Paul S. Sugar

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia
• Maryland

Court Admissions

• Court of Appeals of Maryland
• Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
• Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• United States District Court for the District of Maryland
• United States Supreme Court

Education

• University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., 1975)
• Washington & Lee University (B.A., 1970)

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Paul S. Sugar

Experience

Paul S. Sugar is a principal with the Ober|Kaler Construction Group. His practice is devoted to construction industry counseling and dispute avoidance and resolution. He represents institutional owners, including colleges and universities, hospitals and other health care providers. Paul is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and its affinity group Higher Education Real Estate Lawyers. Paul also represents other participants in the construction industry, including contractors, subcontractors and design professionals, including some of the largest contractors in the Mid-Atlantic region.

His extensive general counsel work includes drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts of all types; furnishing project advice and negotiating project disputes; and compliance with applicable law including MBE, Davis-Bacon, OSHA and related matters. Paul’s dispute resolution experience includes trials, arbitrations, administrative hearings and mediations. He has substantial experience handling government and private construction claims, mechanics’ liens, construction defects, design negligence and surety disputes. Engagements have included projects for student housing, libraries, parking, research facilities, fine arts and performing arts centers, student commons and dining facilities on university campuses; construction of new and expanded hospital and other health care facilities; industrial and infrastructure construction including manufacturing, water and wastewater, power generation and transportation; commercial office and retail structures and condominiums.

Paul has served as both a neutral and party arbitrator in domestic and international construction disputes and has acted as a mediator.

Paul has substantial experience representing clients who provide goods and services to the State of Maryland, City of Baltimore and other public bodies in bid protests and contract claims. He has appeared frequently in procurement matters before the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals. Paul has represented companies in a variety of industries doing business with public agencies including construction, health care, information technology, transportation, business consulting services, accounting and durable business equipment.

Paul also represents manufacturers of durable goods in domestic and international commercial disputes and in product liability actions.

Paul’s professional and civic activities include serving on the board of Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. The organization, which solicits attorneys to provide pro bono legal services to low-income residents, awarded Paul its Leadership Circle Award in 2008. Paul currently serves as its Treasurer. Paul also serves as the firm’s pro bono coordinator. In 2009 the firm was awarded MVLS’ law firm of the year award for providing pro bono legal service.

Paul was appointed by Baltimore City's Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to serve on her Transition Committee for Economic Development and Job Opportunities.

Paul also is a frequent lecturer on topics related to the construction industry and Maryland procurement and has authored numerous papers and articles on subjects ranging from the bidding process and contracts to mechanics’ liens and dispute resolution. He is a co-author of the definitive source in Maryland for mechanics’ liens, Mechanic’s Liens and the Maryland Trust Fund Law and the Maryland Prompt Pay Statute, MICPEL.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association
  • Section on Litigation
  • Section on Public Contract Law
  • Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
• Associated Builders and Contractors, Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter
  • Member, 1994-present
  • General Contractor’s Council, 1994-present
• Baltimore City Bar Association
  • Executive Council, past-Member
• Maryland State Bar Association
  • Section on Litigation
    • Construction Cases Committee
    • Steering Committee, past-Member
      • Past Co-chair
• National Association of College and University Attorneys

Community Service

• Baltimore Bar Foundation
  • Board of Trustees, 1992-present
• Baltimore Courthouse Centennial (2000)
  • Vice Chair, Finance Committee
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
  • Board of Directors, 2006-present
• Washington & Lee University Annual Fund
  • Fund-raiser

Honoraries

• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Baltimore Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Maryland Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Listed in Maryland Super Lawyers, Construction, 2008-2012
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service, Leadership Circle Award, 2008

Professional Background

• Law Clerk to the Honorable W. Albert Menchine, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
• Assistant Solicitor, City of Baltimore
• Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Counsel to the Maryland Department of General Services, Co-chief of State Contract Litigation Unit