Who we represent
We represent general contractors, subcontractors, specialty tradesmen, suppliers, and the property owners who hire them, throughout Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and the rest of Hampton Roads. Much of our work is for the tradesman who did the job right and has not been paid. Some of it is for the homeowner or business who paid and did not get the work they bargained for. We take equal pride in both, because both depend on the same thing: contracts that mean what they say and courts that enforce them.
Mechanic’s liens and payment recovery
Virginia gives those who improve real property a powerful remedy: a mechanic’s lien against the property itself under Title 43 of the Virginia Code. Properly perfected, a lien turns an unpaid invoice into a cloud on the owner’s title, which tends to get the attention of owners, lenders, and general contractors in a way that a demand letter does not. Our firm has used this tool to secure full payment for a second-tier subcontractor within thirty days of filing, without a trial.
The catch is that Virginia’s lien statute is unforgiving. The memorandum of lien must be recorded within a short window measured from when work was last performed, the lien can only reach amounts for work performed within a limited period before that date, and suit to enforce must be filed within months of recording. The forms, notices, and the affidavit must be right. Courts have refused to enforce liens for defects that seem trivial to a layperson. If you believe you have lien rights, the time to call is the week you realize you may not be paid, not the week before the deadline.
Where a lien is not available or has lapsed, payment claims proceed on the contract, on quantum meruit, under payment bonds on public projects, or under Virginia’s prompt-payment provisions. We evaluate every available path and pursue the one that gets our client paid fastest for the least expense.
Defect and workmanship disputes
Not every construction dispute is about money owed. Some are about work that was not done in a good and workmanlike manner. We have defended a Navy family sued by a mold-remediation contractor for unpaid invoices after that contractor concealed moisture-damaged flooring beneath new floors. Rather than pay, the family counterclaimed. They won a judgment for their repair costs and collected it in full.
We also defend contractors against defect claims that are overstated or simply wrong. A jobsite background matters here: we can read plans, understand sequencing, and tell the difference between a defect and a change the owner asked for and forgot.
Contracts, deposits, and license matters
The best construction dispute is the one your contract prevented. We draft and review subcontracts, master service agreements, change-order procedures, and payment terms for Virginia trades. We regularly correct misinformation that circulates in the industry — our founder has written about a customer who wrongly insisted that Virginia law caps contractor deposits at 33% — and we help clients structure deposits and draws that are both lawful and enforceable.
We also advise licensed contractors on matters before the Virginia Board for Contractors, including complaints and license defense. A license is the asset that makes every other asset possible, and we treat it that way.
Our firm is a friend of the construction industry. We take equal pride in helping first-class tradesmen recover what is justly due to them and in protecting consumers from defective work or dishonest conduct.
How we work
We start with the documents: the contract, the change orders, the pay applications, the photographs, and the text messages that in our experience decide most construction cases. We give you a candid assessment of the strength of your position and the likely cost of pursuing it. Then we move. Construction claims reward speed and preparation, and our clients know us for being exhaustively prepared and never outworked.
What This Looks Like in Practice.
Construction Law: Mechanic’s Lien Enforcement
Jeff asserted a second-tier subcontractor’s mechanic’s lien rights on an apartment building project, resulting in a full $90,000 recovery on unpaid invoices within 30 days after filing — without the need for a costly trial.
Civil Litigation: Construction Defect
Jeff defended a Navy family against an unscrupulous mold remediation company that sued them for unpaid invoices after failing to complete the work in a good and workmanlike manner — concealing moisture-damaged flooring beneath new floors installed overtop. Rather than pay, the family hired Jeff to file a counterclaim. He won the case and obtained a judgment for the family’s repair costs, which they collected in full.
Matters are described in general terms to protect client confidentiality. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. See all victories →
Read more client reviews →“If you are in construction, you need this guy.”
Jeff rolled his sleeves and jumped right in... and negotiated a settlement for less than half of what the other party wanted. If you're looking for a young and aggressive legal team to represent your business, I highly recommend these guys.
Questions We Hear Often.
How long do I have to file a mechanic’s lien in Virginia?
Virginia’s deadline is short and is measured from when labor or materials were last furnished, generally within ninety days after the last day of the month in which work was last performed, and in any event within ninety days after the project was completed or the contract terminated. Suit to enforce the lien then must be filed within six months of recording. There are additional limits on how far back a lien can reach and specific notice rules for subcontractors and suppliers. Because a defect in timing or form can void the lien, treat these as reasons to call promptly rather than as rules to apply on your own.
Can a subcontractor or supplier file a lien if the general contractor was paid?
Often, yes. Virginia’s lien statute allows subcontractors and suppliers to assert liens, subject to notice requirements and to limits tied to what the owner still owes up the chain at the time notice is given. Whether a lien is available in your situation depends on the timing of your notice and the payments already made, which is why prompt action matters so much.
Does Virginia law limit the deposit a contractor can take?
For most private construction work in Virginia there is no statutory percentage cap on deposits, despite claims to the contrary that circulate online. Certain regulated contexts have their own rules, and any deposit must still be handled consistently with the contract and with the Board for Contractors’ regulations. We help contractors set deposit and draw schedules that are lawful and that hold up if challenged.
What can I do if a contractor did defective work and then sued me for the balance?
You can defend the claim and, where the facts support it, file a counterclaim for the cost to repair or complete the work. Virginia requires work to be performed in a good and workmanlike manner, and an owner who can prove defective work with photographs, expert opinion, or repair estimates is in a strong position. Do not simply pay to make the suit go away before the claim has been evaluated.