Donnelly A. Gillen

I am an experienced construction attorney now focusing my career on transactional matters and advice and counsel. I have represented a wide range of industry players including private owners, public agencies, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and product manufacturers in transactional matters and in residential, commercial, and heavy civil construction disputes, leasing disputes, fraud claims, strict liability claims, and personal injury claims. I am an effective advisor of individuals and businesses in contract drafting and negotiations and well-versed in traditional delivery methods as well as in the Integrated Project Delivery method.

Representative transactional clients include residential and commercial developers, publicly traded biotech companies, medical device manufacturers, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning.

I graduated in 2008 from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and received my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2005.

I have been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star in Construction Litigation from 2014-2023.

Experience

Member of the California and DC Bar Associations

Publications

• “Unpredictable Times Require Strong Communication Skills,” co-author, Construction Executive (June 2020)
• “6 Legal Issues for COVID and Construction,” co-author, Contractor (May 2020)
• “Construction in the Age of COVID-19: Analyzing Impacts and Strategies,” co­author, The Construction Owners Association of America’s Owners Perspective (April 2020)
• “Guidelines for Construction Owners Responding to COVID-19,” co-author, Construction Law Alert (April 2020)
• Construction Disputes: Representing the Contractor, Fourth Edition, Chapter 4: “Bid Protests and Bid Mistakes” and Chapter 5: “Suing the Private Owner,” co-author (October 2019)

Speaking Engagements

• “Beyond COVID-19: Owner Considerations for a Successful Restart,” co-presenter, Construction Owners Association of America Webinar (July 2020)
• “Mechanic’s Liens,” panelist, NorCal Women in Commercial Leasing Law Symposium (November 2018)
• “Tackling Unconscious Bias in the Workplace,” moderator, California Women in Design + Construction (June 2018)
• “Strategies for Successful Negotiations,” Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (March 2018)
• “Delay Damages and California Construction Law,” SMACNA Bay Area Project Management Certificate Program (October 2017)
• “The Fine Art of Negotiation,” panelist, National Association of Women in Construction (March 2017)