Weil & Drage has grown steadily and consistently since its inception in 2004, earning its reputation as one of the leading construction law firms in the Southwest, and one of the very few women-owned law firms in the nation.
Brief History of the Firm
Jean Weil and Christine Drage founded the firm in 2004, bringing with them a significant following of clients, carriers, and loyal legal professionals and staff, many of whom remain with the firm today. Weil & Drage opened its California and Nevada offices simultaneously on April 1, 2004, with eight lawyers and 21 total employees. Jacqueline Pons-Bunney became a shareholder and the Managing Partner soon thereafter, and the third office of Weil & Drage was opened in Arizona in 2008.
Over the past 15 years, Weil & Drage maintained consistent growth in employees and revenue. Weil & Drage now has 24 lawyers, 12 paralegals, and over 54 employees in three office locations servicing clients and carriers in matters throughout the U.S.
Weil & Drage has kept its core focus on construction law, handling thousands of matters, including extensive complex litigation and contract negotiations for some of the country’s largest projects and claims. In addition to the matters currently listed on the firm website, the past two years have included representation of the world’s largest Architects and Engineers (“A/E”) in claims based on and arising out of the Millennium Tower in San Francisco, the Washington State Department of Transportation Tunnel project and Tunnel Boring Machine claims, the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Nevada, and many more.
Partner Highlights
In addition to Jean Weil, Christine Drage, and Jacqueline Pons-Bunney, the Firm’s partners include the following exceptional lawyers:
Mr. Wendland, a 19-year lawyer licensed in Nevada and Arizona, was one of the original partners of the Firm in 2004, and leads the Nevada office in a wide range of construction and real estate transactions and litigation, including but not limited to, defense of A/Es in wrongful death and personal injury construction claims, real estate licensee and broker claims, as well as numerous matters before the Nevada State Boards for architects and engineers.
Mr. Stacy, a 23-year lawyer, joined the Firm in 2005, and practices in the areas of general business transactions, professional liability and commercial litigation, complex contracts, business formation and planning, ownership transitions, employment, and intellectual property protection. Mr. Stacy currently serves as outside general counsel to a number of A/E firms and companies. His broad range of both litigation and transactional experience gives him a particular advantage in counseling business clients from start to finish.
Ms. Brannen, a 16-year lawyer, joined the Firm in 2007, bringing extensive trial preparation experience after having worked closely for a number of years with one of the most well respected trial lawyers in the state of California. Recently, Ms. Brannen lead our legal team through the successful defense of a global A/E firm in the resolution of the $800M+ delay and damage claims involved in the Washington State Department of Transportation tunnel project and TBM machine stoppage, informally known as the “Big Bertha” claims. Ms. Brannen also represents a number of large, medium, and small A/E firms in all manner and types of risk management and litigation.
