As a litigator, Alexandra Gordon Briggs thrives in dynamic environments, which makes the complex arena of construction law a perfect fit. Here Alex tells us about her practice, what has contributed to her professional success, and how she gives back to her community.
Tell us about your practice within the Construction industry.
As someone who started in general litigation, it has been great to grow my practice and build my relationships in the construction industry. It has been particularly exciting to connect with other women as they come up the ranks as executives in the construction industry.
Primarily, I work on construction matters, focusing on claims evaluation and claims litigation for clients. I enjoy working in an industry-specific environment because I am able to learn and understand how the construction industry works and the unique challenges of the industry. In turn, I use this knowledge to better serve our clients and fulfill their needs.
Being able to bring my skills in litigation and construction together is invigorating because no two things are the same. No case is the same, no day is the same, and no motion is the same. You have to understand the backbone of what you are doing, and then you get to explore it in a lot of different ways.
One element that I really enjoy is the need to become an expert in complex issues – not just legally but also within construction. I sometimes joke – that I am practically a civil engineer because I have worked on multiple disputes concerning bridge construction projects. To be successful, not only did I have to learn how bridges are constructed, but I had to learn the process to an extent that I could explain it, convincingly, to a judge or jury that likely knows nothing about construction or civil engineering. Without understanding the true issues, I wouldn’t be successful. I enjoy that process and learning.
What has contributed to your success as an attorney?
I never say “no” to an opportunity, and that provided me the ability to learn new industries, skills, and strategies. In fact, that’s how I ended up in the construction group. A partner in construction approached me to join him on a trial because I had prior litigation experience. We ultimately took that case to the Supreme Judicial Court. Had I not been willing to put in that time and take that leap, my trajectory would have been completely different. I have welcomed different opportunities and growth, even if it felt uncomfortable at first.
How do you engage in the community?
I have been involved in the American Heart Association Lawyers Have Heart 5K race for several years, including last year as the captain of our team. This year, I am chairing the race, which is an exciting opportunity. It is great to be able to bring the firm together with the legal industry to connect and support such a great organization.
I attended the University of Pennsylvania and am involved in their alumni association. I conduct alumni interviews for high school students applying from the greater Boston area each year. The students applying to Penn are so impressive, so it is a fun way to give back.
What are some of the challenges your clients are facing right now?
Material price escalation and labor shortages continue to be issues for clients. We provide value to our clients by keeping a pulse on what is happening in the industry and how it will impact our clients’ work. Our goal is to think ahead and help our clients avoid risk. That is true for the entire firm, which is so advantageous to our clients. As a full-service firm, every practice group from employment to tax and beyond is keeping on top of what is happening in their arena. Our team of expert attorneys can help our construction clients on any number of issues that might arise.
