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Spencer D. O'Dwyer

Associate

ATTORNEYS

202.530.8112 (O)
sdo@mcshanepc.com
spencer.jpg
EDUCATION
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
B.S., Worcester State University

ADMISSIONS
Maryland, Massachusetts, and District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Maryland Bar Association
D.C. Defense Lawyers Association


AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Super Lawyers Rising Star List, 2022 & 2023

Since joining McShane, P.C. in September 2020, Spencer has focused his practice on commercial litigation and professional liability cases involving construction, employment, and contract disputes. His professional liability practice includes the defense of design firms as well as individual architects, engineers, and surveyors. Spencer's practice includes the defense of design professionals in disciplinary proceedings before professional licensing boards. Spencer also occasionally represents design firms in collection matters in connection with claims for substantial unpaid fees for professional services rendered.

 

Prior to joining McShane, P.C., Spencer worked for 5 years in the litigation department at the D.C. office of an internationally-focused general practice law firm, representing individual and organizational clients from across the globe involved in litigation, arbitration, and mediation before U.S. state and federal courts, agencies, and arbitral tribunals. Spencer's prior practice focused primarily on commercial and employment lawsuits, and he has an established track record of obtaining favorable results for clients through settlement, judgment, and arbitral award.

For example, Spencer has multiple successes arbitrating commercial cases from inception through evidentiary hearing before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and has recovered substantial settlements on behalf of clients involved in commercial litigation, employment discrimination, and personal injury/wrongful death lawsuits.

 

Spencer also regularly represents clients in connection with transactional matters, including contract negotiations for professional architectural and engineering services. As part of his work in corporate and transactional matters, Spencer has successfully handled general liability and life insurance claims and coverage disputes on behalf of his clients. Spencer has experience drafting a variety of contractual agreements, including shareholders' agreements and note purchase agreements, and consistently provides concise legal opinions on a variety of client issues. Finally, Spencer has experience handling both domestic probate and foreign estate proceedings, including will contests.

Spencer's experience includes:

Obtaining a $500,000.00 settlement in favor of an architecture firm for unpaid professional services fees.

Obtaining summary judgment on a negligence per se claim asserted against a structural engineering firm in connection with the design of underpinning of a party wall in a Washington, D.C. rowhouse.

Obtaining a mutual dismissal on behalf of a homeowner sued by a general contractor for $385,000.00 in unpaid fees under a custom home construction contract.

Obtaining a $375,000.00 FINRA arbitral award against a brokerage firm in favor of a financial advisor in a breach of contract case.

Obtaining a federal declaratory judgment in favor of a London-based investment company with respect to its ownership of an internet domain name that had been fraudulently sold to a bona fide purchaser.

Obtaining a $100,000.00 settlement on behalf of an employee in a breach of contract case.

Obtaining a $70,000.00 settlement on behalf of a technology company in a breach of contract case.

Obtaining an AAA arbitral award in favor of a D.C. government contractor in a case involving the breach of a non-competition agreement.

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