Emma K. Devaney

ASSOCIATE | BOSTON, MA
(857) 504-1140

Emma Devaney is an associate at Watt Tieder’s Boston office. She concentrates her practice in the areas of construction and surety litigation. Emma represents owners, sureties, contractors, and subcontractors in complex construction matters involving contract disputes, delay damages, and differing site conditions. Emma counsels surety clients through all aspects of payment and performance bond demands, collateral demands, and indemnity actions, including contested litigation. She regularly advises surety clients in navigating issues surrounding performance bond claims, including investigations of claims, analysis of performance options, and negotiation and preparation of tender agreements.

As a litigator, Emma has gained significant trial and pretrial practice experience in both federal and state courts, including in Massachusetts and Virginia. She has successfully represented clients through jury and bench trials, and has secured favorable outcomes in dispositive motions practice. In addition to her work in the construction and surety industries, Emma’s background includes representing both multinational companies and privately held corporations in commercial litigation matters concerning breach of contract, fraud, and partnership disputes.

 

Memberships & Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
    • Tort and Insurance Practice Section
    • Fidelity and Surety Law Committee
    • Forum on the Construction Industry
    • Young Lawyers Division
  • Association of General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA)
  • Society for Construction Law North America
  • Surety Association of Massachusetts

Speaking Engagements & Publications

  • Co-Author: “Enforceability of Waiver of Consequential Damages Clauses,” Contributor to Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald’s Fifty State Survey of Key Issues Related to Construction & Engineering Contracts, October 2024.

Areas of Practice

  • Construction
  • Surety
  • Commercial Litigation

Education

  • George Mason University School of Law, J.D., 2018
  • George Washington University, cum laude, 2010

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Virginia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia