Bert Chollet

Bert advises clients across the full life cycle of construction projects, from project structuring and contract negotiation to litigation, arbitration, and strategic risk management. His practice encompasses a broad range of construction disputes, including claims involving project delays, disruption, productivity loss, design and engineering issues, change orders, construction defects, terminations, mechanics' liens, surety bond claims, bid protests, and minority and disadvantaged business enterprise (MBE/DBE) compliance matters.

Bert has extensive experience advising on large-scale industrial, infrastructure, and public projects, including numerous megaprojects with contract values exceeding $1 billion. His representative matters have involved projects in the minerals, petrochemical, automotive, aerospace, energy, defense, health care, hospitality, and infrastructure sectors. He regularly counsels clients on the procurement, development, and execution of complex projects and has represented participants in public-private partnerships (P3s) and government contracts throughout the United States and abroad.

His international experience includes advising clients on projects in Asia and Europe, including matters involving U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of State contracts. Drawing on both domestic and cross-border experience, Bert helps clients navigate the legal, commercial, and practical challenges that arise on sophisticated projects.

Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Bert practiced at law firms in Chicago, Illinois, and Memphis, Tennessee. Before practicing law, he served as an appellate clerk for the Honorable Holly M. Kirby.

• Represented a foreign-based owner in connection with development and construction of an industrial project with a total investment exceeding $7 billion.

• Represented a foreign-based contractor in connection with an EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) petrochemical contract in excess of $1 billion.

• Represented an owner in connection with a battery manufacturing project in excess of $1 billion.

• Represented an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the negotiation of a contract for an automobile component facility approaching $1 billion.

• Represented global defense contractors in connection with contracts, subcontracts, and claims on projects throughout the world.

• Represented a contractor in connection with multiple large-scale infrastructure projects throughout the United States, including multiple projects valued in excess of $300 million each.

• Represented the owner of a dual-brand, multitower luxury hotel project in litigation and post-completion sale of ownership entity, with claims including contract, change order, and delay claims approaching $50 million.

• Represented an international general contractor pursuing change order and impact claims in an arbitration arising out of a manufacturing facility, obtaining a damages award of $17 million.

• Represented a subcontractor as lead trial counsel in litigation arising out of the construction of a mixed-use, 34-story, 380-unit residential tower located above retail, entertainment, and cultural amenities, with delay and change order claims in excess of $5 million.

• Represented a foreign owner in defense of a $52 million delay claim arising out of the construction of a consumer goods manufacturing facility.

• Represented a hospital in connection with contract negotiation and contract claims arising out of the construction of numerous medical office building (MOB), ambulatory, and other related facilities projects.

• Represented a developer in connection with contract disputes arising out of a $190 million hospitality project.

• Represented a large commodities supplier in numerous contract disputes and contract negotiations throughout the United States.

• Represented a defense contractor in connection with the negotiation of contracts and claims arising out of an ordnance manufacturing facility.

• Represented an owner in connection with the negotiation of contracts and claims arising out of a $10 million consumer goods project.

• On behalf of a major automobile manufacturer, prepared an EPC contract for use on projects throughout the United States and prepared FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) special conditions for use on international construction projects.

• Counseled a United States government defense contractor in connection with a contract for radar installation at an international military base, advising the contractor regarding federal contracting issues, subcontracts, and compliance with various treaties, armed forces agreements, and local laws.

• Represented a foreign-based owner in the negotiation of design and construction contracts for an automobile component manufacturing facility in excess of $30 million.

• Represented a foreign-based owner in the negotiation of a design-build contract for an electric vehicle component manufacturing facility in excess of $10 million.

• Listed in Chambers USA as a leading Construction lawyer in Tennessee (2024 – 2026)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Construction Law (2024 – 2027)
• Recognized in 2019 Emerging Lawyers in Illinois under 40 for Construction Law
• ABA Forum on the Construction Industry

• "Fast-Track Construction Strategies For Manufacturers," Industry Today
• "Navigating Lost Productivity Claims," Construction Client Alert
• "Delegated Design and the Black Hole of the Inartfully Drafted Contract," Construction Client Alert
• "Recent Appellate Court Ruling Potentially Increases Sureties' Performance Bond Exposure In Illinois For Payment Claims," Construction Client Alert
• "The Sovereign Act Doctrine and Federal Contracts," Construction Client Alert
• "Preserving Mechanics' Lien Rights in Bankruptcy Proceedings," Construction Client Alert
• "Illinois Construction Law," HKL Global Communications, Inc.
• "The Potential Expansion of Subdivision Bond Liability on Public Projects: The Illinois Supreme Court's Decision in Lake County Grading, Co., LLC v. Village Of Antioch," Surety Claims Institute
• "Case Update: Providing Clarity For Differing Site Conditions Claims On Federal Design-Build Projects," Construction Client Alert
• "The Reallocation of Risk for Differing Site Conditions in Metcalf Construction Company, Inc. v. United States," Construction Client Alert
• "Securing the Road to Nowhere: When Subdivision Bond Payments Constitute Economic Waste or an Unreasonable Windfall to the Obligee," International Association of Defense Counsel Fidelity & Surety Committee Newsletter
• "Obtaining Judicial Relief From an Improper Arbitration Award on the Basis of Corruption, Fraud, Undue Means, the Failure to Hear Material Evidence, or Other Misbehavior Prejudicing the Rights of a Party," Construction Briefings, Thomson/West
• "Enabling the Gaze: Public Access and the Withdrawal of Tennessee's Proposed Rule of Civil Procedure 1A," University of Memphis Law Review, Volume 36, Book 3

• Moderator – "From Dirt to Distribution: Delivering the Next Generation of Industrial Space," Nashville Industrial, Logistics, and Manufacturing Summit
• Construction Accounting Network, 2025 CAN Bootcamp, Advance Service Providers and Emerging Leaders Panels
• "Tips in Dealing with Bankruptcy," Midwest Construction Claims Conference
• "Considerations for the Surety's Analysis and Preparation of its Principal's Affirmative Claims," National Bond Claims Association
• "Contract Change Provisions," Lorman Education Services seminar
• "Troubled Developments: Surety Bond and Lien Claims," Illinois Institute for Local Government Law, 18th Annual Conference, Naperville, Illinois
• "Troubled Developments in a Troubled Economy," American Public Works Association, Schaumburg, Illinois
• "Mechanics Liens," and "The Illinois Bond Act," Lorman Education Services seminar, "Construction Lien Law in Illinois," Orland Park, Illinois

• Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 Listing (August 20, 2026)
• 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 Announces 11 Newly Elected Shareholders (April 13, 2022)

• Newly Elected Nashville Shareholders Bert Chollet, Andy Droke and Ryan Richards Featured in Nashville Post (April 18, 2022)