Austin D. Thacker
Partner
Overview
Austin D. Thacker is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Orlando office and a member of the firm's Construction Practice Group. Mr. Thacker focuses on serving general contractors, homebuilders, owners, developers and manufacturers in a range of industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects, including public, private and government contracts.
Mr. Thacker represents public and private entities in the negotiation and drafting of design and construction contract documents, and serves as project counsel on a variety of commercial, residential and mixed-use development projects. He also represents prime contractors and owners in the development and construction of commercial condominiums, hotels, resorts and mixed-use projects. In addition, Mr. Thacker also represents various owners, developers and contractors throughout the design and construction phases of projects, including, but not limited to, the negotiation and drafting of design and construction documents, project administration, risk mitigation and avoidance, alternative dispute resolution and, when necessary, resulting dispute resolution (e.g., arbitration, litigation, etc.). Mr. Thacker has experience handling claims for construction defects, inefficiency/delay damages, water intrusion, construction-related product defects, lien foreclosure and related tort claims and contract disputes. In addition, he works with local governments to address the needs of clients related to zoning, comprehensive plans, concurrency, developments of regional impact, procurement issues, due diligence and other property entitlements and rights necessary to the development and construction of various projects.
Mr. Thacker also has extensive experience representing clients in the energy industry such as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors and turbine manufacturers on power plant projects both domestically and abroad. He also routinely represents prime and EPC contractors in a variety of matters related to reservoir, highway, bridge and other infrastructure projects.
Mr. Thacker also represents various owners, developers and contractors throughout the design and construction phases of projects, including, but not limited to, the negotiation and drafting of design and construction documents, project administration, risk mitigation and avoidance, alternative dispute resolution and, when necessary, resulting dispute resolution (e.g., arbitration, litigation, etc.).
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Thacker clerked at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In addition to this experience, he has a background in banking, finance and insurance from prior roles with international financial institutions.
In the community, Mr. Thacker is active in volunteering for local organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, the Association of Christian Youth Sports, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children's Home Society, the Faine House and Boy Scouts of America. He also currently serves as guardian ad litem for the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association and is an active member of the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division and Forum on Construction Law.
Representative Experience
- Defense of claims totaling $30 million arising from the construction of a 1,000 megawatt (MW) power generation facility
- Defense of claims totaling $50 million arising from the construction of a 1,300 MW power generation facility
- Defense of claims totaling $500 million arising from a turbine purchase agreement
- Defense of claims totaling $80 million arising from the construction of a 1,040 MW power generation facility
- Pursuit and defense of claims totaling $29.2 million arising from the design and construction of a 53.5 MW biomass power generation facility
- Project counsel to the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor responsible for the $2.3 billion, six-year reconstruction of a major highway corridor
- Prosecution of claims for a prime contractor arising out of an $81 million contract for modifications to 10.7 miles of roadway
- Prosecution of claims for a prime contractor arising out of a $100 million contract for construction of commercial facilities for an independent government agency
- Representing a prime contractor in the pursuit and defense of claims arising from the construction of a $100 million professional sports stadium and multi-purpose project
- Defense of a prime contractor for claims arising from construction of a hotel and convention center
- Representing a prime contractor in pursuit and defense of various claims arising from construction of a luxury condominium tower
- Representing a prime contractor in pursuit of claims arising from construction of an oceanfront hotel
- Representing a prime contractor in pursuit and defense of claims arising from construction of a hotel and convention center
- Representing an owner in pursuit and defense of claims arising from the design and construction of a major renovation of a historic hotel in the Dominican Republic
- Representing an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor in the negotiation and approval of numerous utility work agreements and related contracts with various utility companies, municipalities and governmental entities
- Representing a developer in the approval of several projects by local municipalities
- Representing an educational institution in the approval of two multidisciplinary facilities on its existing campus
- Representing an owner/developer in the negotiation and approval of several developments across central Florida
- Representing an owner/developer in the approval of a charter school project in central Florida
- Representing an owner/developer in the approval of a multi-phase development project to include apartments, hotels, office space, retail and other purposes
Credentials
- University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D., Advocacy and Dispute Resolution, summa cum laude
- Lee University, B.S., Business Administration, summa cum laude
- Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow
- Boy Scouts of America - Central Florida, Board of Directors
- Orlando Economic Partnership, Young Professionals Advisory Committee
- American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Member Resources Director
- American Bar Association Forum on Construction, Governing Committee
- Central Florida Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Board Chair, 2012-2021
- University of Tennessee College of Law Alumni Council, 2014-2020
- Orange County Bar Association
- Tennessee Law Review, Managing Editor, 2012-2013
- Transactions: Tennessee Journal of Business Law, 2011-2013
- Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers, 2017-2023
- 40 Under 40, Orlando Business Journal, 2022
- Florida Legal Elite Up & Comer, Florida Trend magazine, 2022
- Holland & Knight Pro Bono All-Star, 2021
- 2016 Volunteer Leadership Award, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Order of the Coif
- The Order of Barristers