The Numbers Are Sobering
Construction Disputes Are Bigger and Longer Than People Think
$60.1M
Average value of a U.S. construction dispute
12.5 mo
Average time to resolve a dispute in North America
~79%
Average cost overrun on large projects
9 in 10
Large projects that run over budget
Sources: Arcadis 2025 Global Construction Disputes Report; McKinsey & Company capital-projects analysis (500+ projects).
Here is the part that should get your attention: the single most common cause of these disputes is not fraud or bad faith. It is parties failing to understand or follow their own contract. That is preventable, and it is exactly where we work.
When Your Project Is at Risk, We Get It Back on Track
Construction projects are high-stakes operations: tight deadlines, dense contracts, and countless moving parts. When something goes wrong, a delayed schedule, a defect, a payment that stops, the financial fallout is fast and serious. That is where we come in.
Based in Loudoun County and serving clients across Virginia, Shin Law Office helps contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, developers, and property owners resolve construction disputes with precision and strategy. From contract drafting through litigation, we protect your interests throughout the project's life. The goal is simple: keep the job on track, or make it right when it goes off the rails.
Schedule a ConsultationWhere We Come In
- ✓ The schedule has slipped and the cost is climbing
- ✓ Work is defective, or you are wrongly blamed for it
- ✓ An invoice has gone unpaid and a lien deadline is near
- ✓ Extra work was done without a signed change order
- ✓ A contractor or sub walked off the job
- ✓ You are about to sign a contract you want to survive a fight
Are You Focused on What Really Matters?
The Questions That Decide Who Wins
On a construction job, the answers to these are usually buried in the contract and the paper trail. The ones you cannot answer are where your risk lives.
Are your change orders enforceable, or just verbal promises waiting to backfire?
Is your construction contract strong enough to survive a lawsuit?
Can your subcontractor relationships stand up to legal scrutiny?
If a payment stops, do you know your lien deadline, or is the clock already running out?
When the schedule slips, who is contractually on the hook for the cost?
If you were sued tomorrow, could you put your hands on the documents that prove your case?
If any of those gave you pause, that is the conversation to have now. Schedule a consultation before a small problem becomes a $60 million one.
Construction Litigation
Disputes We Handle, Start to Finish
From the first contract to the final lien, contractors, owners, and developers rely on us most.
Contract Disputes
Resolving breach, scope, and payment-term fights over what the construction contract actually requires.
Explore →Construction Defects
Pursuing or defending workmanship, design, and material-failure claims, working with experts on cause and cost.
Explore →Change Order Disputes
Recovering for extra or changed work, and fighting claims built on verbal or unsigned change orders.
Explore →Delay & Acceleration Claims
Proving or defending who owns a schedule slip, and the added cost of speeding the work back up.
Explore →Mechanic's Liens & Payment Claims
Filing, enforcing, or defending mechanic's liens and chasing unpaid invoices before the deadline runs.
Explore →Subcontractor & Supplier Disputes
Sorting out payment, performance, and backcharge fights up and down the contracting chain.
Explore →Bond & Surety Claims
Making and defending payment and performance bond claims against contractors and their sureties.
Explore →Bid Protests & Procurement Disputes
Challenging or defending contract awards and bidding decisions on public construction projects.
Explore →Construction Transactions
Get the Paper Right Before the Fight
The contracts, waivers, and compliance work that keep projects out of the dispute column, built on the same law we litigate every day.
Construction Contract Drafting & Review
Drafting and reviewing prime contracts with the payment, scope, and default terms Virginia law now requires.
Explore →Subcontracts & Supplier Agreements
Building subcontracts and purchase orders that comply with the payment statute and protect every tier of the job.
Explore →Design-Build & Architect Agreements
Papering architect, engineer, and design-build agreements so design risk lands where the parties intend.
Explore →Change Order & Project Documentation
Setting up the change order forms, notice procedures, and field documentation that win disputes before they start.
Explore →Lien Waivers & Payment Documents
Drafting and reviewing waivers, pay applications, and joint check agreements so no signature gives up more than the check buys.
Explore →Contractor Licensing & Compliance
Class A, B, and C applications, upgrades, and compliance, plus defense when a complaint reaches the Board.
Explore →Residential & Home Improvement Contracts
Board compliant home improvement and new build contracts, with warranty terms drafted to hold up.
Explore →Construction Risk, Insurance & Indemnity
Indemnity, insurance, and warranty terms drafted around the clauses Virginia law voids, so the risk lands where you meant it.
Explore →Why Contractors and Owners Call Us
We understand the build and the business, not just the statute.
We Speak Construction
Schedules, submittals, retainage, change orders. We know how a job actually runs, so nothing gets lost in translation.
We Build the Record
Cases are won on documents. We help you protect the paper trail while the job is live, so the proof is there when you need it.
We Move on the Clock
Liens and notices run on hard deadlines. We act fast so a missed date never costs you the claim.
Courtroom-Ready
We resolve what we can at the table and prepare every matter for trial or arbitration, which is often what makes a fair deal happen.
What to Expect
How Working With Us Begins
1
Consultation
Tell us about the project, the contract, and where it went wrong. We find the issues that matter most.
2
Review Contract & Record
We dig into the documents, the schedule, and the correspondence to find your leverage and your deadlines.
3
Claim or Defend
We file the lien, send the demand, negotiate, or litigate, with a clear plan and a calendar of every deadline.
4
Resolve or Try It
We push for the strongest resolution available and are fully prepared to take it to court or arbitration.
Attorney Insight
"Here is what surprises people: most construction disputes do not come from bad builders or bad clients. The data backs it up. The most common cause is parties not understanding or following their own contract. I have seen six-figure fights that a one-page change-order form would have prevented. My job is to read the contract the way a judge will, protect the record while the job is live, and move fast when a deadline like a mechanic's lien is ticking. Build the paper trail now and you may never need me. If it goes sideways, I am ready."
Anthony I. Shin, Esq.
Founder, Shin Law Office
Common Questions
Answers Before You Call
What is construction litigation?
It is the body of legal disputes tied to a construction project: contract breaches, payment fights, delays, defects, liens, and more. The work runs from contract drafting all the way through trial or arbitration.
When should I call a construction attorney?
As soon as a dispute appears, and ideally before. Early counsel can prevent problems rather than just clean them up, and some deadlines, like a mechanic's lien, move fast.
What is a mechanic's lien, and what is the deadline in Virginia?
It is a claim recorded against the property for unpaid work or materials. In Virginia it generally must be recorded within 90 days of the last day you furnished labor or materials, and the rules are strict, so do not wait to get advice.
How long do I have to file a construction lawsuit in Virginia?
Generally about five years for written contracts and three years for oral ones, though the right deadline depends on the specific claim. Because timing can decide the case, early review matters.
Are verbal change orders enforceable?
Usually not reliably. Change orders should be in writing and signed by the parties. We step in when extra work was done on a handshake and now no one wants to pay for it.
Who is responsible for a construction delay?
It depends on the contract and the facts: the contractor, a supplier, the weather, or the owner. We analyze the schedule and the contract terms to apportion responsibility and value the claim.
Can I sue for construction defects?
Yes. If a defect caused damage, a safety risk, or financial loss, you may have a claim against the contractor, subcontractor, designer, or manufacturer. We work with experts to prove cause and cost.
What if a contractor walked off the job?
That may be a breach of contract. We help you recover damages, bring in a replacement the right way, and enforce the terms so you are not left holding the cost.
Arbitration or litigation, which will my case be?
Often your contract decides. Arbitration is private and faster but binding with limited appeal; litigation is public and allows appeals. We handle both and help you use whichever serves your goals.
Can a dispute be resolved without going to court?
Frequently, yes. Many construction disputes settle through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. We prepare every case to win, which is usually what makes a strong settlement possible.
Get Your Project Back on Track
Whether you are drafting a contract or defending your work in court, we give you the legal support to move forward with confidence. Serving contractors, owners, and developers across Northern Virginia.
Prefer to talk now? Reach Anthony I. Shin, Esq. at 571-445-6565.
Based in Loudoun County and serving clients across Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland, we know that when everything’s on the line, the right attorney doesn’t just make a difference, they determine the outcome.
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Copyright © 2026 Shin Law Office, PLC. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2026 Shin Law Office, PLC. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of any content on this site is prohibited except for individual, non-commercial, informational use. This limited permission does not allow modification, distribution, or incorporation of any content into other works or publications in any medium. You may not reproduce or distribute content from this site to any third party.