Slates Harwell

EDUCATION

B.S. Texas Tech University, magna cum laude (1987)

J.D. Texas Tech University School of Law, cum laude (1990)

Greg Harwell

Partner

As a business and trial attorney whose practice emphasizes commercial and residential construction litigation and transactions, Greg Harwell helped found Slates Harwell in order to restore the partnering aspect to the legal profession. With over 30 years of legal experience, Greg has been involved in almost every conceivable situation where the law and the construction industry intersect.  

Greg primarily devotes his time to litigating and arbitrating disputes arising from design and construction projects, and also is involved in the negotiation and preparation of design and construction contracts and related documents, addressing all aspects of the construction process, risk management, and project planning. When litigation arises, he brings his experience in handling disputes arising from design and construction errors, delay and cost claims, building performance problems, and matters involving mechanic’s liens.  Greg has argued successfully on multiple occasions before appellate courts, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Texas Supreme Court.

Greg is adept at navigating the complex and sometimes confusing world of bond claims and mechanic’s liens, having authored a chapter on the mechanic’s lien laws of Texas at www.lienlawonline.com. He has held numerous offices with the Dallas Bar Association’s Construction Law Section, including chair, vice chair, and treasurer. He served for years as chair of the attorney’s council for the Texas Association of Builders and on its Legal Affairs committee.

Further, he has been involved for many years in efforts on behalf of clients in the construction industry to draft and present legislation that affects the industry. Included in these efforts are proposed laws relating to insurance coverage, to the regulation of contractors, and to facilitate pre-suit negotiation of disputes.  This has included leading the effort to re-write the Texas mechanic’s lien statute in 2021.

When not practicing law, Greg is an avid woodworker – enjoying the challenge of designing and reproducing pieces of classical American furniture and fixtures.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Recognized, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Construction (Texas), (Tom Wicker ed., Chambers & Partners) (2011 – 2019)

Recognized, The Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, Texas (Steven Niafeh & Gregory White Smith eds., Woodward White Inc.) (2013 – 2020)

Recognized, The Legal 500 United States, Construction Law (2013)

Recognized, Texas Super Lawyers, as published in Texas Monthly (2005, 2006, 2015 – 2019) (A Thomson Reuters Service)

Recognized, D Magazine, Best Lawyers in Dallas, Construction Litigation (2012 – 2017)

Recognized, AV©Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubble© PEER REVIEW RANKINGS

RECENT PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES

The Practical Effect of Enforcing Indemnity Obligations (31st Annual Construction Law Conference) (2018)

Stuck In the Middle With You – Pass through claims on construction projects (34th Annual Construction Law Conference (2021)

The 2021 Amendments To The Texas Mechanics’ Lien Laws: What They Mean For You (Construction Law Foundation presentation (2021)

What Happened to Chapter 53 – Changes to the Mechanic’s Lien Statute (35th Annual Construction Law Conference (2022)