J. Christopher "Chris" Selman

Christopher Selman is a highly experienced attorney whose practice focuses on construction, energy, and government contracts. He represents clients across the United States and internationally, including public and private owners, developers, EPC contractors, general and specialty contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, suppliers, construction managers, and design professionals. His work spans a wide range of public and private projects, from large-scale infrastructure and energy facilities to commercial developments and specialty industrial plants.

Christopher advises clients through every phase of the project lifecycle — from planning and procurement to construction, project closeout, and dispute resolution. He regularly assists with project programming, solicitations, bidding, contracting, contract administration, risk management, change orders, and claims. He is particularly skilled in identifying and mitigating risk early and resolving disputes efficiently through negotiation or mediation. When necessary, he represents clients in complex arbitration and litigation across state and federal courts and international forums.

Christopher has handled claims and disputes involving a diverse portfolio of projects, including airports, ammunition and testing plants, courthouses, data centers, hospitals, hotels and casinos, laboratories, manufacturing facilities, military barracks, mixed-use developments, pole mills and sawmills, stadiums, student housing, theme parks, treatment plants, and more.

A significant portion of his practice is devoted to the energy and power generation industry. Christopher advises domestic and international owners, EPC contractors, and manufacturers on major projects involving hydro, solar, wind, and waste-to-energy power plants. His work in this space includes contract negotiation, dispute resolution, outage claims, and performance-related litigation. He also represents clients in matters involving pipelines, steel fabrication, pressure vessels, and terminal facilities.

Christopher is also deeply experienced in government contracting at the federal, state, and local levels. He assists clients with preparing and prosecuting claims and requests for equitable adjustment (REAs) against various agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Veterans Affairs, and General Services Administration. He also advises clients on procurement strategies, compliance with licensing laws and regulations, and contracting methods including GSA schedules, cooperative purchasing, and competitive bidding. He regularly helps clients obtain and maintain trade and professional licenses nationwide and resolve related violations.

He has successfully prosecuted and defended a wide range of construction claims, including those involving acceleration, delay, defective design and construction, labor and material escalation, inefficiency, resequencing, warranty issues, extra work, and wrongful termination. He is also experienced in handling payment and performance bond disputes, breach of contract actions, and mechanic’s lien claims.

Beyond litigation and project administration, Christopher regularly helps clients negotiate and draft contracts, working opposite owners, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers/suppliers and engineers. His experience includes drafting and negotiating traditional cost-plus and lump sum contracts, EPC agreements, design-build contracts, supply contracts, and other agreements for large-scale projects such as hydroelectric plants, waste-to-energy facilities, and infrastructure mega-projects. He frequently advises on AIA, DBIA, ConsensusDocs, and custom industry forms, and helps clients develop and update their internal contract suites, master service agreements, and professional services contracts.

In addition to his construction and government contract work, Christopher maintains a diverse general litigation practice, representing both small family-owned businesses and large public companies in complex business and real estate disputes.