New Construction Attorney in Marietta

Protecting Your New Build From Costly Legal Problems

New construction projects involve significant contracts, tight timelines, and major financial commitments. When disputes arise over work quality, schedules, or payment, they can threaten the entire project. A seasoned new construction attorney can help you understand your options and protect what you have invested.

At Reed Leeper, P.C., we work with property owners, developers, general contractors, and subcontractors on new construction matters in and around Marietta, GA. Our practice is focused on construction and business law, so we are familiar with the pressures that come with delivering a project on time and within budget while managing legal risk.

Contract mess or payment dispute? Talk to our Marietta construction attorney today.

Why New Construction Matters Need Counsel

If you are involved in a new construction project, you may already be seeing how many moving parts must come together. Plans and specifications, change orders, payment applications, inspections, and lender requirements all interact through your contracts. When something goes wrong, the question is rarely simple, and that is where a construction-focused lawyer becomes valuable.

In Georgia, contract terms, construction law principles, and local building requirements shape who bears risk for delays, defects, and cost overruns. Disputes can arise over the scope of work, scheduling, differing site conditions, or compliance with codes. Without a clear understanding of your rights and obligations, you can end up accepting responsibility for problems that are not truly yours.

We regularly assist clients with front-end planning and dispute resolution. On the planning side, we review and draft construction contracts, subcontracts, and related business agreements so that responsibilities and risk allocations are clear. When disputes develop, we analyze the project documents, communications, and applicable law to help you choose a course of action that aligns with your business priorities.

Our goal is always to address issues early, before they escalate into full-scale litigation. By involving counsel when the first warning signs appear, you can preserve key rights, comply with notice provisions, and create better leverage for negotiation. We understand that your project must keep moving, and we work to provide guidance that fits the realities of new construction work in this area.

How Our Firm Handles New Construction Issues

When you contact our firm about a new construction concern, we start by learning the story of your project. We review your contracts, change orders, payment history, correspondence, and any reports or inspection records. This helps us understand how the issue developed and which parties and provisions are central to the problem.

We handle both contract formation and disputes for clients who need a new construction lawyer. On the contract side, we draft and negotiate agreements for owners, contractors, and businesses so that scopes of work, payment terms, schedules, and risk allocations are set out clearly. On the dispute side, we address alleged defects, claims of nonpayment, disagreements over change orders, termination issues, and related business conflicts that can arise during new construction.

Our attorneys draw on decades of construction and business law experience when evaluating your options. Sometimes the most effective path is direct negotiation, supported by a detailed understanding of the contract and project documentation. In other situations, mediation or arbitration may provide a more structured setting to attempt resolution. When required, we litigate construction disputes in Georgia courts, including matters that may be filed in Cobb County Superior Court.

Throughout the process, we keep our focus on strategy and cost. We work to identify the core issues and to avoid unnecessary steps that do not move your matter forward. Our team communicates with you about potential approaches, timelines, and legal fees so that you can make business decisions with a clear picture of risk and reward. We understand that every project and every client is different, and we tailor our approach accordingly.

Common New Construction Disputes We See

Many new construction problems follow familiar patterns, even though the facts of each project are unique. Recognizing where your situation fits can help you see what is at stake and how our team may assist. We regularly work with clients who are facing disagreements that threaten progress or payment on a build.

Examples of new construction disputes we frequently handle include:

• Workmanship and defect claims involving structural issues, water intrusion, code violations, or failures to build according to plans
• Schedule and delay disputes, including alleged liquidated damages, acceleration demands, and disagreements over responsibility for lost time
• Payment conflicts, such as nonpayment or underpayment, change order disputes, and disagreements over retainage
• Termination of contracts, whether for alleged default or for convenience, and related claims for damages
• Disputes among owners, general contractors, and subcontractors over coordination, scope gaps, and access to the work

These issues can quickly lead to liens, claims for damages, and strained relationships among project participants. If not addressed carefully, they may also affect lenders, buyers, tenants, or end users. We represent a range of stakeholders, including property owners building a new facility, general contractors responsible for delivering the project, and businesses participating as trade contractors or suppliers.

