Sara Abbott McEown

Sara McEown’s practice focuses on the transactional and dispute resolution aspects of construction law. She works with clients in all phases of the design and construction process with an emphasis on contract drafting and negotiation from the early stages of project concept, dispute avoidance during construction, field management, and administration, project close-out, and dispute resolution. When litigation is unavoidable, Sara has over a decade of experience trying construction cases to verdict and through appeal, as well as real estate and commercial business disputes.

Sara’s legal acumen is complemented by her field experience with a large commercial general contractor prior to law school and Bachelor of Science in Construction Science. This distinctive combination allows her insight into the nuts and bolts of issues that arise before, during, and after a project, and the intrinsic capability to support the project community – including owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and sureties – in all aspects of construction and development. Sara focuses on getting to know her clients’ businesses and providing counsel that meets their specific needs. Prior to starting her own firm, Sara was a partner with an Am Law-rated law firm, and a partner at a Chambers-ranked construction boutique firm.

Professional Recognition

Ranked in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, “Up and Coming,” 2022

Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

“Texas Rising Star,” as presented by Super Lawyers a Thomson Reuters Business, in Texas Monthly, 2013 - 2020

“Top Lawyer,” Best of Houstonia, Houstonia Magazine, 2018

“Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame,” Inaugural Member

Texas Lawyer Houston’s “Top Lawyers,” H Texas Magazine, 2019

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section

Houston Bar Association, Construction Law Section

Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA), Member

TEXO, The Construction Association

March of Dimes Greater Houston (Board Member 2019-Present, Executive Leadership Team, 2018-Present)

Representative Experience

Transactional

• Drafted and negotiated construction contracts for construction of largest indoor waterpark in the nation, along with over 900-key hotel, restaurants, retail, convention center, and infrastructure with an estimated project cost of over $500 million.

• Represented two member institutions in drafting and negotiating design and construction agreements for development of 37-acre collaborative medical research campus in Houston, Texas with a project cost of approximately $300 million.

• Drafted and negotiated development agreements and design-build agreement for 200,000 square-foot headquarters in Capital Corridor.

• Drafted and negotiated construction contract for $250 million hospitality project and conference center for publicly traded company.

• Represented multi-family contractor in design and construction contracts related to construction of $90 million multi-family complex in Florida.

• Represented publicly-traded oil and gas company in construction of corporate headquarters, including drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts.

• Represent retail developer in drafting design and construction contracts for various developments throughout Houston, Texas.

• Drafted design and construction contracts for major mixed-use property development spanning 8.5 acres in Atlanta, Georgia for over 600,000 square feet, LEED Certified 26-story office tower.

• Represented owner in development of downtown mixed-use office tower, garage, retail, hotel and residential tower in Dallas, Texas.

• Drafted various design and construction AIA forms for clients such as publicly traded national retailer, national multifamily developer, and regional retail developer.

• Drafted and negotiated design and construction agreement for construction of trade association headquarters.

• Represented owner for agreements related to renovation of downtown high-rise office tower.

• Drafted construction agreements for construction and renovation of 350,000 square feet Class A office building in Washington D.C.

• Drafted design and construction contracts for $100 million renovation of historical building for multi-family project.

• Represented a governmental entity in the negotiation of a construction contract for a $500+ million infrastructure project.

Litigation

• George F. Cravens, M. and Center for Neurological Disorders Hospital, LP, et al., v. Richard Myers and Realty Capital Corporation, et al. (Tarrant County District Court) Obtained a multi-million dollar judgment after a five week trial in this fraud case where the defendants represented that they had specific knowledge as to the development of surgical hospitals.

• Obtained summary judgment for five defendants in alleged oil and gas contamination case in the Barnett Shale.

• Represented political subdivision of the state in bid protest for design-build project estimated at over $500 million.

• Represented a condominium developer in $32 million dollar construction defect arbitration, which also involved allegations regarding payment issues. There were 35 parties in the case, and the developer obtained a very favorable settlement just prior to the arbitration hearing.

Speeches and Publications

“Construction Escalation Claims in an Inflationary Climate,” Presented to Society of Construction Law, May 2022

“What are you Implying? A Discussion Regarding Implied Terms in Construction Contracts” State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section Conference, 2022

“Emerging Issue: Project Owners Mandating Vaccines for Contractors,” September 2021

“In the Midst of Hurricane Season – Is your Business Prepared?,” August 2021

“Client Feature: Largest Indoor Waterpark,” November 2020

"State of Commercial Real Estate - Multi-Family," August 2020

“Supreme Court Examines When Liquidated Damages are an Unenforceable Penalty,” February 2020

“Overview of the Construction Industry and Glossary of Terms,” State Bar of Texas Construction Basics Course, December 2019

“AIA Rolls Out New Construction Manager Series of Form Contracts,” November 2019

“Show Me The Money!! Please?? Drafting Tips To Get To A Counterparty’s Money,” State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section Conference, 2018