About the law firm of mcnelis + associates, pllc:
The law firm of mcnelis + associates, pllc was formed to provide superior
expertise and professionalism, coupled with the highest levels of integrity and service,
to the Texas construction and real estate industry. mcnelis + associates, pllc is an
independent firm specializing in the representation of Texas-based contractors,
subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals and owner/developers in all phases of
commercial and residential construction. Together with its partners and associated
attorneys, the law firm of mcnelis + associates, pllc has more than forty years of
combined experience in representing many of San Antonio’s most prominent
construction and real estate firms. With experienced former lawyers from San Antonio’
s oldest and most respected law firms (both Matthews and Branscomb and Cox &
Smith), the firm is already recognized as one of San Antonio's premier construction law
and real estate firms.
Our attorneys’ training, experience and dedication to the highest levels
of professionalism are at the pinnacle of the legal profession. Members of the firm are
authors of legal articles in both trade and professional journals and publications, and
are frequent speakers at industry seminars.
Our team of construction and real estate attorneys maintain extensive
expertise in a wide range of legal matters affecting public and private construction
projects, from initial project conception through final completion and the resolution of
all project disputes. They are experienced in representing the legal needs of
construction industry professionals in all phases of project design, bidding, financing,
contract negotiation, review and drafting, project scheduling and completion, warranty
obligations, liability issues, litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and counseling
regarding dispute avoidance techniques. mcnelis + associates, pllc also maintains
close relationships with many of the best law firms in South Texas to provide a host of
additional legal services to our clients, including intellectual property, labor and
employment, bankruptcy and lobbying.
We work in close partnership with our clients, their in-house attorneys
and staff to develop a clear understanding of each client’s history, business philosophy
and development goals to minimize legal problems and provide creative and effective
solutions to those legal issues that do arise. We allocate attorneys and staff to provide
clients with timely, accurate and reliable legal advice at better-than-competitive costs.
With a centrally located office, we are always available to meet with our clients’ owners,
officers and staff. We pledge that our representations will be consistent with mcnelis +
associates, pllc's reputation for maintaining the highest standards of professional
conduct.
The individual areas of expertise of the team’s members are
complementary to each other and ensure the ability to provide seamless legal
representation to our clients in all areas of construction law. All members of the law
firm of mcnelis + associates, pllc have extensive contract negotiation and drafting
experience. Sean McNelis has considerable experience in representing owners of
large construction projects, as well as general contractors, subcontractors and
suppliers in all phases of the construction process. Through his extensive construction
litigation background, Sean McNelis is also able to provide valuable risk-assessment,
management and liability guidance throughout the construction process, as well as
highly developed dispute resolution skills and strategic planning.
Sean McNelis also has extensive experience in drafting general
contracts (including negotiated contracts, design-bid-build contracts, design-build at
risk contracts and cost-plus contracts), project management contracts, subcontract
agreements, supply contracts and purchase orders for the firm’s clients. The
construction contracts negotiated and drafted by the firm’s attorneys have included
numerous multi-million dollar and multi-party construction contracts on behalf of the
firm’s clients on both public and private projects. Particular attention is given to
minimizing potential disputes on the project by drafting contracts with clear delineations
of authority, obligations and risk assumption.
Sean McNelis currently serves as the immediate past-president of the
Construction Law Section of the San Antonio Bar Association, where he has served on
its board for over five years. He was recently appointed to the State Bar of Texas’
Construction Law Section as a representative from San Antonio. He remains active in
the Texas and American Bar Associations’ Construction Law Sections, as well as in
local construction industry trade associations.
Sean McNelis has developed a coordinated set of written and audio-
visual materials designed to assist contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in the
preservation of their lien and bond claim rights, as well as in better understanding their
rights and obligations on federal, state and private construction projects. Mr. McNelis
has conducted numerous seminars for clients and industry professionals to assist them
in perfecting and assessing lien and bond claims utilizing these materials. Mr. McNelis
has extensive lien and bond claim experience from both an owner’s and lien claimant’s
position, and has extensively litigated lien and bond issues before state and federal
courts.
Associated with the firm is Charles A. Japhet, formerly with Cox & Smith.
Inc., who comes from a long-line of residential developers and contractors, and has
particular expertise in residential construction law. Mr. Japhet has considerable
litigation experience in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial civil
litigation matters. He also possesses extensive residential development experience.
Also associated with the firm is Richard Duncan, formerly of Matthews
and Branscomb, P.C.. Mr. Duncan has extensive real estate transactional experience,
with particular expertise in residential lending and leasing.
The firm's newest member is Lance Geppert, a commercial litigator with
eight years of extensive litigation experience in both State and Federal courts. Mr.
Geppert is a former editor of the Baylor School of Law's Law Journal.
The following is a representative list of the local construction and
construction related clients for which the firm’s attorneys have provided legal services:
Representative Firm Clients:
San Antonio Water Systems
T & D Moravits & Company
Ironhorse Ironworks, Inc.
Guido Brothers Construction Co.
Guido Lumber Company
Hill Country Electric Supply, L.P.
American Interiors
Vincent Masonry
HLH Investment Group
Thornton Steel Co.
Signature Steel Structures
Land Resources Corporation
Texas Wilson Office Furniture
Collier Custom Homes
R.J. Griffin & Company
J. E. Dunn Construction Group
KGME, Inc.
