Brian J. Vella
Member
Smith Pachter McWhorter PLC
8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 900
Vienna, Virginia 22182
Telephone: (703) 847-6300
Fax: (703) 847-6312
View Representative Cases
*AV® Peer Rated
Practice Focus
Construction Contracts and Claims
Government Contracts and Commercial Litigation
Representative Experience
Mr. Vella’s practice is concentrated on heavy construction and commercial construction matters. For over 20 years, Mr. Vella has represented contractors and owners in construction related disputes, including matters involving defective specifications, differing site conditions, variations in estimated quantities, design changes, constructive changes, mechanics liens, payment and performance bond disputes, contract interpretation issues, payment disputes, insurance and warranty issues; acceleration, delay, and inefficiency claims; and schedule and costs analysis of contractor claims.
In addition to representing contractors and owners in litigation, arbitration and mediation, Mr. Vella counsels clients regarding contract formation and interpretation issues, and in developing strategies for risk analysis and avoidance. In matters involving construction disputes, Mr. Vella has extensive experience in factual analysis; claim organization, preparation and presentation; work with engineering and design consultants, technical experts, scheduling experts, and cost and pricing experts.
Education
University of Louisville (J.D., 1984; Deans List;
Law Review, Articles Editor; Moot Court Board, President)
Mary Washington College (B.A., 1980)
Professional Licenses
Admitted to Practice:
Commonwealth of Virginia, 1984
Legal Experience
Virginia Supreme Court and Virginia Court of Appeals; Law Clerk, 1984-1986
Lewis, Mitchell, & Moore; 1986-1987
Smith Pachter McWhorter PLC; 1987-present
Professional Memberships
Virginia State Bar (Board of Governors of Construction Law and Public Contracts Section;
Member, Corporate Counsel Section)
American Bar Association (Member, Public Contract Law Section)
Associated General Contractors of America (Member, Corps of Engineers Committee)
Washington Building Congress (Member, General Council for Construction)
Publications
Co-Author: Subcontractor Remedies (Briefing Papers, 1988 Revision Note, Federal Publications, Inc., Vol. 7, 1985-1987)
Recent State Court Decisions (Virginia State Bar Association, Construction Law and Public Contracts Newsletter)
American Bar Association Contractors’ Law Survey, District of Columbia Chapter
District of Columbia Chapter (American Bar Association, A State-By-State Guide to Construction and Design Law)
* "CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies."
Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.