Profile
Meredith E. Dishaw is a design professional, surety, and construction litigator who represents clients in state and federal courts as well as private arbitrations throughout the country. Her clients include public and private owners, contractors, sureties, architects and engineers. Ms. Dishaw works with her clients in all phases of the design, construction, and bonding process from contract drafting and review to negotiation, trial and appeals. Ms. Dishaw’s background includes resolution of complex payment and performance bond claims, commercial and license disputes, and subrogation and recovery issues. Ms. Dishaw prosecutes affirmative construction claims to mitigate surety losses and defends extra-contractual claims including claims brought under the Washington Insurance Fair Conduct Act. In her design professional practice, Ms. Dishaw handles claims and litigation alleging breach of contract claims and negligence claims in state and federal court. Ms. Dishaw regularly writes and speaks on the topics related to suretyship, construction, and design professionals. She recently has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Construction Litigation.
Presentations & Seminars
- Panel Presenter, “Commercial Surety Considerations: Attorney’s Fees Risks and Pitfalls,” The Pearlman Conference, Seattle, WA September 2022.
- Panel Presenter, “The Surety’s Ability to Assert Defenses of its Bond Principal,” The Pearlman Conference, Seattle, WA September 2021.
- Panel Presenter, “Extra-Contractual Claims and How to Avoid Them,” The Pearlman Conference, Seattle, WA September 2018.
- Presenter, “The Nuts and Bolts of Surety Law,” Advanced Construction Law CLE, Oregon State Bar Association, Portland, Oregon, October 2017.
- Panel Presenter, “Implied Warranty of the Plans and Specifications under Spearin,” The Pearlman Conference, Seattle, WA September 2017.
Articles & Publications
- Co-Author on “Washington” for the The Electronic Payment Bond Deskbook, 2023 Fidelity & Surety Law Spring Conference, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice, Eds. Alana L. Porrazzo & Ryan J. Springer (Spring 2023).
- Co-Author, “Commercial Surety Considerations: Attorney’s Fees Risks and Pitfalls,” The Pearlman Conference, September 2022
- Contributing Author, Surety Aspects of Bankruptcy Law and Practice, ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice, Eds. Chad Schexnayder and Michael E. Collins (2021).
- Co-Author, Chapter 9: Extra-Contractual Liability of Performance Bond Sureties in The Law of Performance Bonds, ABA, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice (3d. Ed. 2019).
- Co-Author, “Extra-Contractual Claims and How to Avoid Them,” The Pearlman Conference, September 2018.
- “The Nuts and Bolts of Surety Law,” Advanced Construction Law CLE, Oregon State Bar Association, October 2017.
- Co-Author, “Implied Warranty of the Plans and Specifications under Spearin,” The Pearlman Conference, September 2017.
Representative Experience
- Represented design professional clients in contract negotiations on AIA contracts and manuscript agreements;
- Represented structural engineer client in litigation alleging breach of contract and negligence and obtained a successful resolution for the client;
- Represented an architectural firm in claims alleging improper design and breach of contract and obtained a favorable resolution for the client;
- Represented general contractor under a design-build contract in litigation relating various third-party damage claims. The third-party claims were resolved favorably through settlement on behalf of our client;
- Represented sureties during their investigations into payment, performance, supply, and other bond claims to assist in the legal aspect of any claim determination;
- Represent surety clients in their investigation, determination, and litigation relating to bonds issued as required by the state for licensed and registered contractors;
- Represented a surety client in state court litigation alleging bad faith against the surety for its performance bond investigation, which ultimately resulted in a very favorable settlement on behalf of the surety;
- After a successful arbitration on behalf of a principal and a surety client, Ms. Dishaw represented the surety in its successful recovery of all of its incurred fees, costs, and expenses under the indemnity agreement with the principal.
Professional Experience
- Williams Kastner, Member | 2018 – 2024
- Williams Kastner, Associate | 2014 – 2018
- Cozen O’Connor, Associate | 2010 – 2014
