, among other pressing topics. She is a published author and requested guest speaker.
In her construction practice, she advises owners, contractors, architects, engineers, and carriers on a wide array of construction issues ranging from regulatory compliance and licensing concerns to construction defect, termination, and subrogation actions. Helping clients obtain the requisite Louisiana licenses and approvals prior to bidding, contracting, or breaking ground on a project, she identifies and avoids potential legal pitfalls, guiding contractors through every step of a construction project, and ensuring proper due diligence from every angle. She handles contract creation, review, and disputes ranging from mediation to litigation.
When a client’s construction project does not go as planned, Eccles helps resolve performance disputes and contract claims to keep projects moving forward. She has worked on and successfully resolved delay claims, unforeseen site conditions disputes, unauthorized material substitution claims, construction defect claims, bond tenders, project terminations, subrogation matters, and engineering, surveying, and warranty claims. She also assists clients with regulatory matters, when contractors are called before the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.
Eccles counsels clients on the implementation of new technologies in reducing costs, improving efficiency, and increasing safety on projects. Eccles earned a Certificate in Construction Management, graduating from LSU’s Post-Baccalaureate Program.
Eccles has significant experience in local, state, and federal procurement processes, assisting clients in every phase of the procurement life cycle. She guides state and federal prime and sub-contractors through complex requirements during bid and performance.
Eccles advises on regulatory and compliance issues, bid protests, contract negotiations, and requests for proposals, all through her understanding of the regulations, policies, and programs impacting the procurement process, including the Model Procurement Code, Small Business Administration programs, Minority, and Women-Owned Business Enterprise programs, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).
Eccles has developed a niche national security component of her government contracts practice, representing a client impacted by national security challenges and liabilities. She has represented businesses in Louisiana in dealing with federal contracts involving hurricane repair and natural disaster aftermath, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal agencies.
Eccles also works with clients that provide mission management, mission support, and intelligence analysis and offers a unique perspective as counsel from outside of the Beltway.