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Helen J. Lauderdale

Profile photo for Helen J. Lauderdale
Profile photo for Helen J. Lauderdale
Senior Counsel

Helen J. Lauderdale

Helen Lauderdale guides clients to resolve their business disputes, with a practice emphasis on construction and public contract law, contract drafting and negotiations, course of construction counseling, claims and litigation. Her construction industry clients include owners, general contractors and engineering firms.

Litigator and counselor, Helen Lauderdale advises regarding breach of contract, extra work, delay, construction defect, contract termination damages and False Claims Act violation claims. She also represents public and private owners on bid procedures, procurement strategies and bid protests.

Helen's practice includes drafting and negotiating construction agreements, and she advises local public agencies on public contracting issues, prequalification, bidding and contract forms. She has drafted contracts for owners, architects, engineers, general contractors and design-builders for projects involving apartment buildings, manufacturing facilities, airports, courthouses, shopping centers, hotels, tenant improvements and private homes.

Additional disciplines and industries in Helen's background include telecommunications, healthcare, chemicals and art. In the area of financial services, she has represented mortgage lenders in claims of breach of contract, negligence and fraud against borrowers, loan originators and appraisers.

Helen is a long-serving co-author of "The Year in Review: Developments in California Design and Construction Law," which is published in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Bar Association's annual construction law update program. She also has contributed to CEB's treatise California Mechanics Liens and Related Construction Remedies and to construction law updates by Aspen Law Publisher. Additionally, Helen is active in civic matters; she served as campaign treasurer for two successful local ballot measures that raised funds for public schools and libraries.

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 1985
  • Carleton College, B.A., cum laude, 1981

Bar and Court Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Professional Recognition

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Litigation - Construction, 2024-2025

  • *Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent in Martindale-Hubbell
    (AV® Preeminent ™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member

    Construction Law Subsection, Former Chair, 1996-1997
    Construction Law Subsection Steering Committee, Member, 1989-Present

  • South Pasadena Educational Foundation

    Vice President, Fund Development, 2009-2012
    Board of Directors, 2007-2013

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