Accomplishments
Because of our unique focus on construction disputes, Bachara Construction Law Group frequently engages in some of the industry’s most challenging cases. This keeps us on the cutting edge with new issues in construction litigation, and has earned us a reputation for professionalism and effectiveness. However, the greatest recognition in the world is the trust our clients place in us with repeat business and referrals.
We are honored by the various forms of professional and peer recognition we have received. But the best measure of our success is the longevity of our client relationships and the frequency with which clients return to us for representation.
Board Certification
Chip Bachara and Hugh Higgins are Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar. Board certification is The Florida Bar’s highest level of recognition of the expertise and experience of attorneys in construction law, and Chip was a member of their inaugural Construction Law Board Certification class in 2005.
Of the more than 101,000 members of The Florida Bar, only 457 are Board Certified in Construction Law as of 2023. In order to become Board Certified in Construction Law in the State of Florida, a lawyer must have significant experience in this practice area, be favorably rated by their peers, and pass a rigorous examination demonstrating knowledge, skills and proficiency in the field of construction law. Learn more about the advantages of Board Certification here.
AV-Preeminent – Martindale-Hubbell
Chip Bachara and Hugh Higgins are both “AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the oldest legal directory in the United States. “AV Preeminent” is the highest designation available. Peer reviews may be viewed on the Martindale-Hubbell website and Lawyers.com.
Chambers and Partners Florida Regional Spotlight
In 2024, Bachara Construction Law Group was ranked by Chambers and Partners in its first-ever Florida Regional Spotlight, one of only eight construction law firms to be featured statewide. Chambers and Partners, the leading independent professional legal research company operating across 70 countries and 200 jurisdictions, has been rating major law firms throughout the world for more than 30 years. Rather than utilizing peer review, their rating process is based upon detailed interviews and analysis of each firm’s capabilities, achievements and sector presence. The prestigious, London-based research firm initiated Regional Spotlight rankings in the U.S. in 2023 to highlight small and medium-sized law firms who are doing “remarkable work resulting in an impressive regional reputation.”
Best Law Firms in America
Bachara Construction Law Group has been recognized multiple times by U.S. News & World Report and Best Law Firms as one of the Top Law Firms in Jacksonville in the fields of Construction Law and Construction Litigation. Most recently, BCLG’s peers selected the firm as a Tier One Construction Law Firm. The tier designation, according to Best Law Firms, “reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.”
Best Lawyers in America
Chip Bachara, who was recently honored as Jacksonville’s Lawyer of the Year for the sixth time, has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in the category of construction law and construction litigation since 2009. Todd MacLeod has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2023, and Hugh Higgins and Todd Whitcomb were recently named 2025 “Ones to Watch” in Construction Litigation and Construction Law, respectively. This makes Bachara Construction Law Group that rare firm in which 100 percent of the attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers, and we could not be prouder!
The “Best Lawyers in America” designation is based upon peer review and selection and limited to approximately the top 5 percent of lawyers in private practice in the U.S. In addition, Bachara Construction Law Group has been recognized multiple times by U.S. News & World Report and Best Law Firms as one of the Top Law Firms in Jacksonville in the fields of construction law and construction litigation.
Ultimate Attorneys – Jacksonville Business Journal
In 2016, BCLG’s founding partner Chip Bachara was named to the inaugural class of “Ultimate Attorneys” by the Jacksonville Business Journal. The award, for those who have “elevated the legal profession and helped shape Jacksonville’s business community,” was instituted to recognize the First Coast’s top lawyers. Honorees were selected by the local legal community from a pool of candidates suggested by their peers. Chip was selected once again as a member of the 2020 class of Ultimate Attorneys, who were chosen as the “Best of the Bar” from the previous 4 years’ honorees.
Florida Legal Elite
Chip has been recognized multiple times by Florida Trend Magazine as a member of the “Florida Legal Elite” in the category of Construction Law. Selection for this publication is determined through ballots asking lawyers to name other lawyers whom they hold in high regard or would recommend to others. After tabulating the results, approximately 2% of The Florida Bar members are selected to be included in the publication.
Florida Super Lawyers
Chip has been named a “Florida Super Lawyer” every year since the inception of this designation in 2006, and was named one of Jacksonville’s “Top 25 Super Lawyers” in both 2021 and 2022. Hugh Higgins and Todd MacLeod have also been consistently recognized by their peers through Super Lawyers; Hugh for nearly a decade, and Todd since 2017. Florida Super Lawyers is a peer review process sponsored by Law & Politics magazine, recognizing the top 5 percent of lawyers in a particular field.