Christopher J. Olsen
Attorney
P: 470.531.3070 / M: 518.496.6867 / F: 470.531.3063 / colsen@henscarlaw.com
14 Ridge Square NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20016
Chris has represented clients in a diverse range of practice areas, including construction litigation, complex civil and commercial litigation, government contracts, and corporate governance. He regularly represents corporate entities and individuals engaged in litigation, arbitration, and with matters before administrative agencies. In addition to first-chair trial experience, Chris has successfully briefed and argued numerous matters before trial and appellate courts.
Prior to joining Henner & Scarbrough, Chris was a member of the commercial litigation and government contracts practice groups of a firm with offices located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area where he resides. He is admitted to the bars in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. He is also admitted to practice before various federal district and appellate courts.
Representative Matters:
Represented parent companies in Nebraska state court on counterclaims filed by Fortune 500 food production company seeking more than $90 million in damages based on alter ego and agency theories of liability arising from a contract dispute with our clients’ subsidiary. Shortly before trial and after more than three years of discovery, successfully moved for summary judgment and dismissal of all claims asserted against our clients, including a claim under the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act added at the close of discovery.
Representing general contractor and joint venture partner in Florida federal court on claims against fellow joint venture partner and its parent company regarding the financial responsibility to pay losses arising out of the joint venture’s construction of a nearly $3 billion highway improvement project with the Florida Department of Transportation. Successfully moved for summary judgment on liability against the joint venture partner and its parent company in June 2023 and, after a two-week bench trial in October 2023, secured a judgment for $36.2 million on claims for breach of contract, breach of guaranty, and indemnification. Case is currently on appeal to the 11th Circuit.
Defended general contractor in litigation in Georgia state court against claims asserted by owner seeking more than $30 million for alleged delay damages, reprocurement and completion costs, and consequential damages in a contract dispute on a luxury senior living facility project. Claims were ultimately resolved during discovery with an agreement to convert the termination-for-default to a termination-for-convenience, and an agreement that the owner would take nothing and indemnify the general contractor from subcontractor claims.
Represented design-build contractor in arbitration seeking more than $5 million in damages for delays and changes on a public works in Georgia.
Represented construction manager at risk in disputes with mechanical and electrical subcontractors on a public infrastructure project in Utah in which the subcontractors sought more than $50 million for alleged delays, changes, inefficiencies, construction acceleration, and loss of labor productivity.
Defended civil subcontractor in arbitration against multi-million dollar delay and indemnity claims on a solar project in Texas.
Represented a subcontractor in a complex construction defect action regarding alleged defects in the design, construction, and inspection of a luxury condominium building in Washington, DC.
Represented construction manager at risk in administrative proceedings in Maryland regarding responsibility for removal and replacement of defective materials, including successful judicial review proceedings in Maryland trial and appellate courts.
Represented a hotel owner and its management company in parallel actions in Maryland state and federal court involving complex construction defect claims asserted against the general contractor and HVAC subcontractor.
Represented gasoline service station operators in litigation regarding the financial responsibility for remediation of petroleum contamination ordered by the Maryland Department of the Environment from 1991 through 2016.
Represented a former executive of a government contractor in litigation in the Eastern District of Virginia involving issues of corporate governance, breach of fiduciary duty, and causes of action arising under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and Stored Communications Act.
Represented a subcontractor in a construction defect action arising out of damage to a custom home in Potomac, Maryland.
Represented the awardee of a highway construction contract in successful litigation in Maryland over alleged defects in the solicitation.
Represented an international transit company in successful bid protests and subsequent litigation in Maryland over the proposed award of a transportation services contract.
Represented the proposed awardee of a real property lease in bid protests and subsequent litigation over the cancellation of the solicitation and the decision to award a sole source contract to a competitor.
Represented an IT contractor in bid protests over the award of a contract to provide timekeeping hardware and software to various agencies.
Represented an international luxury retailer in litigation in D.C. federal court involving alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act and the D.C. Human Rights Act.
Represented an IT service provider in litigation in Maryland federal court arising out of a contractual dispute with a developer of wireless products and networks.
Notable Decisions:
The Lane Construction Corp. v. Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc., 2024 WL 4267117 (M.D. Fla. May 3, 2024) (memorandum opinion following bench trial)
The Lane Construction Corp. v. Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc., 2023 WL 11938839 (M.D. Fla. June 4, 2023) (order on cross-motions for summary judgment)
Montgomery Park, LLC v. Dep’t of General Services, 254 Md. App. 73 (2022), cert. granted, 479 Md. 64 (2022), rev’d, 482 Md. 706 (2023)
Appeal of Holder Construction Group, LLC, No. 3087 (Md. B.C.A. July 1, 2020), aff’d, No. 0865, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. July 19, 2022)
Md. State Highway Admin. v. Milani Construction, LLC, No. 1334, Sept. Term, 2019 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Sept. 29, 2020)
Bartenfelder v. Bartenfelder, 248 Md. App. 213 (2020), cert. denied, 472 Md. 5 (2021)
Wright v. Mohler, No. 17-cv-3012, 2019 WL 3817271 (D. Md. Aug. 14, 2019)
Charlotte Hall Nursing, LLC v. Md. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, No. 2447, Sept. Term, 2017 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. May 2, 2019)
Fountain Club, LLC v. City of New Carrollton, 461 Md. 488 (2018)
Usher v. Riggs Realty, No. 1376, Sept. Term, 2014 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Apr. 5, 2017), cert. denied, 455 Md. 456 (2017)
Coley v. 23rd St. Realty Co., No. 2203, Sept. Term, 2015 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Feb. 9, 2017)
Bonner v. S-Fer Int’l, Inc., 207 F. Supp. 3d 19 (D.D.C. 2016)
Griffin v. Jontiff, No. 0725, Sept. Term, 2015 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Apr. 25, 2016), cert. denied, 450 Md. 116 (2016)
McKisset v. Brentwood BWI One, LLC, No. 14-cv-1159, 2015 WL 8041386 (D. Md. Dec. 4, 2015)
Cumberland & Erly, LLC v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 128 F. Supp. 3d 888 (D. Md. 2015)
Hamilton v. Kirson, No. 1530, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Apr. 30, 2013), aff’d, 439 Md. 501 (2014)
Alston v. 2700 Virginia Ave. Assocs., No. 0011, Sept. Term, 2012 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. July 10, 2013), aff’d sub nom. Hamilton v. Kirson, 439 Md. 501 (2014)
Hamilton v. Dackman, 213 Md. App. 589 (2013), cert. denied, 439 Md. 329 (2014)
Bar Admissions:
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia
Court Admissions:
U.S. District Court for District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Achievements:
Selected to Maryland Rising Stars List (2018-2021)
Selected to Washington DC Rising Stars List (2018-2021)