Our role is to identify the contract provisions and project records that matter most and to help you pursue a path that supports completion of the work and protection of your position. Sometimes that means working toward a negotiated solution that allows the project to move forward. Other times, it means preparing to enforce your rights in court or in another forum provided in your agreements.

Local Construction Law Considerations in Marietta

New construction projects in the Marietta area are governed by Georgia contract and construction law, and they also interact with local permitting and inspection processes. Understanding how these pieces connect can be important when a dispute arises. For example, permit records, inspection reports, and correspondence with building officials can become key evidence in defect or compliance disagreements.

When disputes proceed to litigation, they may be filed in Cobb County Superior Court or another appropriate Georgia court, depending on the parties and the amounts at issue. Familiarity with the procedures and scheduling practices in these courts can affect how efficiently a case moves. Our attorneys regularly appear in Georgia state forums, and we take those practical considerations into account when advising clients on strategy.

We also understand that construction in and around Marietta often involves a mix of local and regional participants. Owners, contractors, design professionals, and suppliers may be based in different parts of the state or beyond. This can raise questions about the choice of law, venue, and dispute resolution mechanisms included in contracts. We review these provisions carefully so that you know where and how any formal proceedings are likely to occur.

Because we work in this area, we see recurring issues that can surface in local projects, such as disputes tied to site conditions, coordination among multiple trades, or alignment between design intent and actual construction. That practical perspective helps us focus quickly on the aspects of your matter that are most likely to influence the outcome.

Steps To Take When Problems Arise

When you first notice potential problems on a new construction project, it can be tempting to assume they will work themselves out. In our experience, early action usually puts you in a stronger position. Taking a few careful steps now can help preserve your rights and give you better options later.

Practical actions to protect your interests include:

• Documenting issues with dated photographs, written notes, and copies of relevant plans or reports
• Reviewing your contracts to understand notice requirements, cure periods, and dispute resolution provisions
• Keeping communications professional and in writing, and avoiding informal agreements that change key terms without proper documentation
• Collecting payment applications, change orders, schedules, and inspection records in one place for review
• Speaking with a construction-focused lawyer before sending or signing significant letters, agreements, or releases

We can review your contracts and project materials, then help you evaluate your options. That may involve drafting or responding to formal notices, planning for negotiation, or preparing for more structured dispute resolution if needed. Our aim is to help you address the problem in a way that aligns with your goals for the project and your broader business.

If you are unsure whether your situation justifies involving counsel, a conversation with our team can provide clarity. We can talk through what you are seeing on the ground and what steps may make sense now, so you are not forced into rushed decisions later.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I call a lawyer about my new build?

You should consider calling a lawyer when issues start affecting quality, schedule, or payment, or when you receive formal notices or demands. Early advice can help you comply with contract requirements, preserve claims and defenses, and avoid missteps that weaken your position later.

Can your team review my construction contract before I sign?

Yes, we review and draft construction contracts for owners, contractors, and businesses. We look at scope, risk allocation, payment and schedule terms, and dispute provisions. Our goal is to help you understand what you are agreeing to, suggest practical changes, and reduce the likelihood of future conflicts.

How do legal fees work for new construction matters?

Legal fees for new construction matters are typically based on the time required and the complexity of the issues. We discuss potential approaches with you at the outset and work to keep services cost-effective. We also talk through how different strategies may affect total cost and potential benefit.

What can I expect in our first meeting?

In an initial meeting, we usually review your project background, contracts, key communications, and your main concerns. We then discuss potential options and next steps. This conversation is designed to give you a clearer understanding of your situation and how our firm might assist.

Do you handle court cases over new construction disputes?

We handle new construction disputes that proceed to court, including cases filed in Georgia state courts such as Cobb County Superior Court. We also work on matters that involve arbitration or mediation, depending on what your contracts provide and what approach best aligns with your objectives.

Talk With Our Construction Law Team

If you are dealing with a new construction issue in the Marietta area, you do not have to sort it out alone. Meeting with our attorneys gives you the chance to review your contracts and project documents with a team that focuses on construction and business law and understands the pressures you are facing.

Don’t sign that contract blind. Get a fast review from our Marietta construction lawyer.