Nossaman's Infrastructure Group Once Again Profiled as a "Construction Group of the Year"
Nossaman’s Infrastructure Group was once again profiled by Law360 after being named a “Construction Group of the Year.” The Group was previously named a “Practice Group of the Year” numerous times in both the transportation and project finance categories.
Law360 highlighted the Group’s efforts advising “the city of Los Angeles on the close and groundbreaking of a $2.6 billion convention center renovation and guiding Georgia's tolled transportation authority on an $11 billion freeway project.” Law360 further noted that in addition to these projects, “Attorneys in the law firm's infrastructure team were go-to legal advisers for several state governments on their major construction projects last year, including a six-lane bridge, an airport train system and an equestrian facility.”
Commenting on the practice, Infrastructure Group Chair Elizabeth Cousins said, “Cities and states choose to work with Nossaman because of the firm's long history of guiding them on ambitious infrastructure projects from conception to completion. We have been truly public agency focused, and so we understand what it takes to get these deals done.” She added that the Group has a “passionate, convivial work culture—and are a fun group of attorneys to work with” and closed by saying that the most satisfying aspect of the projects they take on is “the opportunity to shape our local communities and people's lives. That's a pretty exciting chance to get.”
Discussing her work on the Los Angeles Convention Center, which involves a multiyear renovation and expansion, Yukiko Kojima said the project “was particularly unique due to its tight schedule” around the 2028 Olympics. Law360 wrote, “The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, while the rest of the development's phases are scheduled for after the global event is over.” Yukiko added that in the “middle of the project, there is an ‘immovable time period’ in which no work is done” to accommodate Olympic events.
Simon Santiago was featured for leading a team that advised the State Road and Tollway Authority on the financial close of an $11 billion P3 agreement to build express lanes in both directions along a 16-mile section of State Route 400 in the Atlanta area. He said, “The deal involved far more intergovernmental agreements than what's typical for a P3.” He also highlighted what makes Nossaman’s Infrastructure practice distinctive, saying that Group members are often involved in the planning and implementation of projects. "Not too many firms are involved with contract administration issues…For example, part of my background is that I used to be a litigator. Not only do I assist in terms of project planning and procurement, but once the contract is entered into, I stay and assist the client in terms of dealing with contract administration, which includes claims."
