Graehm C. Wallace
Graehm, a partner with the firm's Litigation practice, has 27 years of experience working in all areas of construction transactions.
Graehm Wallace's work covers all aspects of contract drafting and negotiating, including preconstruction, architectural, engineering, construction-management, design-build, balance of plant (BOP), engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), turn-key, consultant, bidding, advice during construction, and claim prosecution and defense from initial claim analysis through discovery, mediation, alternative dispute resolution, arbitration or trial.
Graehm works on public and private construction projects, including:
- Office buildings
- Manufacturing facilities
- Energy projects, including wind, hydro, LNG, and gas to electricity
- Dams and fish ladders
- Green buildings, including LEED
- Hotels and resorts
- Restaurants
- Tenant improvements
- Retail and shopping centers
- Museums
- Condominiums
- Apartments
- Retirement and nursing facilities
- Warehouses
- Pipelines
- Theaters
- Demolition and remediation
- Transportation, including light rail, roads, and utilities
- Waste treatment plants
- Homes and housing
- Public facilities, including schools, universities, hospitals, sports facilities, and fire stations
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Colorado Law School, J.D., Order of the Coif, Casenote and Comment Editor, University of Colorado Law Review, 1996
- University of Washington, B.A., Political Science and Political Economics, 1991
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Washington
Related Employment
- Short Cressman & Burgess, Seattle, WA, Associate, 1996-2000
- Clanahan, Tanner, Downing & Knowlton, P.C., Denver, CO, Summer Associate, 1995
- University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, CO, Teaching Fellow, Civil Procedure, 1994-1995
- Colorado Court of Appeals, Summer Intern to The Hon. Jose D. Marquez, 1994
Professional Recognition
Named "Construction Law Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America, 2023
Ranked by Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyers" for Construction, 2019-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law, 2013-2025
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Transactional
Arlington School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Bainbridge Island School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Bainbridge Island Fire Department
Architect contracts.
Battle Ground School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Bellingham School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Camas School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Central Kitsap School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Central Valley School District
Architect and GC/CM construction contracts.
Centralia School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
City of Oak Harbor
Heavy-civil GC/CM treatment contracts.
City of Spokane Utilities
Heavy-civil GC/CM treatment contracts.
ConAm Management Corporation
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Conway School District
Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.
Coupeville School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
CW Capital Asset Management
Architect, construction, and maintenance contracts.
Deer Park School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Federal Way School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Ferndale School District
Architect and construction contracts.
Good Samaritan Community Healthcare
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Great Western Malting Company
Design, supply, and design-build contracts for malting plant.
Harnish Group Inc., Tractor & Equipment Company, NC Machinery
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Highline School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Holt Homes Inc.
Construction contracts with Forest City.
HTC Corporation
Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.
InfoSpace Inc.
Construction contract with Foushee and Associates.
Itron Inc.
Construction contract with Leone & Keeble Inc.
Jobster Inc.
Construction contract with Foushee and Associates.
King County Directors' Association
Construction contracts for nationally-bid projects and bid protests.
Kinross Gold Corporation
Multiple contracts related to mining operations.
LandStar NW, LLC
Design-build contract with Petra Inc.
Longview School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Mead School District
Architect and GC/CM Construction contracts.
North Thurston School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Orcas Island School District
Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.
Orting School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Othello School District
Construction contracts.
PacifiCorp
Advice on multiple construction projects and drafting multiple energy related contracts.
Peninsula School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Proctor International
Construction contract with J.R. Abbott Construction Inc.
Puget Sound Energy
LNG construction contracts.
Pullman School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Puyallup School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Quillayute Valley School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Renton School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Richland School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Seattle School District
Construction and architect contracts.
Sedro-Woolley School District
Multiple construction, architect, and consultant contracts.
Shoreline School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Snoqualmie Valley School District
Multiple construction, architect, engineer, and consulting contracts.
Spokane School District
Multiple construction, GC/CM and architect contracts.
Sobrato Development Company
Negotiated assignment of construction obligations through property purchase.
Strategic Hotels and Resorts
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Tacoma School District
Multiple construction and consultant contracts.
Tumwater School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Vestas Americas
Construction contracts.
Walla Walla School District
Architect contracts.
Willapa Valley School District
Multiple construction and architect contracts.
Litigation
A-1 Landscaping and Construction Inc. v. Edmonds School District
Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended claims relating to changed conditions, termination and defective construction.
Alden Associates Inc. v. Highline School District
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defended motion for temporary restraining order relating to award of computer equipment and warranty services contract.
American Safety Casualty Insurance Company v. City of Olympia
State Supreme Court of Washington
Helped convince the Washington State Supreme Court to unanimously overrule an appellate court in holding that public owners can enter into settlement negotiations with contractors without impliedly waiving contract defenses. In its ruling, the Court adopted and quoted arguments and conclusions Perkins Coie presented as amicus curiae on behalf of the Washington State School Construction Alliance. 174 P.3d 54 (Wash. 2008)
Babcock & Wilcox v. Energy Northwest
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Defended claims related to changed conditions and design defects.
Bainbridge Island School District v. Merit Construction Company
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Represented plaintiff prosecuting claims for defective construction and mold damage.
Bayley Construction v. Sound Transit
Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims for additional costs and delay.
Callen Construction Company v. Shimizu America Corporation and Ferndale School District
Superior Court of Washington, Whatcom County
Defended Ferndale School District regarding claims for changes and delay.
Central Kitsap School District v. HMA Services
Private Mediated Settlement
Pursued claims for contamination and resulting economic damages.
Delta Point Enterprises v. Holden
Represented Holden regarding claims for changes and defective construction.
Energy Northwest v. SPX
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Pursued and defended claims related to design defects.
Father and Son Corporation v. Skagit Pacific Corporation v. Peninsula School District
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Defended Peninsula School District against claims relating to defective construction and failure of payment.
Lance Harvey Trucking v. Everett Public Schools
Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended lien claims.
Le Chateau Owners Association v. Le Chateau Residential LLC
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defended claims for construction defects.
Leo Finnegan Construction Company v. Puyallup School District
Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims regarding changes, delays, defective drawings, and deleted work.
Mike M. Johnson Inc. v. Spokane County
State Supreme Court of Washington
Represented Amicus Curiae Washington State School Construction Alliance to enforce contractual notice and claim provisions on summary judgment. 150 Wash. 2d 375, 78 P. 3d 161 (Wash. 2003)
Mountain States Construction Company v. Hallett Properties, LLC
American Arbitration Association
Represented Hallett Properties regarding claims for late and defective construction.
Pacific Industries Northwest Inc. v. Boise Cascade Corporation
Superior Court of Washington, Grays Harbor County
Defended claims for changes, defective drawings, and liens relating to construction at site of former Satsop Nuclear Power facility.
Porter Brothers Construction Inc. v. Enumclaw School District
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Represented defendant in pursuing claims for defective construction.
Puyallup School District v. Neeley Construction
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Pursued claims related to construction defects.
RCI-Herzog v. Sound Transit
Private Arbitration of Washington
Defended claims for additional costs and delays exceeding $100 million arising out of $128 million light rail project through an eight-week arbitration.
Specialized Landscaping v. BNCC v. Orting School District
Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims relating to changes and differing site conditions.
Sunset Electric Northwest Inc. v. Longview School District
Superior Court of Washington, Cowlitz County
Defended claims relating to rejected subcontractor bid.
Swinerton Builders Northwest Inc. v. Highline School District
Private Mediated Settlement
Defended claims for alleged changes, design defects, delay, and incomplete construction related to two elementary school projects.
Taggart Construction v. Arlington School District
Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended claims related to differing site conditions.
Vemo Company v. Bainbridge Island School District
Superior Court of Washington, Kitsap County
Defended claims for project changes, delays, and defects.
Vemo Company v. Lake Stevens School District
Superior Court of Washington, Snohomish County
Defended claims regarding changes and delay.
Wick Constructors Inc. v. Federal Way School District
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Defended claims relating to changes, delays, incomplete work, and defective construction.