Butler Law Firm, P.C., Flower MoundMr. Butler is the owner of Butler Law Firm, PC. His practice primarily involves construction law and commercial litigation.Mr. Butler frequently represents owners, developers, contractors, and subcontractors in construction disputes. He is a LEED accredited professional, and his practice includes drafting design and construction contracts for commercial, multi-family, mixed-use, and public projects. Mr. Butler also has a blog called The Toolbox, which can be located at www.blftoolboxblog.com. He graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1985 with a degree in Human Communication, and received his J.D. degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1994.

Gordon & Sykes, LLP, Fort WorthMr. Gordon is a civil trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience. His practice focuses on the resolution of business and construction disputes in cases involving breach of contract, delay, cost overruns, non-payment of subcontractors, and design problems. Mr. Gordon represents a spectrum of clients in trials and appeals in state and federal courts, and is a certified mediator. After graduating from the University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Gordon was licensed to practice law in the State of Texas in 1976. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell® and is board certified in construction law and in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Slates Harwell, LLP, DallasMr. Harwell is a founding partner of Slates Harwell LLP, and he focuses his practice on representing general contractors, developers/owners, and volume homebuilders. He has practiced in the construction law specialty for over 25 years, working on project documents, risk management programs, and claims in arbitration and litigation. Mr. Harwell has prepared contracts and development agreements for commercial, industrial, retail, residential, and government projects across the United States and internationally. He is equally adept at handling claims that arise from construction projects, such as disputes involving thecountry’s largest ethanol plant in Nebraska, a DOE nuclear facility in Los Alamos, and various alternative energy projects.

Harrison Steck, P.C., Fort WorthMr. Piel is a native of Arlington and Tarrant County and obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He began his legal career in 1997 as a prosecutor in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, where he gained extensive jury trial experience. He then transitioned into civil litigation practice in 1999. Since then, he has handled a variety of complex litigation matters in the areas of construction law, lien law, contract law, real estate law, collections, and products liability, and he teaches classes in construction law. Mr. Piel has extensive experience in counseling businesses on legal questions related to their day-to-day operations and contractual relationships, and he has been trained as a mediator by the American Arbitration Association. He has been recognized byhis legal peers as a Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, and as a “Top Lawyer” by Fort Worth, Texas magazine in 2013 and 2014. Mr. Piel is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Construction Law Section of the Texas Bar Association, and the Tarrant County Bar Association. He is vice-chair of the Construction Law Section of the Tarrant Bar. Mr. Piel has been active in his community as a former planning and zoning commissioner for the City of Arlington, a member of the Arlington ISD’s Capital Needs Steering Committee, and a member of the Board of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. He serves as a member of the Governmental Relations Committee of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Governmental Relations Committee of TEXO/AGC, and Arlington’s Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. Mr. Piel is also active in Tarrant County political affairs.

Joe D. Tolbert is Director at Brackett & Ellis, P.C., in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mr. Tolbert has represented businesses and individuals for more than 32 years. He counsels clients on various business issues and has an active trial practice in commercial litigation and construction law. In addition, Mr. Tolbert is board certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a mark of excellence and a distinguishing accomplishment achieved by fewer than 150 practicing attorneys in Texas. Board-certified attorneys in Construction Law are specialists in transactions and relationships among contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, architects, engineers, governmental entities, insurers, sureties and lenders regarding public and private development, design, and construction projects.