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Erinn Contreras

Overview

Erinn Contreras is a Chambers-ranked construction attorney who represents owners, developers and investors throughout the United States in all stages of major construction projects.

Erinn’s clients include Fortune 500 companies and other entities in a variety of industries including multifamily housing, data center, healthcare, affordable housing, hospitality and commercial. Erinn works on projects of all sizes, from smaller projects in the tens of millions of dollars to projects in excess of $1 billion.

Negotiating and drafting a variety of construction contracts—modified AIA contracts, design-build, professional/consultant and bespoke contracts—is at the center of Erinn’s practice. She also routinely advises on issues that arise during the course of construction and provides strategic business advice to minimize risks. Clients rely on her deep knowledge of market trends and market-driven factors in the construction industry to inform their decision making.

When disputes arise, Erinn works collaboratively with clients, consultants, expert witnesses and opposing parties to resolve disputes economically and efficiently.

When early resolution is not possible, however, she vigorously litigates on behalf of her clients. She has extensive experience with construction defect, delay, cost overrun, mechanic’s lien, quiet title and products liability claims, as well as a variety of real estate disputes, including failed real estate transactions, lease disputes, misrepresentation, non-disclosure and encroachment issues.

In addition to relying on Erinn for legal advice directly related to construction projects, many of Erinn’s clients turn to her as their go-to outside counsel for all of their legal needs. A strategic advisor, connector and first responder who is skilled in spotting legal issues, Erinn helps clients identify and manage legal risk.

Experience
  • Representing a hotel owner in connection with claims against the project design team arising out of design deficiencies and resultant delays relating to the construction of a luxury hotel in Hollywood.
  • Representing an owner in connection with delay, disruption and scope change claims against a general contractor relating to renovations of a state-of-the-art laboratory.   
  • Representing a renewable energy developer and owner in connection with a dispute with a utility regarding construction of a solar project. 
  • Representing a senior living developer in connection with claims against the project design team arising out design deficiencies and resultant delays and disruptions relating to the construction of a senior living community in Connecticut. 
  • Representing an electric vehicle charging start-up with a variety of construction-related issues. 
  • Representing Essex Property Trust, a $19 billion multifamily REIT, in a wide array of matters, including negotiating and drafting construction contracts and litigating construction defect disputes and claims for additional compensation. 
  • Representing an affordable housing developer in pre-litigation claims involving defective design and construction of a parking garage, and securing a favorable settlement that fully funded the repairs, all lost rent and rent concessions, attorneys’ fees, expert fees and costs.
  • Representing a large data center REIT on a wide variety of matters, including litigation and disputes related to construction and product defects, design issues, real estate, and vendor and customer agreements.
  • Representing an innovative data center company in a wide variety of matters, including negotiating and drafting construction and design agreements and providing advice and counseling on construction-related issues.
  • Representing a real estate investment company as tenant in litigation with its landlord regarding constructive eviction and failure to maintain and repair the leased premises.
  • Representing a Los Angeles-based real estate development company in a variety of construction-related matters, including successfully opposing a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction filed by a neighboring property owner seeking to enjoin construction of an apartment project in North Hollywood.
  • Representing a Fortune 50 company as tenant in litigation brought by its landlord involving construction of tenant improvements and responsibility for payment of same, and securing a favorable settlement prior to trial.
  • Representing a San Francisco-based real estate development and investment firm in negotiating and drafting design, construction and consultant agreements, advising on issues that arise during the course of construction and in litigation and arbitration involving delays, cost overruns, liquidated damages and mechanic’s lien claims.
  • Representing an affordable housing developer and mixed-use developer in drafting and negotiating the design and construction contracts for their joint development of the Los Angeles County-sponsored Vermont Manchester Transit Priority Project, a mixed-use development providing 180 units of affordable housing, grocery and retail stores, a SEED school (to be constructed by others), a transit plaza, a Metro training facility and critical infrastructure projects,.
  • Representing a premier San Francisco-based real estate development company holding more than 11 million square feet of office space in Silicon Valley by securing a full and complete settlement and release in a multi-million dollar lawsuit, in which neither the company nor its insurers paid a penny.
  • Representing an owner of large, multi-family projects in construction defect cases against the developer, general contractor and subcontractors, successfully achieving global settlements with all parties and their insurance carriers.
  • Obtaining a substantial judgment on behalf of a state run pension fund in a construction defect trial against a roofing subcontractor.
  • Representing real estate buyers and sellers in misrepresentation and failure to disclose litigation.
  • Representing numerous homeowners of multi-million dollar homes in construction defect litigation.
  • Obtaining a judgment on behalf of a property owner in an action against a tenant.
  • Procuring a fully-favorable verdict on behalf of a Fortune 500 company accused of discrimination following a one-week arbitration.
Credentials
Education

J.D., University of California, Los Angeles

B.A., Westminster College

Admissions

California

U.S. Court for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Court, Central District of California

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

U.S. District Court, Northern District, of California

Honors

500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers, Lawdragon, 2024-2025

500 X The Next Generation, Lawdragon, 2023

Leading Lawyer - Construction, Chambers USA, 2023-2025

Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America

Top 40 Under 40, Daily Journal, 2021

Northern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2013-2021

Recommended Attorney - Construction, Legal 500, 2020-2025

Client Feedback

"Erinn is terrific; she is extremely responsive and has a real depth of expertise in the law."

"She has a great demeanor and is very constructive working with the other side. Erinn is always prepared."

-Clients, California Construction Chambers Feedback (2023)

Erinn Contreras - Chambers 2025
Erinn Contreras Chambers 2024
Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2024
Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2025
Memberships

Trial Law Institute

Diversity Law Institute

Board Member, UCLA Law Women LEAD; Co-Chair, Local Events Committee

Thought Leadership

Speaker, "Navigating the Journey from Associate to Partner," UCLA Law Women LEAD Summit, September 27, 2024

"Erinn is terrific; she is extremely responsive and has a real depth of expertise in the law." 
Clients, California Construction Chambers Feedback, 2023