Curriculum Vitae
Paul J. Walstad, Sr.
Senior Partner, Walstad Law Group LLC
Wells Fargo Building86 North University Avenue, Suite 400
Provo, UT 84601-4480
Direct Telephone:(801)494-2025
International Fax: (801) 705-0318
Email:
AV Rated and Among the Preeminent Lawyers
Mr. Walstad is an attorney specializing in corporate and contract law, construction law and claims. His career and talents span several industries and projects in many countries of the world. Although he practices in several fields of endeavor, he is internationally known as a lawyer, author and counselor in the field of construction law, claims and litigation.He has counseled and advised CEOs of major companies and their general counsel and has assisted trial counsel on various cases around the globe.
In 1970 he entered the practice of law with a highly regarded government contracts and construction law firm in Washington, D.C. He became immediately involved in major multi-state litigation and soon was given key responsibilities within the firm. He rose quickly to become a partner in the firm. In 1973, Mr. Walstad won his first "million-dollar jury verdict", after which followed years of litigation, arbitration and claims management in the USA and overseas.
In 1974, Mr. Walstad founded his own law firm in Washington, D.C. Since the founding of his firm, Mr. Walstad has been rated "AV" (the highest rating available, based upon input from "AV" rated peers) by the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, the foremost authority on lawyers throughout the United States. He is also listed in Martindale's "Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers."
Career In Government
Prior to 1970, Mr. Walstad served as a Legislative Assistant to a high-ranking member of Congress, and subsequently as the Administrative Assistant for one of the top lobbyists in Washington, D.C.
Because of his work on key legislation for the Department of Defense and the construction industry, Mr. Walstad was invited on separate occasions by President Nixon and President Johnson to the White House for the signing of legislation into law. He was also an invited guest at numerous parties and other White House affairs.
In 1970, Mr. Walstad was elected to the Loudoun County, Virginia Board of Supervisors. He became Vice Chairman of the Board and served on committees of the Metropolitan Council of Governments and the Northern Virginia Planning District Commission and considered seriously a run for an open Congressional seat in Virginia in the mid-1980s. However, the heavy demands of his burgeoning law practice, and his growing family, ultimately led to his decision not to seek the House seat.
In 1985, Mr. Walstad moved his family to Utah, where his law firm had previously established a branch office. While not directly involved in politics in Utah, Mr. Walstad has continued his interest in governmental affairs and has a personal relationship with a number of national and state politicos.
Overview of Current Practice.
Mr. Walstad is Sr. Partner of the Walstad Law Group with principal offices in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. His real office, however, thanks to advances in cyber technology is wherever he is in the world, walking a project, negotiating with project team members to resolve claims and other issues, or presenting a seminar series.
Although he is a skilled litigator who is very comfortable in the courtroom before judges and juries, Mr. Walstad's approach is to help clients avoid needless controversy and litigation. However, if all efforts at settlement fail, he is ready to step forward before a judge, jury or arbitrator and vigorously present his client's case.
He believes that team building, dispute resolution and partnering processes can be implemented practically and successfully by a lawyer on behalf of his client.
Mr. Walstad has been involved in almost every conceivable type of construction dispute. He has represented and consulted owners, architects and engineers, general contractors, subcontractors and construction managers, and sureties, having projects throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Brazil, the former Yugoslavia, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and the former Soviet Union.
He has interfaced with some of the largest firms in the country and overseas as a "co-chair", "consultant" and "second chair," in cases relating to international projects in South America, Europe and East Asia.
Mr. Walstad often serves as a legal consultant to companies and insurers embroiled in complex construction or government contracts cases which need, for a variety of reasons, to be resolved. He has often been asked to provide "a second opinion", "consulting services" or to become co-counsel regarding how the case can be brought to a quick, successful and amicable conclusion. Usually the client in this situation faces enormous legal fees and litigation expenses and the possibility of losing bonding and credit lines because of "contingent liabilities" tied to pending claims.
Over the years, he has represented Fortune 500 companies, including Walt Disney World Co., Minera Alumbrera, Ltd., Kennecott, Hyundai, Westinghouse, Owens-Corning and numerous others as described in some detail below.
Representative Clients and Projects.
Mr. Walstad served as an outside civil litigator and consultant to Walt Disney World Co. in Orlando, Florida, for over 15 years. He assisted in the revision of the contract documents and in the training of hundreds of site personnel in contract administration, claims, litigation and dispute resolution. Working closely with Disney's legal department, he was directly involved throughout the building and opening of EPCOT. He met monthly or as required with Disney project management teams regarding major issues arising during construction and was successful in resolving construction disputes that arose.
He continued to assist Disney regarding issues arising relating to the construction of the Disney/MGM Studio theme park and Pleasure Island.
His firm represented Disney in disputes arising from the construction of hotels and resorts for the company. These included the Grand Floridian Beach Resort, the Yacht and Beach Club Resort Hotels, the Caribbean Beach Resort and others. The firm analyzed and negotiated claims as filed by the general contractors and subcontractors.
Mr. Walstad served as outside counsel to the County of Fairfax, Virginia, regarding a number of contract matters, including a revision of the County's contract documents and representing the county regarding a variety of contract claims.
