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    William Tinsley photograph

    William J. Tinsley, Jr.

    Partner

    Tampa
    813-472-7590
    william.tinsley@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    LitigationConstruction/DesignProject and Infrastructure Development

    For more than 30 years, Bill Tinsley has provided design professionals, owners, contractors and sureties with pragmatic, cost-effective resolution of complex claims and disputes through litigation, arbitration and mediation. His practice includes drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for traditional and alternative contract delivery methods including design-build and construction management.

    Additionally, Bill provides full support, legal services for large projects from conception to project closeout for owner/developers, contractors, joint ventures and design professionals including contract development, claims management and dispute resolution.

    Bill has represented clients throughout the United States on public and private projects including:

    • airports
    • bridges
    • high-rise buildings
    • highways
    • hotels
    • light rail
    • pharmaceutical laboratories
    • power plants
    • retail centers
    • university buildings

    He is licensed in Florida, New York, and New Jersey. In addition, Bill has successfully resolved disputes involving:

    • bond claims
    • cost overruns
    • design and construction defects
    • interference, impact and delay claims
    • liens
    • prevailing wage and labor issues
    • surety takeover and completion
    • unforeseen site conditions
    • wrongful termination

    Bill has authored multiple articles and frequently provides presentations to other lawyers and industry professionals concerning best practices for design-build and other contract delivery methods, as well as dispute resolution and risk avoidance.

    Bill is a former Board Member and the Chair of Legal Affairs for the Design Build Institute of America, Florida Region and served on the DBIA national Contract Documents Committee. Prior to joining Phelps in 2015, he was a Member of Sills Cummis in New Jersey and New York and a Partner at Goldberg & Connolly in New York.

    Bill has authored multiple articles and frequently provides presentations to other lawyers and industry professionals concerning best practices for design-build and other contract delivery methods, as well as dispute resolution and risk avoidance.

    Bill is a former Board Member and the Chair of Legal Affairs for the Design Build Institute of America, Florida Region and served on the DBIA national Contract Documents Committee. Prior to joining Phelps in 2015, he was a Member of Sills Cummis in New Jersey and New York and a Partner at Goldberg & Connolly in New York.

    Experience

    • Defended a state-owned transit corporation in litigation brought by a construction consortium, which alleged approximately $280 million in contract damages related to its construction of a light rail transit system. After nearly 50 days at trial, the case was favorably settled.
    • Represents the designers of a major U.S. airport in a lawsuit by the owner alleging $80 million in damages.
    • Successfully drafted contract documents for the demolition of a 40-acre former hospital site in northwest Florida. 
    • Served as the owner's counsel for development and construction of the tallest building in New Jersey, a 76-story, high-rise condominium project in Jersey City, New Jersey.
    • Won reinstatement from a New York appeals court of a nearly $9 million claim that had been dismissed by a lower court after a structural steel fabricator had sued and sought payment for steel it had supplied to a failed casino project.
    • Achieved a favorable settlement resolving litigation filed on behalf of an engineering/software company against a New York City agency after the client was defaulted from its contract to supply a computerized sign maintenance/control system for the city.
    • Defended and favorably resolved multiple class action lawsuits alleging prevailing wage violations by sureties. 
    • On behalf of a surety, filed suit against a New York county alleging wrongful termination and sought damages in excess of $8.5 million after the general contractor was defaulted from a force main sewer construction project and the surety client completed construction of the project. The litigation was favorably resolved during a Federal Court jury trial conducted in the Eastern District of New York.
    • Terminated a design contract for a high-rise renovation project in midtown Manhattan. Drafted takeover agreement with replacement architect. Drafted takeover agreement with the replacement architect. Drafted general conditions, construction contract and bid package for approximately $30 million in interior renovations. Serve as member of dispute resolution board.
    • On behalf of a surety, filed suit against a New York county alleging wrongful termination and sought damages in excess of $8.5 million after the general contractor was defaulted from a force main sewer construction project and the surety client completed construction of the project. The litigation was favorably resolved during a Federal Court jury trial conducted in the Eastern District of New York.
    • Terminated a design contract for a high-rise renovation project in midtown Manhattan. Drafted takeover agreement with replacement architect. Drafted takeover agreement with the replacement architect. Drafted general conditions, construction contract and bid package for approximately $30 million in interior renovations. Serve as member of dispute resolution board.

    Insights

    • June 4, 2026

      Phelps Expands Chambers Rankings to 33 Practices and 88 Lawyers in 2026 Guide…

    • August 21, 2025

      More than 200 Phelps Lawyers Recognized in 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers…

    More +
    • June 11, 2025

      Navigating Design Liability for Potential Climate Change Conditions…

    • June 5, 2025

      Phelps’ Chambers USA Rankings Expand to 78 Lawyers, 28 Practices in 2025 Guide…

    • May 15, 2025

      Mitigation Strategies for Design Risk Imposed by Climate Change…

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    • July 16, 2024

      When Properly Drafted, Liquidated Damages Provisions Reduce Risk…

    • June 6, 2024

      Chambers USA Guide 2024 Ranks 24 Phelps Practice Areas and 69 Lawyers…

    • May 24, 2024

      Phelps Secures Win to Prevent Insurers from Forced Arbitration in Design Row Over New Orleans Airport Terminal…

    • April 2, 2024

      Potential Liability Arising from Value Engineering…

    • March 22, 2024

      Tips for Drafting Performance Specifications…

    • February 27, 2024

      Critical Contractual Issues from a Design-Build Perspective…

    • December 5, 2023

      Waivers and Releases in Construction Contracts: Drafting Strategies…

    • October 24, 2023

      DBIA Presents Progressive Design-Build Contract Provisions...from a Legal Perspective…

    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • April 12, 2023

      DBIA Presents Risky Business: Critical Design-Build Contract Terms…

    • January 19, 2023

      HCBA Presents Ground Vibrations - A New Theory of Liability Against Builders…

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • January 5, 2022

      Phelps Elects Five New Partners in 2022 Class…

    • December 8, 2021

      Maximizing Mediation Results and Overcoming Obstacles (Including Your Own Subconscious Bias)…

    • October 6, 2021

      Defund the Lawyers – Contracting to Encourage Cooperation and Collaboration…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell (2002-Present)
    • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Construction (2024)
    • New York Metro Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers (2012-2014)
    • Construction Law (2021-2026), Litigation - Construction (2026), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Volunteer of the Year, Design Build Institution of America, Florida Chapter (2019)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell (2002-Present)
    • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Construction (2024)
    • New York Metro Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers (2012-2014)
    • Construction Law (2021-2026), Litigation - Construction (2026), The Best Lawyers in America
    • Volunteer of the Year, Design Build Institution of America, Florida Chapter (2019)

    Education

    • New York Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1992
    • University of South Carolina, B.A., Journalism, 1981
    • New York Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1992
    • University of South Carolina, B.A., Journalism, 1981

    Credentials

    • Florida
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    • Florida
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
    • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • American Bar Association - Forum on Construction
    • Design-Build Institute of America Florida Region - Board of Directors and Chair of Legal Affairs (2019-2022)
    • Design-Build Institute of America, Contracts Documents Committee - Member (2019-2022)
    • American Bar Association - Forum on Construction
    • Design-Build Institute of America Florida Region - Board of Directors and Chair of Legal Affairs (2019-2022)
    • Design-Build Institute of America, Contracts Documents Committee - Member (2019-2022)
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Litigation
    • Appellate
    • Construction/Design
    • Project and Infrastructure Development
    • Real Estate and Construction
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