Donald J. Nettles

Mr. Nettles has presented at the ABA Construction Industry Forum and the Alabama Construction Industry Symposium. He is also a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, listed in Chambers USA as a leading construction lawyer, and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Construction Law since 2013 and Litigation – Construction since 2012.

• Obtained an $8 million award in favor of a horizontal directional drilling contractor in a dispute stemming from the construction and installation of natural gas pipeline near Bayou Pierre, Mississippi.

• Representing a large hospital REIT in drafting and negotiating contract and ancillary documents for numerous projects throughout the U.S. valued at more than $500 million.

• Served as a lead negotiator for a $110 million design-build contract on behalf of a health care REIT.

• Represent a national multi-family developer as lead drafter and negotiator of several projects in excess of $200 million throughout the U.S.

• Represent a publicly traded mechanical contractor as lead drafter and negotiator for construction and ancillary documents as well as lead litigator on all construction-related matters.

• Represented a casino owner in a $10+ million construction defect claim.

• Served as lead drafter, negotiator, and litigation attorney for a national horizontal directional drilling company.

• Represented a design-builder in a successful multimillion-dollar claim against a public medical center.

• Served as lead drafter and negotiator of contract and ancillary documents for a multinational food group with projects throughout the Midwest and Southeastern U.S.

• Represented a general contractor in successfully asserting and collecting claims in excess of $700,000 against a municipality.

• Represented an international contractor in drafting and negotiating contracts and ancillary documents for multiple new facilities in the Southeastern U.S.

• Represented numerous clients with matters before the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors.

• Represented a hospital owner in a successful design defect claim against an architectural firm.

• Represented a site contractor in an arbitration with a multimillion-dollar claim involving a retail development center in the Southeastern U.S., including confirmation of the arbitration award in the client's favor before the Alabama Supreme Court.

• Successfully represented a general contractor in asserting claims involving a HUD project.

• Represented a building owner in a lawsuit against a roofing company for defective work. Achieved a successful settlement in mediation.

• Defended a real estate development company in a wrongful termination lawsuit asserted by its general contractor.

• Represented an owner in contract negotiations for the first phase of a new development on the Gulf Coast where the construction and architectural services will be in excess of $700 million.

• Represented a subcontractor in subcontract negotiations with a subcontract value in excess of $100 million on a large public works project.

• Representation of an owner in a latent defect case against a contractor for damages in excess of $14 million.

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Construction Law since 2013 and Construction Litigation since 2012
• Charter Fellow – Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)
• Recognized as a group member of Birmingham Business Journal's Construction Practice Group "Leadership in Law" award (2026)
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed in Chambers USA as a leading Construction lawyer in Alabama (2024 – 2026)
• Named by Birmingham magazine as one of "Birmingham's Top Attorneys" in Construction
• Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation (2015 – 2020)
• Listed in Mid-South Rising Stars, Construction Litigation (2010 and 2011)
• Co-chair – 2011 March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction
• Birmingham Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Class of 2010
• Listed in the Cambridge Who's Who Registry of Executives, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs (2009 – 2010) Edition
• Member – American Bar Association (Litigation Section and Forum on the Construction Industry)
• Member – DRI
• Member – Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
• Member – Trial Law Institute
• Member – Alabama State Bar (Construction Section)
• Member – Birmingham Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee)
• Ethics Opinion Editor – Journal of the Legal Profession
• Member – John A. Campbell Moot Court Board
• Member – Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Team
• Member – Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society
• Member – Honor Court 
• Board of Directors – Birmingham Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association
• Associate Member – Birmingham Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association of Alabama
• Associate Member – Birmingham Chapter of the Association of General Contractors of Alabama
• Sergeant, United States Marine Corps

• "Viewing the Design-Build Process and Contractual Concerns Through the Eyes of the Project Participants," ABA Forum on Construction Law's 2024 Fall Meeting (October 2024)
• 2022 Program Chair for Construction Law Section of the Alabama State Bar 2022 Seminar
• "Contract Negotiations," Alabama State Bar Construction Law Section's 6th Annual Construction Law Summit (December 2019)
• "Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the New AIA Documents," Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (March 2018)
• "Recent Occurrences in Alabama Construction Law," First Construction Law Summit of the Alabama State Bar (December 2014)
• "Construction Law Update," Subcontractor Association of Alabama (July 2013)
• "Basics of Construction Risk Management," Construction Law Section of the Alabama State Bar Annual Meeting (July 2013)
• "Construction Risk Management," Lorman, Birmingham Alabama (April 2013)

• Chambers USA Ranks 101 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2026 Edition (June 4, 2026)
• Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Listing (August 21, 2025)
• Chambers USA Ranks 97 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2025 Edition (June 5, 2025)
• Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Listing (August 15, 2024)
• Chambers USA Ranks 88 Baker Donelson Attorneys in 2024 Edition (June 6, 2024)
• Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2024 Listing (August 17, 2023)
• Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Listing (August 18, 2022)
• Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Listing (August 19, 2021)