Nossaman Expands Infrastructure Practice with Addition of Renowned Construction Attorneys Rosemary Robinson and Nicholas Fortino

Irvine, CA — Nossaman is pleased to announce Rosemary Robinson and Nicholas Fortino have joined the Firm’s Infrastructure Group and will serve as partners in our Orange County office. Robert Oh joins them in Orange County as an associate. Before coming to Nossaman, they were members of Procopio’s Construction Law & Litigation Group.

Rosemary represents owners, developers and contractors on both public and private projects, ranging from large residential and mixed-use projects to charter schools and billion-dollar infrastructure. She specializes in drafting and negotiating project contracts, counselling parties through distressed development and construction projects and litigating matters involving contract breaches, defective construction and bodily injury defense. She has worked on projects including commercial ground-up and renovation, light-rail, airports, multiple-story parking structures, underground pipeline systems, cold-storage refrigeration plants, warehouses, power plants, utility construction, geothermal power energy plants, Army barracks and associated campuses, community colleges, charter schools and public school districts.

Nicholas focuses on litigating matters involving private construction as well as public works, in the residential, commercial, educational and industrial sectors from mechanics’ liens to delay claims and other breaches of contract. He works with landlords, developers and general contractors related to the Privette doctrine, which provides a shield from liability for onsite construction injuries suffered by employees of contractors. He drafts and reviews contracts for homebuilders, developers, landowners and others involved in construction projects.

“Adding Rosemary and Nicholas to our Orange County office significantly strengthens our infrastructure presence in Orange County and continues to enhance our ability to advise on the full construction project lifecycle,” said Elizabeth Cousins, chair of Nossaman’s Infrastructure Group. “As world-class attorneys with immense experience and established relationships in California and nationally, they are a fantastic addition.”

Nossaman’s Infrastructure Group helps clients deliver first-of-their-kind projects. It has handled the nation’s first multi-modal design-build project, developed the nation’s first availability payment contract and the world’s first fully automated toll road using electronic transponders to collect tolls. It also negotiated the first toll concession agreement in Texas history, the first procurement under California’s P3 law and is currently helping Colorado revolutionize safety enforcement on its express lanes network. Infrastructure Group members have extensive local and global experience planning, procuring and financing, and litigating claims on award-winning transportation, public building, water and wastewater projects.

Clients appreciate our experience leading signature engagements, not only for public agencies in the United States, but also for private enterprises and for public agencies in Canada, Australia and Asia. The Group is one of only handful of firms ranked in Band 1 by Chambers & Partners in the U.S. Projects sector and has been recognized by P3 Bulletin, IJ Global, PFI, ARTBA, DBIA, the Legal 500, Law360 and the National Law Journal for our accomplishments in the industry. In January, the Group added prominent construction attorneys Carol Sigmond and Joshua Deal to Nossaman’s New York office.

Commenting on joining the Firm, Rosemary said, “I’m thrilled to join Nossaman’s Infrastructure Group and help expand its footprint in Orange County. The team’s reputation in the Infrastructure and P3 sectors is unmatched, and I look forward to collaborating with the group’s talented attorneys across the country to deliver top-tier results for my clients.”

Nicholas shared that sentiment, adding, “I’m excited to make this move and leverage the firm’s national platform. Working alongside such a deep bench of experts will allow me to provide even greater value to my clients.”

Rosemary holds a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles and a B.S. from Pitzer College. She has been recognized as a Commercial Real Estate Visionary by the Los Angeles Times and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. She is a member of State Bar of California and the Orange County Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Associated General Contractors of California.

Nicholas obtained his J.D. from Chapman University and his B.S. from California State University, Long Beach. He is admitted to practice in California.