Experience

Adam Richins' practice focuses on construction, energy, agricultural and complex business matters. He has trial experience in both state and federal courts. In addition, Adam has drafted and negotiated several multimillion-dollar design, procurement, and construction agreements. Adam's design and construction practice focuses on contract drafting and negotiating, construction defect claims, delay and impact claims, bid disputes, and lien claims. He has significant field experience in civil engineering and project management in both the public and private sectors.

Before joining Stoel Rives, Adam worked in the construction industry in Alaska, Washington and New York. His experience includes managing the design, coordination and installation of the 100 percent in-line security screening system at Sea-Tac Airport; developing and maintaining the master schedule for construction of over 20 public schools in the New York metropolitan area; and performing cost analysis and estimation for university projects in upstate New York.

In addition, Adam acted as a Law clerk to the Honorable Stephen S. Trott, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Boise (2006-2007); a summer associate at Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Seattle, (2005); and a summer extern, Alaska Attorney General's Office, Environmental Division, Juneau (2004). He was a Project engineer for Clark Construction Group, Seattle (2001-2003); a construction manager intern at DMJM Harris, New York City (2000-2001); and a civil engineering intern at Montgomery Watson Harza, Boise (1998, 1999).

Adam was profiled in Mountain States Super Lawyers 2010 for his work in the construction and energy industries.

Representative Work

Representative Disputes

• Represented design-build joint venture in a $28 million arbitration claim against owner in the development of a dry mill ethanol plant.
• Represented Fortune 100 manufacturer in mass tort agricultural products liability defense; three and one-half month jury trial in federal court.
• Defended Fortune 100 telecommunications company against a conspiracy claim in federal court in Idaho and Washington.
• Defended city against federal court challenge to green building code.
• Represented national grocery company in a construction defect claim against contractor.
• Represented healthcare provider in a trade secret dispute.
• Represented owner in construction defect claim against contractor; one-week jury trial in state court.

Representative Transactions and Construction Counseling

• Currently drafting a design-build-operate-finance contract for a multimillion-dollar wastewater treatment plant.
• Currently providing in-house contract review services for Idaho utility company.
• Drafted and negotiated engineering and construction contracts for an $85 million dry mill ethanol plant.
• Drafted design, procurement and design-build contracts for the development of a multimillion-dollar retail facility.
• Drafted and negotiated a multimillion-dollar equipment fabrication and installation agreement for algae biodiesel developer.
• Provided counseling and risk assessments for multimillion-dollar power plant project.
• Drafted multimillion-dollar construction agreement for water delivery system to a combined cycle power generation facility 

Presentations and Publications

• Be Wary of the Documents Behind the Construction Contract", Idaho Construction Review, June 21, 2010
• "Owners and Developers Tips and Traps," Boise State University, Apr. 5, 2010
• "Idaho Lien Law: Tips and Traps for Owners and Developers," Idaho Power Company, Jan. 19, 2010
• "LEED Certification Can Now Be Revoked by USGBC," Idaho Business Review, Oct. 19, 2009
• "What You Need to Know Before OSHA Comes Knocking on Your Door," Stoel Rives, Oct. 14, 2009
• "Challenges to Building Green," 2008 Idaho Energy and Green Building Conference, Oct. 22, 2008
• "Going Green Without Having a Red Bottom Line," Idaho Business Review, Idaho Business & Law section, Fall 2008
• "Building Information Modeling: Managing the Risks of Revolutionary Change," Idaho Business Review, Sep. 22, 2007
• "Overcoming the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act," The Advocate, Aug./Sep. 2007
• "Technology in the Construction Industry: When Software Companies Make Mistakes, Contractors Pay the Price," Idaho Business Review, Oct. 2007
• "Risky Business: Directors Making Business Judgments in Washington State," Washington Law Review, Nov. 2005

Professional Honors & Activities

• Mountain States Super Lawyers® "Rising Star", 2010, construction litigation
• Board member, Idaho chapter, U.S. Green Building Council, 2008-2010
• Executive committee; chair, Young Leaders Group, Idaho chapter, Urban Land Institute, 2008-2010
• Columbia University representative, Boise Ivy, 2007-2010
• Member, Construction Law section, American Bar Association, 2006-2010
• Member, Idaho chapter, Federal Bar Association, 2006-2010
• William L. Dwyer Inn of Court, 2005-2006
• Executive board, Washington Law Review, 2004-2006
• Member, National Society of Professional Engineers, 2002-2010
• Member, Columbia Northwest Alumni Association, 2002-2006
• Member, Toastmasters International, 2002-2004
• Licensed engineer in training, 2001-2010

Civic Activities

• Board member, Boise Contemporary Theatre, 2008-2010
• Leadership Boise, 2008-2010
• Volunteer, United Way Direct Impact Response Team, 2007
• Volunteer, Rebuilding Together Seattle, 2001-2003

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2006, with honors
  Executive Board, Washington Law Review, 2005-2006
• Columbia University, B.S., Civil Engineering, 2001, magna cum laude
• University of Puget Sound, B.S., Mathematics, 2001

Admissions

• Idaho
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Print to word