David W. Owen

David Owen leads Bradley’s Construction Practice Group and has more than 30 years of experience in the construction and engineering industries. A registered professional engineer, he advises on construction, energy and government contract matters. His national and international practice includes multibillion-dollar projects involving disputes valued at several hundred million dollars or more. He represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, construction managers and designers in private and government contract matters.

David works with clients throughout the life of construction projects. He drafts and negotiates agreements for construction and design participants and helps clients develop contract management strategies intended to address problems early and avoid costly disputes. When a dispute cannot be avoided, he handles arbitration and litigation in state and federal courts across the country and in international forums.

His project experience spans petrochemical and LNG facilities, automobile manufacturing plants and engineering, procurement and construction projects. In the energy sector, he has worked on solar, wind and biomass projects, fossil-fueled and hydroelectric generation facilities, and related infrastructure. His experience also includes complex tunneling and mass transit projects; rare earth metals mining; activated carbon plants and steel fabrication; and work involving deep foundations, slope stability, retaining walls, dams, water treatment, bridges and concrete structures.

David is a Fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for construction law, including as its 2013 “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction in Birmingham. He has also been named a BTI Client Service All-Star, a distinction based on recognition from corporate counsel. Bradley’s Construction Practice Group received U.S. “Law Firm of the Year” recognition for Litigation – Construction for 2026, the group’s sixth such recognition since 2018.

A few recent representative matters include:

• Obtained an ICC award valued at over $175 million in favor of an independent power provider against its design-build contractor due to tunnel failures on a hydro-electric project in South America.
• Obtained a full defense award against $185 million in design claims and was awarded costs and fees in a AAA arbitration involving a $2 billion petrochemical manufacturing facility in Texas.
• Negotiated and drafted EPC contract documents for project financed $2.5 billion energy generation complex in South America.
• Obtained a full multimillion-dollar recovery for the general contractor in a AAA arbitration for differing site conditions claims on a multi-story development on the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.
• Obtained a $110 million summary judgment in state court for a combined cycle power generation facility.
• Litigated $60 million claim relating to a geotechnical failure at an automobile manufacturing facility in Alabama that settled within the client’s insurance deductible.
• Assisted with representation of EPC contractor against $500 million in claims arising out of a water treatment facility that allowed favorable closeout and settlement.

• Alabama

• United States District Court, Northern District of Alabama
• United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama
• United States District Court, Southern District of Alabama

• Listed in Business Alabama, Legal Elite 2025-2026
• Listed in Chambers USA, Construction, 2022-2026
• Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers
  •  Construction Litigation, 2018-2025
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^®
  • Construction Law, 2013-2027
  • Litigation – Construction, 2019-2027
  • "Lawyer of the Year," Birmingham, Construction Law, 2013
• Named as BTI Client Service All-Star, 2018
• Listed in B-Metro, "Top Lawyers," 2019-2020

• American Bar Association
• Alabama State Bar Association
• Birmingham Bar Association
• ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
• Design Build Institute Association
• ABC Associate Member; General/Subcontractor Committee, Young Advisory Board
• AGC Associate Member
• Jefferson-Shelby Youth Football League, Board of Directors