Recent News:

Law Firm Expands Construction Practice

Marion Hack and J. Michael Schiff were quoted in a San Diego Business Journal article discussing Schiff’s transition to Cozen O’Connor’s San Diego office and its impact on the firm’s Construction Law Group.

With two decades of experience, Marion is a highly regarded, first-chair trial attorney representing general contractors, owners, and engineers in complex, high-profile, multimillion dollar construction disputes at both the state and federal level. Her achievements include obtaining multimillion dollar judgments, securing complete defense verdicts, and successfully resolving disputes through arbitration and jury trials.

Marion’s practice includes a wide array of construction industry matters such as bidding disputes, contract negotiations and drafting, scheduling and delay issues, mechanics lien, and claims resolution. Her broad range of legal experience includes public and private works projects including, roads, bridges, vertical construction, power facilities, environmental remediation, airports, school facilities, professional sports stadiums, concert halls, mass transit, and other heavy construction projects. Marion also has extensive experience with construction licensing issues (including expert witness work) and false claims act (FCA) defense.

Marion is a fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and is an active arbitrator and mediator with the American Arbitration Association. She earned her B.S. from the University of Southern California and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific.

Experience

News

Law Firm Expands Construction Practice

September 10, 2024

Marion Hack and J. Michael Schiff were quoted in a San Diego Business Journal article discussing Schiff’s transition to Cozen O’Connor’s San Diego office and its impact on the firm’s Construction Law Group.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Troutman Pepper Construction Team Jumps to Cozen O'Connor in LA

March 21, 2024

Bruce Ficken and Marion Hack were quoted in a Law.com article discussing Marion and her team’s transition to Cozen O’Connor.

Cozen O’Connor’s Construction Group Continues its U.S. Buildout With a Major Expansion into Southern California

March 18, 2024

Marion T. Hack, Luke Nicholas Eaton, John H. Conrad, Cindy J. Lee, Venessa Drake, and Michelle Rosenberg, come to the firm from Troutman Pepper.

The Dotted Line: How To Prepare For Potential Defect Claims

September 29, 2020

Marion Hack was quoted in a Construction Dive article discussing the importance of contractors documenting their work processes.

Design Contractor URS Wins $5M In Calif. Route 91 Dispute

October 09, 2019

Marion Hack was quoted in a Law360 article discussing the jury verdict in URS Corp. v Atkinson/Walsh Joint Venture, which awarded URS the contract balance after determining it had upheld its side of the agreement.

Orange County Jury Awards $2 Million in $103-Million Damages Request

October 03, 2019

Marion Hack was quoted in a Daily Journal article discussing the jury’s decision to award URS almost all its damages request in URS Corp. v Atkinson/Walsh Joint Venture.

Publications

Due Diligence Is Key When Buying a Construction Operation [Bloomberg Law]

September 17, 2020

Marion Hack contributed an article to Bloomberg Law discussing the importance for those acquiring or restructuring construction operations to perform the proper due diligence.

Covenants vs. Conditions in Construction Contracts [ConsensusDocs]

July 09, 2020

Marion Hack and Michelle Rosenberg contributed an article to ConsensusDocs discussing the distinct difference between clauses that are conditions and clauses that are covenants in construction contracts.

Events & Seminars

Upcoming Events

2024 Construction Super Conference

December 09, 2024 - Las Vegas, NV

Cozen O’Connor is sponsoring the 2024 Construction Super Conference at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Past Events

Success Tips for Female Trial Lawyers

October 21, 2020 - Webinar

Practice Areas

Education

  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 1995
  • University of Southern California, B.S., 1989

Awards & Honors

Lexology Index, Thought Leaders Construction, 2025

Lexology’s Client Choice Awards: Construction in the USA (2022)

Super Lawyers: California (2012-2023), “Rising Star,” California (2004-2007)

Chambers USA: Construction Law, California (2013-2024), Band 1

Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2018-2021) 

Best Lawyers in America: Construction Law (2018-2025), Litigation - Construction (2018-2025)

The Legal 500 United States: Construction (2016, 2020), Real Estate: Construction (including construction litigation) (2021-2023)

Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

Leaders in the Law – Los Angeles Business Journal, Finalist (2020)

  • California
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of California

American College of Construction Lawyers, fellow

Southern California Development Forum, former president

Association of General Contractors, Legal Advisory Committee, vice chair, 2014; chair, 2015

American Bar Association, Construction Industry Forum

American Arbitration Association’s Construction Disputes Panel of Arbitrators