About Douglas
Practice Emphasis and ExperienceConstructionBusiness & Real EstateCommercial LitigationGovernment ContractsFor more than 25 years, Douglas Oles has concentrated his practice on helping clients to avoid and resolve disputes on complex contracts relating to construction, supply, energy, real estate development and intellectual property licensing. Today, he is also increasingly involved as a neutral mediator and arbitrator in contract-based disputes.Mr. Oles has prepared, negotiated and litigated claims resulting in recoveries in excess of $100 million on major projects performed for government agencies and private owners. Most of his work has been in Alaska and the western United States, but assignments have ranged from Europe to South America. As a principal developer of the firm’s international contracts practice, Mr. Oles is an Honourary Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.Presentations"Choosing Governing Law and Venue for Disputes in International Arbitration," Society of Construction Law Conference, Kuala Lumpur (September 2014)"Contract Eschatology: Suspension & Termination," International Construction Law Conference, London (September 2012)"Contract Negotiation and Drafting," Society of Construction Law Conference, Melbourne (May 2012)“Technical Claim Defenses,” ABA Construction Forum, Atlanta (October 2011)"Resolving Construction Disputes in Canada and the U.S. - Looking Back, Looking Forward," ABA Annual Meeting (August 2011)“Forms and Forums in the United States,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Ottawa (June 2011)"Construction Claims Disputes and Liability," Pacific Business & Law Institute (April 2011)"Communication - Proper & Timely Notifications,” Construction Seminars Northwest (April 2010)Society of Construction Law Conference in Hong Kong (December 2010)“Federal Contracting,” ABA Construction Forum, Philadelphia (October 2009)Society of Construction Law Conference in London (October 2008)London Super Conference (2002-2006)“Dispute Review Boards,” OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar (2005)“Negotiating Changes to ‘Standard’ Form Contracts,” OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar (2004)Professional and Civic InvolvementAmerican College of Construction Lawyers, Fellow and national journal editorAmerican Bar Association, Chair, Forum on the Construction Industry (2005-2006)American Bar Foundation, Life FellowJAMS, Panel of Neutrals & GEC Board memberFellow, Chartered Institute of ArbitratorsWashington State Bar Association, Construction Law SectionAlaska Bar AssociationInternational Bar AssociationPresident, The Rainier Club (2007-2008)British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, life memberCourtsWashington State Supreme CourtU.S. District Court, Eastern District, WashingtonU.S. District Court, Western District, WashingtonU.S. Court of Federal ClaimsU.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth CircuitU.S. Supreme CourtEducationJ.D., University of Washington, with honorsB.A., Stanford University, History, with distinction and department honors (Phi Beta Kappa)NotableMartindale Hubbell AV rating for over 20 yearsSelected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© every year since 2003Who’s Who in America since 2008International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers since 2007Washington’s “Super Lawyers” since 2006
Practice Emphasis and ExperienceConstructionBusiness & Real EstateCommercial LitigationGovernment ContractsFor more than 25 years, Douglas Oles has concentrated his practice on helping clients to avoid and resolve disputes on complex contracts relating to construction, supply, energy, real estate development and intellectual property licensing. Today, he is also increasingly involved as a neutral mediator and arbitrator in contract-based disputes.Mr. Oles has prepared, negotiated and litigated claims resulting in recoveries in excess of $100 million on major projects performed for government agencies and private owners. Most of his work has been in Alaska and the western United States, but assignments have ranged from Europe to South America. As a principal developer of the firm’s international contracts practice, Mr. Oles is an Honourary Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.Presentations"Choosing Governing Law and Venue for Disputes in International Arbitration," Society of Construction Law Conference, Kuala Lumpur (September 2014)"Contract Eschatology: Suspension & Termination," International Construction Law Conference, London (September 2012)"Contract Negotiation and Drafting," Society of Construction Law Conference, Melbourne (May 2012)“Technical Claim Defenses,” ABA Construction Forum, Atlanta (October 2011)"Resolving Construction Disputes in Canada and the U.S. - Looking Back, Looking Forward," ABA Annual Meeting (August 2011)“Forms and Forums in the United States,” Canadian College of Construction Lawyers, Ottawa (June 2011)"Construction Claims Disputes and Liability," Pacific Business & Law Institute (April 2011)"Communication - Proper & Timely Notifications,” Construction Seminars Northwest (April 2010)Society of Construction Law Conference in Hong Kong (December 2010)“Federal Contracting,” ABA Construction Forum, Philadelphia (October 2009)Society of Construction Law Conference in London (October 2008)London Super Conference (2002-2006)“Dispute Review Boards,” OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar (2005)“Negotiating Changes to ‘Standard’ Form Contracts,” OMRB Construction and Public Contract Law Seminar (2004)Professional and Civic InvolvementAmerican College of Construction Lawyers, Fellow and national journal editorAmerican Bar Association, Chair, Forum on the Construction Industry (2005-2006)American Bar Foundation, Life FellowJAMS, Panel of Neutrals & GEC Board memberFellow, Chartered Institute of ArbitratorsWashington State Bar Association, Construction Law SectionAlaska Bar AssociationInternational Bar AssociationPresident, The Rainier Club (2007-2008)British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, life memberCourtsWashington State Supreme CourtU.S. District Court, Eastern District, WashingtonU.S. District Court, Western District, WashingtonU.S. Court of Federal ClaimsU.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth CircuitU.S. Supreme CourtEducationJ.D., University of Washington, with honorsB.A., Stanford University, History, with distinction and department honors (Phi Beta Kappa)NotableMartindale Hubbell AV rating for over 20 yearsSelected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© every year since 2003Who’s Who in America since 2008International Who’s Who of Construction Lawyers since 2007Washington’s “Super Lawyers” since 2006
For more than 25 years, Douglas Oles has concentrated his practice on helping clients to avoid and resolve disputes on complex contracts relating to construction, supply, energy, real estate development and intellectual property licensing. Today, he is also increasingly involved as a neutral mediator and arbitrator in contract-based disputes.
Mr. Oles has prepared, negotiated and litigated claims resulting in recoveries in excess of $100 million on major projects performed for government agencies and private owners. Most of his work has been in Alaska and the western United States, but assignments have ranged from Europe to South America. As a principal developer of the firm’s international contracts practice, Mr. Oles is an Honourary Fellow of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers.
