Susan N. Eccles

Susan 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.

Susan is a published author in LexisNexis, JDSupra, RoofersCoffeeShop, and has been interviewed by the Baton Rouge Business Report. She is a requested guest speaker by the Construction Management Association of America (CMMA) Gulf Coast Chapter and the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Construction

Susan 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, Susan 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, Susan helps resolve performance disputes and contract claims to keep projects moving forward. Susan 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. Susan also assists clients with regulatory matters, when contractors are called before the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

Susan frequently counsels clients on the implementation of new technologies in reducing costs, improving efficiency, and increasing safety on construction projects.

Susan recently earned a Certificate in Construction Management, graduating from LSU’s Post-Baccalaureate Program.

State and Federal Procurement/Government Contracts

Susan 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.

Susan 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).

Susan has developed a niche national security component of her government contracts practice, representing a client impacted by national security challenges and liabilities. This experience helps Susan represent businesses’ interests in anticipating and responding to national security business threats, administrative proceedings, False Claims Act matters, and counseling clients through diverse, complex, high-stakes regulations in top-secret, security clearance situations.

Susan 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.

Susan 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. It is important for businesses to understand that in government contracts, the business is subject to relevant contracting rules and regulations, such as under the following:

• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
• Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
• Teaming Agreements
• Subcontract Flow Down Provisions
• contract modifications, novation requirements, name change procedures, releases, claims submissions, and mandatory disclosures.

In addition to federal procurement, Susan provides guidance on state and local procurements, including CMAR (construction management at risk), Louisiana Public Works Act, and Louisiana Public Bid Law. Such guidance includes advising clients prior to issuing requests for proposals, guiding clients through legislative approval of CMAR applications, and working with proposers on protesting awards.