Aaron Gruber

Partner

Education

University of California, Hastings College of Law
Juris Doctor, 2000

California State University, Long Beach
Master of Science, 1997

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Bachelor of Arts, Architectural Engineering, 1994

Prior Experience

Jones Day
Partner, 2011-2014

Howrey LLP
Partner, 2008-2011

Thelen LLP
Associate, 2000-2008

Bar Admissions

California, 2000

Nevada, 2010

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California

Licenses & Certificates

Judge Pro Tem – San Francisco Superior Court (2023)

Certified Mediator (2013)

CA Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering) 1997

Honors & Affiliations

Ranked by Chambers-USA in Construction

Top Rated Construction Litigation Attorney, Super Lawyers, 2016-2024

Member of ABA Forum on Construction Law

Aaron Gruber is a Chambers-ranked lawyer, certified mediator, and a Judge Pro Tem specializing in the resolution of construction and real estate disputes.

Aaron Gruber represents local, domestic, and international owners (public and private), developers, design professionals, and general contractors in the resolution of disputes relating to delays and acceleration, cost overruns, mechanic’s liens (including clearing title and resolving lien priority issues), stop notices, construction defects, coverage disputes, code compliance, and design liability. He also frequently provides pre-litigation consultation to eliminate or reduce future conflicts.

Additionally, Aaron advises clients in the drafting and negotiation of construction and design agreements and compliance with jurisdictional requirements for the performance of construction and design services.

Aaron is also a certified mediator and a Judge Pro Tem (San Francisco Superior Court), specializing in the resolution of construction and real estate disputes.

Aaron is a licensed civil engineer in the state of California. After graduating from college, he worked as a structural engineer in Southern California (designing and overseeing the construction of both residential and commercial structures) and at a consulting firm where he consulted on the completion of construction projects for performance bond sureties.

Renewable/Alternative Energy projects: Advised owner and developer clients on contract issues and disputes for numerous projects related to solar, wind, large-scale charging stations, and battery storage facilities.
Power projects: Represented Owners and General Contractors in disputes related to hydro, natural gas, and electric facilities, both original construction and retrofits/upgrades.
Large Public Works projects: Advised contractor clients regarding dispute review board hearings and litigated matters arising out of large transportation projects in Northern and Southern California.
Utility development project: Advised utility entities and contractors in negotiation of complex utility projects.
EPC Energy projects: Negotiated and litigated contracts related to the design, construction, and procurement of power projects.
Transportation projects: Litigated disputes related to rail, tunnel, and bridge construction.
Modular projects: Negotiated and litigated contracts for the procurement and use if modular units in large scale multi-unit residential projects.
Private development: Negotiated agreements and litigated disputes related to private large scale residential and commercial projects.
University projects: Advised university counsel and litigated several matters involving disputes on large university construction projects.
Hospital projects in California: Drafted and negotiated contracts for the design, construction, and management of hospitals, medical buildings, and long-term care facilities.
Public Private Partnership: Advised client on issues related to contract interpretation, performance of work, and management of the claims process under a Public Private Partnership agreement in California.
Multi-billion-dollar Nevada development: Advised owner on disputes arising out of the $8.5 billion CityCenter development, including cost claims, delay claims, and construction defects.
Tennant improvement work and telecommunication upgrades: Advised owner on disputes involving the seismic retrofit and abatement of an eight-story laboratory sciences building and the construction of a campus-wide telecommunication upgrade project.
Hospital construction: Advised contractor and surety on disputes related to the design and construction of a hospital building and the design and construction of a public safety facility.
Senior Care facility construction: Advised owner in a dispute over the design and construction of a multistory elder care facility.
Telecommunication disputes: Advised contractor in a dispute over telecommunication networks, including the construction of substations and the installation of underground conduit on public property.
Entertainment complex: Advised contractor in a dispute over the design and construction of multiuse commercial structure housing both theaters and retail.
Residential development: Advised large developer/contractor in a dispute over a multi-plaintiff homeowner suit involving litigation of complex indemnity and additional insured claims.

Fundamentals of Construction Law, Insurance & Indemnification Module, Regional Program, San Francisco, ABA Forum, Dec. 2, 2022
Nevada Civil Procedure Manual; Chapter Author: Expert Witnesses; 6th Edition (2016 – 2022)
California Expands Use of Construction Manager At-Risk to Counties on Projects Over $1 Million (2014)
Foreign Forum Selection Clauses: Limitations on Enforceability (2013)
Keep Watch of Calif.’s Health Care Construction Bill, Law360 (2013)
California Hospitals and Health Care Systems Beware: Proposed California Bill Would Require Payment of Prevailing Wages on Construction Funded by Conduit Revenue Bonds (2013)
California Decision Approves Shortening Statutes of Limitation and Eliminating the Discovery Rule Via Contract (2013)
Forum-Selection Clauses: Limitations on Enforceability (2013)
AIA Contract Document Seminar (2011, 2014)
Construction and Insurance Strategies to Manage Risk on Capital Improvement Projects (2013)
Construction and Energy Legal Updates (2012, 2013, 2014)
Construction Documentation: Preparing Effective Job Records (2012 – 2019)

Aaron Gruber

Partner

Aaron Gruber is a Chambers-ranked lawyer, certified mediator, and a Judge Pro Tem specializing in the resolution of construction and real estate disputes.

San Mateo

San Francisco