Brian Veeneman is a member of the Firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution Service Team. He maintains an active litigation practice representing primarily public and private construction owners, general and specialty contractors, material suppliers, design professionals, and bonding companies across the country on engineering and construction-related issues. His work involves counsel regarding contract drafting, standardization, and negotiation while providing advice to project participants prior to commencement of the project.  Mr. Veeneman also guides clients in resolving problems arising either during a project or post-project completion including issues relating to scope, defective design or construction, scheduling or delay, safety (OSHA), prevailing wage, payment, surety bonds, mechanics' liens, and project close out, among others.  Mr. Veeneman leads clients through all types of dispute resolution procedures, including negotiation, mediation, administrative hearings, binding arbitration, litigation, and appeals.

Education

J. D., University of Louisville School of Law (2005)

MBA, University of Louisville (2005)

B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville (2000)

Distinctions

• Recognized by his peers as a Kentucky Super Lawyers® Rising Star (2015–2017)
• Recognized by Best Lawyers® Louisville in the area of Construction Litigation (2024–Present)
• Louisville Business First Forty Under 40 (2011)

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• Forum on the Construction Industry
• Division 9 – Specialty Trade Contractors and Suppliers
• Division 12 – Owners & Lenders
• Litigation Section
• Kentucky Bar Association
• Construction and Public Contract Law Section
• Chair, 2013-2015
• Chair-Elect, 2011-2013
• Vice-Chair, 2009-2011
• Louisville Bar Association
• American Health Law Association

Construction Contracts

• Represented a large urban utility in drafting a new Progressive Design-Build contract for the use on a combined four projects that total approximately $100 million.  The intent was for this document to also become a future standard use document for the municipality.  This representation also included assisting with the issuance of a significant RFP and assisting with contract negotiations with the Design-Builder.
• Drafted and negotiated all construction contracts (approximately 35) on behalf of a Midwestern regional hospital system for a $300+ million new hospital campus, including a connecting developer-owned medical office building.
• Created a portfolio of custom contracts for a regional hospital system’s standard use on all system construction projects.
• Represented an owner in all aspects of design and construction of a new high profile headquarters project, including planning, contracting, and project operations and disputes.  This matter included drafting and negotiating an $85 million contract engaging a Construction Manager using a cost plus a fee with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contract.
• Represented numerous owners, contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers for contract drafting and negotiations, including for alternative project delivery methods such as design-build, progressive design-build, GMGC, and P3.

Construction Dispute Resolution (Mediation, Arbitration, Litigation, Appeals)

• Represented an auto part manufacturer and supplier related to the design and construction of their new $35 million production facility, assisting them in resolving significant claims associated with cost overruns, completion delay, and liquidation damages.
• Successfully guided a hospital owner through claims and disputes with a construction manager for defective work and delay damages totaling $25 million to a negotiated resolution, 80% in favor of owner.
• Successfully represented a local government in collecting damages related to the defective installation of sewer lines.
• Represented contractors on various public education (elementary, secondary, and post-secondary) facility projects throughout the state of Kentucky related to alleged defects and payment claims.
• Represented Jefferson County Board of Education related to contractor claims and liens on school facility projects.
• Represent an owner of a Kentucky landfill pursuing a claim for approximately $1M in damages related to project delay.
• Represented a publicly traded company on a warehouse facility project by successfully terminating a general contractor for breach of contract related to delay and defective work, as well as defending a mechanics’ lien filed by a subcontractor.
• Represented a health sciences affiliate of the University of Louisville on a $75 million capital project to successfully resolve disputes related to defective work by an elevator subcontractor, significant delays and defective work by a cabinetry subcontractor, and mechanics’ liens filed by a subcontractor.
• Represented a Construction Manager in a dispute with a public school system on a new elementary school.  The dispute with the school was negotiated to a successful resolution and related claims against subcontractors were litigated.
• Represent a manufacturing and warehousing company whose facility was repaired following a fire.  We are defending a mechanics’ lien filed by a subcontractor for $700 thousand, despite executing lien waivers during the project, and pursuing claims to require indemnification by the out of state construction manager.
• Represent an industrial park owner related to claims of defective construction related to an office park lake that won’t hold water.
• Successfully enforced and defended numerous contract, lien, and bond claims for outstanding contract balances.

News

Publications

COVID-19 Legal Issues in Construction

Understanding Construction Contract Essentials

Understanding Issues in Contract Administration

Engineering Law: Law of Engineering Malpractice

Construction on the Horizon? Foundations for Success

Pitfalls to Avoid if Your Company  is Going to Build

Reviewing Contracts for Design Services

Construction Contracts and OSHA Seminar

Do Your Contracts for Design and Construction of a Healthcare Facility Require Compliance with Applicable Healthcare Laws?

My contract contains a warranty provision – Isn’t that a good thing?

Health Care Reform – Trends in Health Care Design and Construction

Liquidated and Consequential Damages

You want to build a new facility or addition – Is all you have to do is hire someone and plan the grand opening?

What Every Health Lawyer Needs to Know about Construction

Construction Safety and Compliance from a Legal Perspective

The Decision to Arbitrate

Risks of Waiving Consequential Damages

The Effects of Healthcare Reform on Infrastructure Development Projects

Am I bound by terms in a contractor’s agreement or proposal I did not sign?

Construction Contract Issues Seminar

Healthcare Construction – The potential Fisks of Waving Consequential Damages

Healthcare Construction Projects

The Purpose and Effects of a Mechanics’ and Materialmen’s Lien

Keeping Construction Projects on Schedule

Health Care Facility Construction Contracts

Contract Review

Building a Solid Foundation – Construction Contract Issues for Health Care Facilities

KY Fairness in Construction Act 2007 / Mechanics Lien seminar

• Rotary Club of Louisville, Leadership Fellows Committee - Vice Chair; Rotaract Committee - Past Chair
• Medical News, Editorial Board Member
• Louisville Health Enterprise Network, Health Care Fellow, 2013
• Leadership Louisville Class of 2021