Leonard S. Goodman
Len draws upon his three decades of experience to achieve the most favorable results in drafting and negotiating design, construction, and other agreements for his clients, and representing them in development related disputes. He has worked with all of the major professional design and engineering organizations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and he has developed an extensive library of market-tested contract templates that enable owner/developers to better manage and minimize the price, schedule, and performance risks associated with major development projects. He has also crafted acquisition due diligence and procurement “playbooks” and trained construction stakeholders on means and methods to minimize the risk exposure and costs in connection with significant development, construction, and renovation projects.
In 2009, Len earned certification as a LEED®-Accredited Professional from the United States Green Building Council—one of fewer than 200 legal professionals at the time to have earned this certification. Len has defended and prosecuted numerous complex commercial contract, construction, and product defect matters. As an example, for five years, Len led a nationwide team of attorneys in prosecuting a multi-state construction defect and product defect litigation on behalf of a prominent national hotel chain with 250 properties at issue. As lead trial attorney, Len won a significant jury verdict in Massachusetts state court in the first of these cases to go to trial. During a second trial in federal court in Pennsylvania, Len's client achieved an extremely favorable, eight-figure global settlement of all pending cases.
Related Practices
Related Industries
Experience
Representative Matters
- Served as senior legal counsel and advisor for one of the world’s largest asset managers and its portfolio of companies, including:
- An affordable housing company with more than 70,000 units throughout the United States.
- A fund owned hospitality platform with multi-branded hotels focused on luxury and upper upscale resorts; and
- A real estate investment company that owns 80 office properties comprising 40 million square feet
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. with honors George Washington University Law School 1983
- B.A. magna cum laude Georgetown University 1979
- Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
Clerk Experience
- Honorable George H. Goodrich Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, Forum on the Construction Industry, American Bar Association
Recognition
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED®-AP),
- Legal 500, Construction, 2012
- Recipient, Stephen F. McNamee Ethics Award from Georgetown University
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated
Community
Pro Bono
- Len has undertaken several pro bono matters, including representation of persons denied SSI benefits, and cases involving unsafe housing and ineffective assistance of counsel