Hanna Lee Blake

PARTNER | MCLEAN, VA
(703) 749-1000

Hanna Blake focuses her practice on construction litigation and suretyship, representing contractors, owners, subcontractors and sureties in all aspects of public and private construction projects. She has worked on diverse projects including a professional baseball stadium, water treatment plant, urban housing development, major hotel and convention center complex, and a large university library, among others.

Hanna holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED AP) designation. The LEED rating system is the nationally recognized benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance buildings. As a LEED AP, Hanna is part of a select group of attorneys nationwide who recognize the significance of “green” building trends.

Hanna joined Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald as a first-year associate after having clerked at the firm as a summer associate. She also clerked for a Washington, D.C.-based immigration law firm where she managed all labor certification cases, including the preparation of case packets for filing with the Department of Labor.

Memberships

  • Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Construction Law – 2015
  • Virginia Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Construction Law – 2015
  • American Bar Association
  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • National Association of Women In Construction
    • Co-Chair, NAWIC Membership Committee – Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter
    • Director, NAWIC Board – Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter
  • Virginia State Bar
    • Board of Governors, Construction and Public Contracts Section
  • Virginia Women Attorneys Association

Speaking Engagements & Publications

  • Speaker: “Current Trends in P3 Project Delivery in the U.S. and Canada,” 95th Annual Meeting of Transportation Research Board, January 2016.
  • Author: “Engineer Is Sheltered From Shaky Foundation Lawsuit By Virginia’s Economic Loss Rule,” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Winter 2015.
  • Author: “Commercially Useful Function – Knowing and Avoiding DBE Fraud,” Modern Contractor Solutions, October 2015.
  • Speaker: “Use of Dispute Boards on Alternative Project Delivery Projects,” Dispute Resolution Board Foundation Annual Conference, October 2, 2015.
  • Author: “The Third Circuit Paves The Way For Reduced Damage Assessments Against DBE Contractors and Those Working with DBEs on Federally-Funded Highway Projects,” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Fall 2015.
  • Author: “DBE Contractors And Those Working with DBEs Travel A Treacherous Road on Federally-Funded Highway Projects,” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Summer 2015.
  • Speaker: “Current Trends in P3 Project Delivery,” Transportation Research Board 54th Annual Workshop on Transportation Law, July 21, 2015.
  • Speaker:“How to Prosecute and Defend Payment Bond Claims,” Virginia CLE 35th Annual Construction and Public Contracts Law Seminar, November 2014.
  • Author: “When the Surety’s Penal Sum Fails to Protect,” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Fall 2013.
  • Author: “In Federal Small Business Contracting, Size DOES Matter,” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Summer 2012.
  • Author: “An Instruction ‘Not to Worry’ About Contractual Change Order Procedures Should be a Red Flag,” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Winter 2011-2012.
  • Speaker: “Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations in Virginia,” Lorman Education Services, September 2007, 2008.
  • Author: “Does your Expert Engineer Need to Be Licensed to Testify on Your Own Behalf?” Estimating Today, Summer 2007.
  • Author: “Does your Expert Engineer Need to Be Licensed to Testify on Your Own Behalf?” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Spring 2007.
  • Author: “Attachment Order Not Valid on Breach of Contract Suit,” Construction Claims Advisor, Vol. 5, Issue 8, February 2007.
  • Author: “What is Subrogation And Should I Care?” Watt Tieder Newsletter, Fall 2006.
  • Author: “Faulty Cooling System Heats Up Indemnity Dispute,” Construction Claims Advisor, Vol. 4, Issue 35, September 2006.
  • Author: “Insurer & Insured Both Required to Exercise Good Faith,” Construction Claims Advisor, Vol. 4, Issue 27, July 2006.
  • Author: “Manufacturer Sues Competitor for Infringing on its Turf,” Construction Claims Advisor, Vol. 4, Issue 4, January 2006.

Areas of Practice

  • Construction
  • Surety

Education

  • Howard University, J.D., 2004
  • Merit Scholarship Recipient, 2001 and 2002
  • Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team
  • Washington Adventist University (formerly Columbia Union College), B.A., 2001, magna cum laude, History/Pre-Law

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia