Graehm C. Wallace

Partner

Seattle

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Graehm, a partner with the firm's Litigation practice, has 27 years of experience working in all areas of construction transactions.

Graehm Wallace's work covers all aspects of contract drafting and negotiating, including preconstruction, architectural, engineering, construction-management, design-build, balance of plant (BOP), engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), turn-key, consultant, bidding, advice during construction, and claim prosecution and defense from initial claim analysis through discovery, mediation, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration or trial.

Graehm works on public and private construction projects, including:

Office buildings
Manufacturing facilities
Energy projects, including wind, hydro, LNG, and gas to electricity
Dams and fish ladders
Green buildings, including LEED
Hotels and resorts
Restaurants
Tenant improvements
Retail and shopping centers
Museums
Condominiums
Apartments
Retirement and nursing facilities
Warehouses
Pipelines
Theaters
Demolition and remediation
Transportation, including light rail, roads, and utilities
Waste treatment plants
Homes and housing
Public facilities, including schools, universities, hospitals, sports facilities, and fire stations

Areas of focus

Industries

Semiconductor

Land Development

Services

Litigation

Construction

E-Discovery Services & Strategy

Construction

Education & Credentials

Education

University of Colorado Law School, J.D., Order of the Coif, Casenote and Comment Editor, University of Colorado Law Review, 1996
University of Washington, B.A., Political Science and Political Economics, 1991

Bar and Court Admissions

Washington

Related Employment

Short Cressman & Burgess, Seattle, WA, Associate, 1996-2000
Clanahan, Tanner, Downing & Knowlton, P.C., Denver, CO, Summer Associate, 1995
University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, CO, Teaching Fellow, Civil Procedure, 1994-1995
Colorado Court of Appeals, Summer Intern to The Hon. Jose D. Marquez, 1994

Professional Recognition

Named "Construction Law Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America, 2023
Ranked by Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyers" for Construction, 2019-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law, 2013-2025

Professional Experience

Transactional

Arlington School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Bainbridge Island School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Bainbridge Island Fire Department

Architect contracts.

Battle Ground School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Bellingham School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Camas School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Central Kitsap School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Central Valley School District

Architect and GC/CM construction contracts.

Centralia School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

City of Oak Harbor

Heavy-civil GC/CM treatment contracts.

City of Spokane Utilities

Heavy-civil GC/CM treatment contracts.

ConAm Management Corporation

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Conway School District

Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.

Coupeville School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

CW Capital Asset Management

Architect, construction, and maintenance contracts.

Deer Park School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Federal Way School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Ferndale School District

Architect and construction contracts.

Good Samaritan Community Healthcare

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Great Western Malting Company

Design, supply, and design-build contracts for malting plant.

Harnish Group Inc., Tractor & Equipment Company, NC Machinery

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Highline School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Holt Homes Inc.

Construction contracts with Forest City.

HTC Corporation

Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.

InfoSpace Inc.

Construction contract with Foushee and Associates.

Itron Inc.

Construction contract with Leone & Keeble Inc.

Jobster Inc.

Construction contract with Foushee and Associates.

King County Directors' Association

Construction contracts for nationally-bid projects and bid protests.

Kinross Gold Corporation

Multiple contracts related to mining operations.

LandStar NW, LLC

Design-build contract with Petra Inc.

Longview School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Mead School District

Architect and GC/CM Construction contracts.

North Thurston School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Orcas Island School District

Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.

Orting School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Othello School District

Construction contracts.

PacifiCorp

Advice on multiple construction projects and drafting multiple energy related contracts.

Peninsula School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Proctor International

Construction contract with J.R. Abbott Construction Inc.

Puget Sound Energy

LNG construction contracts.

Pullman School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Puyallup School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Quillayute Valley School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Renton School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Richland School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Seattle School District

Construction and architect contracts.

Sedro-Woolley School District

Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.

Shoreline School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Snoqualmie Valley School District

Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.

Spokane School District

Multiple construction, GC/CM and architect contracts.

Sobrato Development Company

Negotiated assignment of construction obligations through property purchase.

Strategic Hotels and Resorts

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Tacoma School District

Multiple construction and consultant contracts.

Tumwater School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Vestas Americas

Construction contracts.

Walla Walla School District

Architect contracts.

Willapa Valley School District

Multiple construction and architect contracts.

Litigation

A-1 Landscaping and Construction Inc. v. Edmonds School District

Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended claims relating to changed conditions, termination and defective construction.

Alden Associates Inc. v. Highline School District

King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defended motion for temporary restraining order relating to award of computer equipment and warranty services contract.

American Safety Casualty Insurance Company v. City of Olympia

State Supreme Court of Washington
Helped convince the Washington State Supreme Court to unanimously overrule an appellate court in holding that public owners can enter into settlement negotiations with contractors without impliedly waiving contract defenses. In its ruling, the Court adopted and quoted arguments and conclusions Perkins Coie presented as amicus curiae on behalf of the Washington State School Construction Alliance. 174 P.3d 54 (Wash. 2008)

Babcock & Wilcox v. Energy Northwest

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Defended claims related to changed conditions and design defects.

Bainbridge Island School District v. Merit Construction Company

King County Superior Court (Washington)
Represented plaintiff prosecuting claims for defective construction and mold damage.

Bayley Construction v. Sound Transit

Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims for additional costs and delay.

Callen Construction Company v. Shimizu America Corporation and Ferndale School District

Superior Court of Washington, Whatcom County
Defended Ferndale School District regarding claims for changes and delay.

Central Kitsap School District v. HMA Services

Private Mediated Settlement
Pursued claims for contamination and resulting economic damages.

Delta Point Enterprises v. Holden

Represented Holden regarding claims for changes and defective construction.

Energy Northwest v. SPX

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Pursued and defended claims related to design defects.

Father and Son Corporation v. Skagit Pacific Corporation v. Peninsula School District

Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Defended Peninsula School District against claims relating to defective construction and failure of payment.

Lance Harvey Trucking v. Everett Public Schools

Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended lien claims.

Le Chateau Owners Association v. Le Chateau Residential LLC

King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defended claims for construction defects.

Leo Finnegan Construction Company v. Puyallup School District

Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims regarding changes, delays, defective drawings, and deleted work.

Mike M. Johnson Inc. v. Spokane County

State Supreme Court of Washington
Represented Amicus Curiae Washington State School Construction Alliance to enforce contractual notice and claim provisions on summary judgment. 150 Wash. 2d 375, 78 P. 3d 161 (Wash. 2003)

Mountain States Construction Company v. Hallett Properties, LLC

American Arbitration Association
Represented Hallett Properties regarding claims for late and defective construction.

Pacific Industries Northwest Inc. v. Boise Cascade Corporation

Superior Court of Washington, Grays Harbor County
Defended claims for changes, defective drawings, and liens relating to construction at site of former Satsop Nuclear Power facility.

Porter Brothers Construction Inc. v. Enumclaw School District

King County Superior Court (Washington)
Represented defendant in pursuing claims for defective construction.

Puyallup School District v. Neeley Construction

Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Pursued claims related to construction defects.

RCI-Herzog v. Sound Transit

Private Arbitration of Washington
Defended claims for additional costs and delays exceeding $100 million arising out of $128 million light rail project through an eight-week arbitration.

Specialized Landscaping v. BNCC v. Orting School District

Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims relating to changes and differing site conditions.

Sunset Electric Northwest Inc. v. Longview School District

Superior Court of Washington, Cowlitz County
Defended claims relating to rejected subcontractor bid.

Swinerton Builders Northwest Inc. v. Highline School District

Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims for alleged changes, design defects, delay, and incomplete construction related to two elementary school projects.

Taggart Construction v. Arlington School District

Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended claims related to differing site conditions.

Vemo Company v. Bainbridge Island School District

Superior Court of Washington, Kitsap County
Defended claims for project changes, delays, and defects.

Vemo Company v. Lake Stevens School District

Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended claims regarding changes and delay.

Wick Constructors Inc. v. Federal Way School District

King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defended claims relating to changes, delays, incomplete work, and defective construction.

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Update

March 25, 2020