Laird Elizabeth Lawrence Dallas, Texas,
| phone | 214-265-7400 |
| fax | 214-265-7411 |
| Email Me | |
In her more than 30 years of practice, Laird has handled cases as diverse as suing the United States for contract balances to defending employers at administrative hearings on unemployment claims. Currently, she represents business owners, contractors, sureties and individuals in a variety of business disputes. The majority of Laird's practice relates to construction and surety law, which is a natural outgrowth of her previous work as associate surety counsel for a major surety. In addition to acting as an advocate for her clients, Laird serves as a neutral on the American Arbitration Association's commercial and complex case panels.
Laird is recognized by Martindale - Hubbell Attorney Directory with the AV Preeminent Ratings(5.0 Out of 5.0).
Laird was selected as a "Texas Super Lawyer" in Construction/Surety law in the Texas Monthly Super Lawyer's Edition for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and is listed in the Best Lawyers Directory.
- Areas of Practice:
- Business Disputes
- Construction and Surety Law
- Business and Commercial Law
- Litigation and Appeals
- Bar Admissions:
- Texas, 1978
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- Education:
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas,
1978
J.D. - Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas,
December, 1974
B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude
- Published Works:
- The Surety's Indemnity Agreement: Law and Practice (2nd Ed.) (Contributing Author), American Bar Association, 2008
- Performance Bond Manual (Contributing Author), American Bar Association, 2006
- Texas Construction Bond and Lien Claims (Contributing Author), Half Moon, LLC, November, 2005
- Construction Lien Law and the New Residential Construction Commission Act in Texas (Contributing Author), Lorman Education Services, August, 2005
- Are Breach of Warranty Damages Caused by an Occurrence?, Texas Building Trends, September/October, 2001
- Legislative Wrap-up (Co-Author), Texas Building Trends, July/August, 2001
- Construction Lien Law in Texas (Contributing Author), Lorman Education Services, July, 2001
- Pending Legislation Affecting Construction, Texas Building Trends, May/June, 2001
- Construction Claims in Texas (Contributing Author), Lorman Education Services, May, 2001
- Times May be Changing for Texas Employers (Co-Author), Texas Building Trends, March/April, 2001
- Construction Litigation in Texas (Contributing Author), Lorman Education Services, March, 2001
- When Construction Goes Wrong: The Surety's Perspective, University of Texas School of Law, Mortgage Lending Institute, 2000
- The Availability and Scope of Appeal of Arbitration Awards Under the Federal, Uniform and State Acts (Co-Author), 29 The Brief 32-37, Spring, 2000
- Practical Advice on Drafting Contractual Insurance Provisions, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Spring Meeting, 1999
- Construction Warranties in Texas (Co-Author), 13 The Construction Lawyer 20, April, 1993
- Texas Construction Law (Contributing Author), Federal Publications, Inc., 1991
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Speaker, The Surety's Indemnity Agreement: Law and Practice, ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, Spring Meeting, 2008
- Speaker, Texas Construction Bond and Lien Claims, Half Moon, LLC,, 2005
- Speaker, Construction Lien Law and the New Residential Construction Commission Act in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Inc., 2005
- Speaker, Arbitrator Ethics: What Ought One Do?, American Arbitration Association (Dallas), 2004
- Speaker, Construction Lien Law in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Inc., 2001
- Speaker, Construction Claims in Texas, Lorman Education Services, Inc., 2001
- Speaker, Construction Litigation in Texas, Lorman Education Services, 2001
- Speaker, When Construction Goes Wrong: The Surety's Perspective, University of Texas School of Law, Mortgage Lending Institute, 2000
- Speaker, The Availability and Scope of Appeal of Arbitration Awards Under the Federal, Uniform and State Acts, ABA Annual Meeting, Tort & Insurance Practice Section Annual Meeting, 2000
- Moderator, Design-Build Construction Projects from the Perspective of a Contractor, Surety and Commercial Owner, DRI Annual Meeting, Joint Program of the Fidelity and Surety, Construction, and Business Litigation Committees, 1999
- Speaker, Practical Advice on Drafting Contractual Insurance Provisions, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry, Spring Meeting, 1999
- Program Participant, When the Feds Come Marching In, ABA Fidelity & Surety Law Committee Annual Mid-Winter Meeting, 1994
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Dallas County Bar Association, Construction Law Section
- Past Chair; Current Council Member
- American Bar Association
- Member, Forum Committee on Construction Industry
- American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
- Member
- American Bar Association
- Member, Fidelity & Surety Law Committee
- State Bar of Texas,Construction Law Section
- Member
- State Bar of Texas, Litigation Section
- Member
- Surety Claims Institute
- Member
- National Bond Claims Association
- Member
- American Arbitration Association
- Commercial and Complex Case Panels of Neutrals
- Texas Aggie Bar Association
- Past-President

vCard