Robert F. Carney

Robert F. Carney

PARTNER
COLUMBIA
T: 410.347.8726
F: 410.223.3726

Mr. Carney regularly represents national and local owners, hospital systems, continuing care retirement communities, developers, community associations, general contractors, and specialty contractors in all aspects of construction law, including contract drafting and negotiation, government contracting, contract performance advice, claims analysis, alternate dispute resolution, mechanic's liens, construction defect and warranty claims, and construction litigation.

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Construction, Maryland (2022-Present)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Columbia Construction Law and Litigation - Construction (2021-present) Real Estate Law and Litigation - Real Estate (2025); Baltimore Construction Law and Litigation - Construction (2010–2020); Construction Law and Litigation - Construction "Lawyer of the Year" (2016)
  • Maryland Super Lawyers®, Construction Litigation, Construction/Surety (2013–2022, 2025)
  • AV®: Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Member: ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
  • Member: Associated General Contractors
  • Member: ABA Public Law Section
  • Chambers and Partners Designation

Construction Contract Preparation and Negotiation

  • Regularly represents institutional and developer clients in drafting and negotiating contracts in the amount of $100,000 to $300 million with cumulative value in excess of $3 billion
  • Drafting and negotiating design-build energy modernization and co-generation contracts and leases
  • Drafted and negotiated over one thousand design and construction contracts in each project delivery system and contracting methodology
  • Broad experience in the analysis, presentation, and defense of time extension, delay, and labor productivity claims and requests for equitable adjustment with cumulative settlement value over $75 million


Construction and Real Estate Litigation

  • Successful representation of clients in mechanic's lien action involving novel legal issues
  • Successful representation of community associations in various litigation matters including alleged fraud, warranty and defect claims, and breach of fiduciary duty
  • Jury and bench trial and ADR experience
 

Alternative Dispute Resolution in Constructions Disputes

  • Successful resolution of over one hundred cases in mediation
  • Successful resolution of cases in arbitration before different arbitration providers
INSIGHTS

Author of Chapter 2 "Contracting Methodologies and Project Delivery Systems" of the Maryland Construction Law Deskbook

Regular Author and Presenter at various seminars for construction design professional education

Regular Author and Presenter at various seminars for continuing legal education

Author of Maryland Chapter of Fifty State Construction Lien and Bond Law

ARTICLES

Control Your Board Meetings

There are many circumstances under which litigation can arise between members of a community association and the community association or its board of directors.  One tactic employed by members who are litigating with or otherwise adverse to the interests of the community association is to disrupt the open meetings of the association by having the member’s attorney attend the open board meetings as a “designee,” “proxy,” or “representative.”  This article addresses how a board of directors responds to the attendance of an attorney representing an adverse party at its board meeting.


A Record 87 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024, Ten Selected as “Ones to Watch”

87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.

Chambers Honors Whiteford in 14 Practice Areas

Whiteford is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2023 list of leading firms and business lawyers.

73 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2023, Six Selected as “Lawyer of the Year”

73 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 (copyright 2022 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

Chambers Honors Whiteford in 14 Practice Areas

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has once again ranked the firm highly in its 2022 list of leading firms and business lawyers. This year’s recognition includes 29 attorneys in 14 practice areas at the National and State level.

43 Whiteford Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that forty-three of its attorneys are listed among the 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in D.C., Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

75 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2022, Eight Named “Ones to Watch”

A record 75 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 (copyright 2021 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

48 Whiteford Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that forty-eight of its attorneys are listed among the 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in D.C., Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia

71 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

A record 71 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

U.S. News Awards Top-Tier Rankings to 46 Whiteford Practices, Including 18 Nationally

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that U.S. News and World Report - Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm exemplary rankings for 2019.  Eighteen of the firm’s practices are ranked at the national level, including two practices with national Tier 1 rankings:  Litigation and Bankruptcy.  At the state level, an additional forty-six practices have been ranked in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and VA.

57 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2019, Four Named "Lawyer of the Year"

57 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019 (copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site.

59 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2018, Two Named "Lawyer of the Year"

59 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018 (copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

In addition, two lawyers were selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for their particular areas of practice.


59 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2017, Eight Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Fifty-nine lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017 (copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, eight lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” for their particular areas of practice. 


63 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Four Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty-three lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015 (copyright 2014 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, four lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in the Baltimore region for their particular areas of practice.


Fifty-Four Whiteford Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in Maryland

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that 54 of its Maryland-based attorneys are listed among the 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

The firm is particularly proud of the young lawyers who are recognized as “Rising Stars” and the three partners who received special recognition -- Edward Buxbaum and Dwight Stone in the Top 100, and Mary Claire Chesshire in the Top 50 Women.


61 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America; Nine Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty-one lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014 (copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices, including the firm's new Roanoke office.

In addition, nine lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in their jurisdictions and areas of practice.


Sixty-Four Whiteford Attorneys Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that 64 of its attorneys are listed among the 2013 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in three states.

The firm is particularly proud of the young lawyers who are recognized as “Rising Stars”; the four partners who are listed in the Top 100 in Maryland – Edward Buxbaum, Edwin Fee, William Ryan, and Dwight Stone; and the 16 who are named for the first time this year.


60 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America Five Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 (copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.).

This represents an increase of seven over last year.  The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, five lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in their jurisdictions and areas of practice.


Harborview Condominium Wins Summary Judgment In Clark v. Zalco Realty, Inc.

On April 9, 2012, Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill released his opinion granting summary judgment to the unit owners of Harborview Condominium and Zalco Realty, Inc., the condominium’s property management company.  The plaintiff had claimed $2.5 million in compensatory damages and an additional $2.5 million in punitive damages.


Whiteford, Taylor & Preston to Host Hot Topics in Construction Seminar on April 22

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP will host a construction-related business topics and trends seminar on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute (692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD 21092). The keynote speaker, Maryland's Deputy Secretary of Transportation Beverley Swaim-Staley, will discuss preparing for BRAC, the Intercounty Connector, transit-oriented development, and MDOT's outlook on the economy and construction. Other presenters include WTP attorneys Robert F. Carney, Martha L. Perkins, and Michael A. Stover.

175+ Contractors and Developers Attend WTP's Building with BRAC Breakfast

Over 175 contractors, developers and government officials attended Whiteford, Taylor & Preston's inaugural BRAC Breakfast Briefing, Building with BRAC, on June 18, 2007.  Headlined by Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, the construction-focused event at the Maryland Maritime Institute featured presentations by attorneys Robert F. Carney, Heather A. James, Edward U. Lee, and Michael A. Stover.

"It was one of the most informative BRAC sessions I've attended," noted one of the attendees from the construction industry.