Christopher Solop, Construction Attorney in Ridgeland, Mississippi

Christopher Solop leads the firm’s Construction Litigation and Government Contracts sections. Chris has extensive experience representing clients in all areas of construction and government contracts, including pre- and post award protests, equitable adjustment and claim preparation, and litigation. Chris’s practice also includes arbitration and mediation of complex construction claims. Chris's experience in construction law and litigation spans more than thirty (30) years. Representing both public and private clients in the industry, Chris has been an advocate for their interests from contract bidding and negotiation through resolution of claims. He has pursued successful bid protests before federal, state, and local authorities. His construction claim and litigation experience includes both "above" and "below ground" construction of commercial and residential projects: gas line installation/construction and horizontal directional drilling; levee construction and rehabilitation; dock construction; dredging; military family housing construction; highway and infrastructure construction. Claims issues have involved defective plans and specifications; insurance coverage and defense; scheduling, acceleration, and delays; constructive changes; variations in estimated quantities; site access and differing site conditions; terminations for default and convenience; and productivity and loss of efficiency claims. Chris has also litigated numerous payment and performance bond claims associated with contract disputes. His experience includes negotiating tender and takeover agreements with sureties where the contractor has defaulted on its performance obligations and defending against surety claims under the general indemnity agreement. He has also represented clients in timber trespass claims, and his prior experience with the U.S Forestry Service uniquely positions him to understand all aspects of the timber industry.

Chris’s public procurement experience extends to services contracts with federal, state, and local governments, including: contracts for military food service, Randolph Sheppard Act vendor litigation and arbitration, and military family housing maintenance. Chris represents owners, prime contractors, and subcontractors. He has arbitrated, mediated, and tried numerous construction and commercial disputes. He is also General Counsel for the Associated General Contractors of Mississippi. Chris's experience also includes representing large and small construction and service contractors on all aspects of federal and state acquisition issues, including: award protests; small-business size protests; Section 8(a) issues; U.S. Small Business Administration HUBZone, Mentor-Protégé, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business procurement program and other programs; disputes, claims, and appeals. He has prepared numerous joint venture and teaming agreements that have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration to the advantage of large and small companies under various small-business assistance programs. Chris is an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and a certified mediator and arbitrator on the Mississippi State Bar's List