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Meredith Jones-McKeown
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
Known for her work in construction and real estate, Meredith Jones-McKeown brings tenacity and command to complex matters.
Meredith Jones-McKeown is a seasoned lawyer and an authority on construction law, environmental matters, government contracts, and real estate litigation and transactions. With a focus on California law, she negotiates and structures contracts for multifaceted construction projects. Meredith has successfully tried cases in state and federal court as well as private arbitration.
As a litigator, Meredith works on all aspects of construction projects, both private and public, including delay and disruption, mechanic’s liens, stop notice and payment remedies, and construction defect. Her clients include property owners, universities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, energy providers, contractors, private developers, design professionals, and subcontractors.
When working with clients on construction contracts, Meredith drafts and negotiates a range of agreements, including engineering, procurement, and construction contracts; design-build contracts; professional/consultant contracts; and modified American Institute of Architects documents. Her project experience includes solar-generation and other energy facilities, large-scale commercial projects, mixed-use housing developments, medical facilities, university developments, condominium projects, and public-bond funded construction.
Meredith is widely acclaimed for her work, including recently being named one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times.
Education & Credentials
Education
- UC Berkeley School of Law, J.D.
- Columbia College, B.A., cum laude
Bar and Court Admissions
-
California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Related Employment
- Sheppard Mullin, San Francisco, Partner
- Judicial Extern to the Honorable Susan Illston, United States District Court, Northern District of California
Professional Recognition
Listed in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyers" for Construction Law, 2021-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law, 2020-2024
Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
Named Lawyer of the Year in Construction Law, San Francisco by Best Lawyers in America, 2021
Recognized as a “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business,” San Francisco Business Times, 2017
Recognized in Construction Law by Legal 500, 2012, 2014, 2016
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Northern California Rising Star," 2011-2017, "Northern California Super Lawyer," 2020-2024
Named "Up and Coming Lawyer" in Construction Law by Chambers USA
News
Professional Experience
Litigation
- Litigated affirmative quiet title action on behalf of claimant homeowners who had continually used portions of property not accurately reflected in grant deeds over a period of 15+ years in a dispute against a homeowners association that was attempting to appropriate those areas for communal use. Obtained successful settlement confirming all property rights sought in the complaint.
- Defended quiet title action on behalf of a large commercial storage facility in commercial real estate transaction in which former seller/current lessee were seeking to rescind sale of property due to alleged non-performance of certain terms in purchase and sale documents and were seeking to quiet title and return possession of property. Obtained successful settlement in which client retained all property rights and obtained payment of back-rent and other monetary claims. Represented general contractor in AAA arbitration in claims arising out of delayed construction project. With more than $22 million in dispute, defeated respondent’s $16 million cross-claim and obtained victory (95% recovery) on behalf of claimant. Obtained $1.5 million attorney’s fees award.*
- Represented manufacturer against CERCLA and NRDA claims in Superfund clean-up action in Oregon.*
- Served as trial counsel in AAA arbitration arising out of termination for default by utility company of EPC contractor on project to construct a power generating facility, resulting in favorable settlement during trial.*
- Represented owner in plaintiff-side disgorgement claim (B&P § 7031) against general contractor. Obtained favorable settlement from insurance carrier immediately prior to ruling on motion for summary judgment. Defeated all affirmative claims.*
- Represented owner defending against non-payment and escalation claims. Obtained summary judgment against all affirmative claims.*
- Served as trial counsel in state court bench trial on multi-million dollar land use dispute, resulting in favorable settlement agreement mid-trial.*
- Represented public owner against general contractor’s $5 million claims. Obtained terminating sanctions that fully disposed of claims based on general contractor's persistent discovery abuses.*
- Represented manufacturers and retailers in Proposition 65 matters regarding products containing propoxur, cadmium, or other chemicals.*
- Represented employers in handing informal conferences and appeals, leading to favorable resolutions of Cal/OSHA citations.*
- Represented owner in multi-million dollar design and construction defect litigation.*
*Prior Experience
Transactions
- Drafted complex Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) Contract for solar generation facility.*
- Drafted architectural and design professional contracts for development of $400 million-plus landmark campus in San Francisco’s Mission Bay.*
- Drafted request for proposal and request for qualifications for design and construction of multi-building campus, advised in selection of project team, and drafted all project contracts.*
- Drafted and negotiated general contract and architectural and design contracts for $13 million multi-family/mixed-use housing development.*
- Drafted general contract and architectural and design contracts for owner in development of $22 million condominium project in San Francisco.*
- Drafted short- and long-form contracts on behalf of developer for use in $200+ million redevelopment project utilizing Proposition 1B and 1C bond funds.*
*Prior Experience