Bachara Construction Law Group is growing. Managing partner Chip Bachara announced this week that BCLG has added new partner Hugh Higgins to oversee the firm’s newly-opened office in St. Petersburg, and welcomed Todd Whitcomb as counsel in its Jacksonville office.
“During this period of ongoing growth for our firm, we feel extremely fortunate to welcome Hugh Higgins and Todd Whitcomb to the BCLG team,” Bachara said. “Having worked with Todd before, I know he is a seasoned litigator with expertise in construction law and related matters, and I am confident that he will be a great colleague and effective advocate for our clients.”
“Hugh gives the firm another board-certified construction lawyer with a reputation for excellence in the courtroom and at the negotiating table,” Bachara continued. “We look forward to growing our practice in the Tampa Bay area under his capable guidance.
About Hugh Higgins
Representing large general contractors, developers, owners, subcontractors, architects and engineers, Florida Bar board-certified Construction Law specialist Hugh Higgins routinely litigates construction claims exceeding $10 million throughout the State of Florida. He also navigates clients through contract negotiations and mid-construction dispute resolution.
With over 15 years’ experience in complex commercial litigation, Higgins possesses extensive knowledge regarding the construction of high-rise condominiums, mixed-use towers and multi-parcel developments. He has successfully defended clients from high-stakes claims involving alleged deficiencies of structural components, building envelope, fire suppression, elevated pool decks, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, interior finishes, civil site planning, and adjacent amenities, among others.
In a matter involving a 20-story, 120-unit waterfront high-rise condominium tower in Miami-Dade County’s North Bay Village, Higgins obtained a complete dismissal of all counts against his glass and glazing client after a two-week jury trial.
Although primarily focused on construction law and litigation, Higgins is also experienced in business litigation, casualty and premises liability defense, product liability matters and white-collar defense. His experience includes defending an executive in the WellCare matter, one of the largest white-collar cases in Florida history.
Higgins graduated with honors from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Art History, studied International Affairs and German at the University of Vienna as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar, and obtained his J.D. with honors from Stetson University College of Law. After completing law school, he served a two-year term as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge William J. Zloch in the Southern District of Florida.
AV-Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell, Higgins is admitted to practice before all Florida State Courts, and before the Federal Courts in the Middle & Southern Districts of Florida as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ft. Meyers native has been consistently recognized by Florida Super Lawyers for nearly a decade and belongs to the Construction Law Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law section of The Florida Bar.
“I am excited to join Bachara Construction Law Group and look forward to developing the central and south Florida market with this great team of construction lawyers,” Higgins said.
About Todd Whitcomb
With more than 20 years of litigation and in-house experience, Todd Whitcomb offers BCLG’s clients extensive knowledge of construction disputes, real estate and title claims and commercial litigation, as well as intellectual property and general civil matters.
Whitcomb’s ability to formulate effective solutions for clients is due in part to his extensive corporate experience. Prior to joining the Bachara Group, he served as Senior Litigation Counsel for the Fidelity National Financial family of companies, coordinating with outside counsel to resolve thousands of title and real estate cases in state and federal courts throughout the nation, many with liability exceeding $100 million.
Before that, the Jacksonville native was a commercial litigation associate at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, where he worked alongside Chip Bachara. At SGR, Whitcomb litigated commercial disputes, real estate and construction matters, contract and business torts, and patent and trademark matters.
Whitcomb is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar and a member of the Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section. He is admitted to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and the U.S. Patent Office.
A graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, he earned his J.D. from Florida State University College of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and served as a volunteer with the Guardian ad Litem program.
“I am thrilled to join the Bachara Group,” Whitcomb said. “I have tremendous respect for Chip and his team and am delighted to join such an outstanding firm.”
Contact: Susan Pelter (904) 608-0798