Jennifer Wheatley Fletcher

Jenny Fletcher’s law practice involves construction industry issues exclusively. Jenny’s experience includes serving as lead counsel in numerous trials, arbitrations, appellate arguments, court appearances and mediations. Unlike most construction lawyers, she has extensive jury trial experience. In addition to prosecuting and defending successfully a number of multi-million dollar disputes on behalf of construction clients, in 2003 she won the largest construction jury verdict in Nevada following a nine-month jury trial. Jenny has, of course, settled many complex cases without the need for trials, and also has experience in deciding cases, having served as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association Construction Industry Panel for more than 25 years.  She is a member of the AAA Construction Mega Case Panel, and is a Fellow in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.  Jenny is the Immediate Past President of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and serves on its Executive Board.

Jenny started her construction law career with the construction focused boutique firm of Griffin Cochrane & Marshall, where she worked as an associate and partner for more than 20 years.  GCM merged in 2006 with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, where Jenny practiced as a partner for 11 years.  At Sutherland, Jenny served as the leader of the Construction Industry Practice Group, co-leader of the Litigation Practice Group, and as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.  In 2017, Sutherland combined with the international firm Eversheds, to form Eversheds Sutherland, where Jenny is a partner.

https://us.eversheds-sutherland.com/People/Jennifer-W-Fletcher

• Recognized by Chambers USA: Guide to Leading Business Lawyers as a “star individual” in the area of construction law (2002–2016)
• Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of construction law
• Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of the top female litigators in the United States
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of construction law
• Selected for inclusion in Georgia Super Lawyers®
• Named “construction lawyer of the year in Georgia” (2013)
• Named among the “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend magazine (2006, 2007)
• Listed in the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers

ABA Forum Committee on the Construction Industry; ABA Section of Public Contract Law; American Arbitration Association Panel of Arbitrators, including Mega Case Panel; Co-Chair, Construction Committee, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution; Member of Executive Committee, Lumpkin Inn of Court

Publications

• Co-author, “Constructing Power,”Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers (Spring 2011)
• Contributing Author, The Annotated Construction Law Glossary, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (2010)
• Co-author, “Successful Forensic Schedule Analysis,” Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers (Winter 2007)
• Contributing author, ABA Discovery Deskbook for Construction Disputes (2005)
• “Construction Defects from the View of the Construction Manager,” Seminar Paper (2005)
• “Managing the Complex Construction Case,” ABA Forum on the Construction Industry (2004)
• Co-author, “Design-Build Strategies,” American Institute for Professional Training (1999)
• Co-author, “Construction Law for Builders, Owners and Designers,” Griffin Cochrane & Marshall (1999)

Speeches/Teaching

• Speaker and Moderator, “Legal Project Management,”  ACC Corporate Value Challenge Georgia (March 2011)
• Panelist, “Energizing Construction,” American College of Construction Lawyers 22nd Annual Meeting (February 17–20, 2011)
• Panelist, “The Arbitration Clause Says What?” ABA 2011 Midyear Meeting (February 9–15, 2011)
• Panelist, “Negotiating the Key Contract Provisions,” Associated Owners & Developers 14th Annual Construction Industry Conference (September 20–21, 2010)
• Speaker, “The Next Wave of Construction Industry Dispute Resolution,” The Seminar Group (October 16, 2009)
• Speaker, “Surviving and Prospering on Construction Projects Under the New Administration,” Associated Owners & Developers National Conferences East (September 14-15 and November 9-10, 2009)
• Speaker, “Builder’s Risk 101,” Insurance in the Construction Industry Seminar (May 7–8, 2009)
• Panelist, “Effectively Resolving Local and Global Disputes Through Mediation, Arbitration or Litigation,” AOD National Seminar, Atlanta; Miami (September/October 2008)
• Teacher, “Anatomy and Complexity of Construction Projects and Disputes,” AAA Construction Manager Training Program, Atlanta (April 2008)
• Panelist, “Mediation – What Works,” Construction Superconference, San Francisco (December 2007)
• “Dealing with Major Construction Defects,” Association of Owners and Developers Meeting, Atlanta (Fall 2007)
• “Trying the Complex Construction Case,” Association of Owners and Developers Meetings, Washington, DC and Atlanta (Summer and Fall 2007)
• “Condominium Defects Issues,” The Seminar Group, Atlanta (Spring 2007)
• “New Rules for International and Expedited Arbitration,” ABA Section of Alternative Dispute Resolution Meeting, Washington, DC (Spring 2007)
• “Specialized Contract Clauses in Construction Contracts,” ABA Forum on the Construction Industry Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Spring 2007)
• Panelist, “Presenting, Negotiating, and Avoiding Claims,” Associated Owners and Developers (AOD), (2006)
• Panelist, “Mediating Construction Claims,” National Contract Management Association (2006)
• Group leader, “Negotiating Settlements,” Georgia Bridge the Gap (2006)
• Lecturer, “Construction Defects: Water Intrusion and Other Calamities” (2005)
• Lecturer, “Managing the Complex Construction Case,” American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry (2004)
• Lecturer, “Construction Contracts Year in Review,” Federal Publications Thomson-West (2000-2005)
• Panelist, “Mediating Construction Claims,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting (1999)
• Lecturer and Co-author, “Design Build Strategies,” American Institute for Professional Training and Development (1999)
• Lecturer, “Concentrated Course in Construction Contracts,” Federal Publications (1998)
• Lecturer and Co-author, “Practical Construction Law,” Federal Publications (1996)
• 2000 Mock Argument, “Surety Claims,” TIPS Meeting, Construction Superconference (1996)
• Panelist, “Mediating Employment Issues,” Construction Superconference (1994)
• Lecturer, “Product Liability,” Georgia Institute of Technology (1985-1989

• Georgia
• Florida
• New York

• Board of Directors, Atlanta Bar Association Construction Section
• Executive Committee, Lumpkin Inn of Court
• Governing Committee, Sutherland Women Stepping Up (Impactful Philanthropy)
• Member, Olmsted Linear Park Alliance
• Member and Publicity Chair, Druid Hills Women’s Golf Association
• Board of Trustees, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation