Michael Cortez concentrates his entire practice on representing real estate owners, renewable energy technology companies, healthcare providers, hospitality and retail developers, health care technology companies, architects, contractors and EPCs on a wide variety of complex commercial and industrial construction projects. This construction focus coupled with his previous construction litigation experience has enabled him to accumulate significant and in-depth experience representing clients in drafting and negotiating construction contracts under multiple project delivery systems. He has served as an arbitrator for construction matters and was recently selected to become a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America.
An example of his deep industry experience, Mike negotiated downstream procurement and service agreements, subcontracts and financial security agreements for a complex international liquified natural gas plants project in Western Australia for a leading global energy company. He has also served as construction counsel for an annual portfolio of multibillion-dollar multifamily and mixed-use projects on a national basis for a large real estate development firm in Houston for over 15 years.
Mike is a frequent contributing author and speaker on construction law topics, including the preparation and negotiation of design, engineering, procurement and construction contracts; the preparation, negotiation and analyses of mechanic’s lien and bond claims; construction disputes and project risk management. He is also the author of the Texas Chapters of the Aspen Law & Business’ State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer, and Contractor Licensing, and the Fifty State Construction Lien and Bond Law and contributing editor of THE Construction Contracts Book from the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law. Mike serves as the chair of BakerHostetler’s Hispanic/Latinx Talent Engagement Forum.
