Bill is an experienced litigator who knows how to obtain practical, goal-oriented results for his construction and business clients. With over two decades of representing contractors, suppliers, and owners in Oregon and Washington, Bill has significant knowledge of the construction laws in the Pacific Northwest. And, over his career, has earned a solid reputation within the construction law bar. As the Chair of Sussman Shank LLP’s Construction Group and the former Chair of the Oregon State Bar Construction Law Group, Bill is the “go to” person for all things construction, including lien and bond foreclosure actions, breach of contract claims, and construction contract review and drafting.

In addition to his construction law practice, Bill has extensive experience representing business owners in disputes of all types. Bill has successfully litigated a wide range of business matters from an employment dispute between a doctor and his employer to a dispute between owners of a cannabis company. Bill is also a member of the firm’s agribusiness group and assists several Oregon agricultural supplier clients with their ag lien and account receivable collection needs and general contract drafting and review.

Four Part Video Series

The Nuts & Bolts of Oregon Construction Liens
Presented by Bill Fig, Partner

I am a no-nonsense, straight forward person, who will give you an honest assessment of your situation, even if my opinion is not news you necessarily want to hear. I understand that a project or contract that is involved in litigation is not a good business situation. I also understand that, while litigation is sometimes necessary, every dollar spent on legal counsel is a dollar off your bottom line. Thus, my goal is to obtain a practical, cost-efficient result for you. I am able to accomplish this due to my 25 years of experience, an intimate knowledge of the Pacific Northwest’s construction laws, a solid work ethic, and a good reputation within the construction law bar.

  • Successfully defended a national general contractor from $3m claim by framer on apartment building project. I was able to obtain dismissal of the framer’s lien claim via a summary judgment motion and, thereafter, we were able to resolve the matter for pennies on the dollar.
  • I recovered payment for a national general contractor on lease buildout where tenant (also a national entity) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I was able to combine my knowledge of lien law and bankruptcy law to protect the client’s lien rights thereby leveraging the property owner to pay the amount owed to the client.
  • I successfully prosecuted a homebuilder’s payment claim in AAA arbitration. In the same action, I was able to defeat the owner’s main defect claim, which was the home at issue was allegedly so deficient it needed to be demolished. After the entry of the client’s arbitration award with the court, I was able to collect the majority of the amount owed to the client via writs of garnishment.
  • We recorded a lien for our painting contractor client on an apartment complex job. After I filed suit to foreclose the lien, the contractor client was able to negotiate agreeable payment terms with the owner.
  • My client, a homeowner, was involved in a lien foreclosure action brought by a restoration contractor. The client refused to pay for the contractor in full for its work, which the client believed was defective. I was able to use my knowledge of the lien laws and the contractor’s lack of compliance to leverage the contractor to “walk away” from its claims.
  • I collected the full amount owed to a national supply company of a delinquent account after filing suit, obtaining a judgment, and issuing writs of garnishment.
  • I obtained the release of “subcontractor” liens recorded against client’s projects located in multiple counties in Washington. I filed and argued successful motions to invalidate the liens based on the grounds the “subcontractor” was not properly licensed.
  • We represented an Oregon subcontractor in a lawsuit against a general contractor and surety on a public works job. After a four-day bench trial, the court entered a verdict in favor of the subcontractor for the full amount of its claim plus attorney fees. The Circuit Court’s ruling was affirmed on appeal.
  • I represented clients who prevailed in an arbitration proceeding regarding a failed joint venture originally formed to construct and operate a cannabis grow facility. The construction of the facility was not completed and it never became operational. Each joint venture partner blamed the other for the joint venture’s failure. After a seven-day hearing, we obtained a full dismissal of all the claims brought against the client and a significant monetary award was granted to them.
  • I represented a doctor in an employment/contract dispute with his clinic employer. The client prevailed on a motion for preliminary injunction enjoining clinic from enforcing restrictive covenants in doctor’s employment contract and at arbitration, which resulted in a six-figure award to the client.
  • For over fifteen years, I represented a regional commercial collection agency and successfully prosecuted hundreds of commercial business claims of all types.
  • As a result of a lawsuit I filed on behalf of an equipment leasing client, client obtained judgment against its customer and I was successful in having the sheriff seize the equipment from the customer’s location.

Publications

  • Author of Lexis-Nexis Oregon Lien Law Summary (2020)
  • Author of Provisional Process Chapter in OSB Debtor/Creditor CLE

Articles

  • “Get Paid Quick: Understanding Washington Liens with Northwest Lien Service,” BIA of Clark County, Panelist (2020)
  • “What You Need to Know – Oregon Construction Law 2019,” OSB Construction Law Section (2019)
  • “Oregon and Washington Construction Lien Law” NACM Oregon (2004 – 2014, 2016 – 2019)
  • Bond and Lien Law in Oregon (2017)
  • “The Nuts and Bolts of Oregon Lien Law” MBA (2017)
  • “Nuts & Bolts of Commercial Collections,” NACM Oregon (2016)
  • Lien Law Webinar: OR Construction Lien (2016)
  • Lien Law Webinar: WA Construction Lien (2016)
  • “Your Right to Payment & Available Collections Options,” NACM Oregon Annual Meeting (2014)

Professional Affiliations

  • Oregon State Bar Construction Group:
    • Advisory Member (2022-present)
    • Past Chair (2021)
    • Chair (2020)
    • Chair Elect (2019)
    • Secretary (2018)
    • Treasurer (2017)

In my down time, I restore old Chevy trucks. I am currently working on restoring a 1938 Chevy ½ ton pick-up and performing a frame-off restoration of my 1972 K5 Blazer. I have a “completed” restoration for a 1946 ¾ ton Chevy pick-up. I am married with a grown daughter and three dogs (two pug mixes and a miniature schnauzer). In the evening, I can be found sipping on Pendleton bourbon and watching a car show (or three) or my UNC Tarheels.