He advised and counseled with the Westinghouse Power Systems Division relating to the construction of nuclear power plants in Brazil, the Philippines, Korea and the former Yugoslavia. One project had claims by Westinghouse exceeding $70 million, all of which was obtained through negotiations. Mr. Walstad prepared a detailed schedule analysis, worked closely with the project team, andprepared a narrative presentation which the client successfully presented to the owner.
Mr. Walstad was outside counsel to the Japanese Company, S.M.W. Seiko, in litigation to protect their proprietary rights and trade secrets and to pursue their claims arising on a government project in Wyoming. This matter involved two business trips to Japan, interviews of government and university leaders and high level meetings regarding this sophisticated technology.
Before the collapse of the iron curtain, Mr. Walstad conducted high level negotiations with the government of Bulgaria in Sofia, relating to the acquisition of technology for the U.S. market.
Later, after the fall of the Soviet Union, he flew to Russia for negotiations in Moscow with the Ministry of Defense regarding the purchase of photographic and other equipment by one of the firm's clients, which we cannot now identify.
Immediately following the Gulf War, Mr. Walstad consulted with the Taiwanese company, Ret-Ser, regarding claims arising in the construction of an air base in Bahrain. Working for a week with their representatives in Bahrain, Mr. Walstad helped prepare documentation and schedules which supported their major claims for disruption and delay.
He has also consulted with companies in the U.A.E., Egypt, Lebanon and Israel. In the aftermath of the Gulf War, Mr. Walstad handled negotiations with agents in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia regarding technology to extinguish oil fires and to restore shipping lanes.
Hyundai Engineering, the Korean firm, retained Mr. Walstad to analyze and prepare claims relating to Hyundai's major pipeline and oil gasification projects in Saudi Arabia. A claim package was prepared and submitted to the appropriate Saudi family for consideration. After an international arbitration was arranged in the Hague, the matter was successfully settled.
Mr. Walstad consulted with Owens-Corning Fiberglass regarding issues arising in their retrofit projects. He analyzed why costly delays were occurring on projects and made recommendations for better coordination and scheduling of design, procurement and construction activities. He also taught several seminars for corporate personnel on contract administration, claims and dispute resolution.
Dames & Moore retained Mr. Walstad with regard to preparation of contract documents for a dam and water diversion project and for consultations regarding several hazardous waste containment projects which cannot be identified.
Mr. Walstad has substantial experience in the mining industry. He has consulted with such major players as Kennecott Utah Copper, Cyprus Amax Mining, and Minera Alumbrera Limited, regarding a variety of projects, including the re-opening of an abandoned coal mine, the refurbishment of coal processing facilities, and the engineering and construction of a new gold and copper mine in Argentina.
He has reviewed engineering and construction management issues relating to major tailings impoundment modernization projects and has consulted with other companies concerning numerous environmental and hazardous waste issues, including negotiations relating to the closure and capping of exhausted mining facilities. He was further involved in legal matters relating to all phases of the design and construction of facilities providing alternative fuels and utilizing new technologies for coal production.
Mr. Walstad has represented such sureties as Travelers and Safeco with regard to a number of take-over projects and default situations around the country, including Virginia, Utah, Washington, D.C., Boston, Florida, Colorado, California and elsewhere. He has also sued numerous sureties over the years on behalf of his Owner and Contractor clients. Mr. Walstad continues his active participation of surety bar activities and is a well-known and respected player within the surety community.
Seminars and Publications
Over the years, Paul has written extensively, publishing numerous works. He has made hundreds of seminar presentations on construction law and claims in the United States, Japan and in Dubai. You can find a more detailed description of some of his seminars and publications at Seminars and Publications.
Education
In 1966, Mr. Walstad received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the School of International Service of the American University, Washington, D.C. (pre-law curriculum). He was awarded a Juris Doctor Degree from the Washington College of Law of the American University, Washington, D.C. in 1969, where he served as an Assistant Editor of the Law Review and received various honorary awards.
Professional and Association Memberships.
Mr. Walstad is admitted to the Bars of the State of Utah, State of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States; the Supreme Court of Utah; the U.S. Claims Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the Fourth, Fifth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits as well as numerous other courts.
He is a past member of the American Bar Association (and member of the Public Contract Law Section; the Committee on Fidelity and Surety Law of the Litigation Section; the Advocacy Committee); the Bar Association of the District of Columbia; and the Virginia State Bar Association. He served as past chairman of the Fourth Circuit Construction Committee of the ABA. He is also a member of the Forum Committee on the Construction Industry. He is also a past member of the American Trial Lawyers Association.
University Advisory Committee Chairman and Part-Time Faculty Member
For some years, Mr. Walstad chaired the Construction Management Advisory Committee of the Department of Engineering at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and encouraged and assisted ultimately in the formal recognition of the Construction Management Division within the Engineering Department.
He lectured during various semesters at BYU on "Construction Law," "Construction Claims", "Project Scheduling" and other topics. The Construction Management students voted him "Teacher of the Year," which was a great honor for a part-time lecturer.
You can read further about Mr. Walstad's extensive experience by going to these links: