tcesar@pkec.law
818-751-2118
in
Partner
Tyler Cesar
Mr. Cesar has over a decade of experience in the construction industry, legal and non-legal, plus a civil engineering degree from USC. He is uniquely positioned to serve his construction clients by providing legal services with the added benefit of his technical and practical background. As a result, clients spend less time and money resolving their disputes.
He began his legal career as a construction litigator at K&L Gates LLP in Los Angeles, and then relocated to Orange County, where he joined the construction group at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP. K&L Gates was recently (2019) recognized among the top five construction law firms by Construction Executive. And Sheppard Mullin’s construction practice is consistently recognized in California by Chambers and Partners. While a team member of Sheppard Mullin’s construction practice, Mr. Cesar was also nominated and recognized as one of the Southern California Rising Stars, as published by Super Lawyers, for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Before becoming a lawyer, Mr. Cesar obtained a civil engineering degree from USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering (ranked top 10 by U.S. News & World Report, 2020). Following his passion for construction, he then joined S.J. Amoroso Construction, a public works general contractor based in California. Over the next three years, he helped manage and oversee the construction of multi-million-dollar public works construction projects throughout Los Angeles, including the renovation and expansion of the Griffith Observatory and a new Rampart Police Station (a high-profile project given its troubled past in Los Angeles). He has extensive personal experience dealing with long-term, complex contractual obligations involving multiple tiers of contracting parties and heavy government coordination and oversight.
He also has spent time in the trenches. Early on, as an intern and then project engineer, he personally managed the RFI process, change orders, construction directives, procurement, schedule updates, MEP coordination, inspections, utilities coordination, plan check, design changes, document and version control, QA/QC, safety inspections, as-builts, punchlist, close-out, and more.
Sustainability
Mr. Cesar also is experienced in sustainability. He was previously a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and helped architects and owners achieve LEED certification for their buildings.
Mr. Cesar uses this training and experience to give his clients a proven advantage in prosecuting and defending construction claims.
Honors and Awards
Recognized as Southern California Rising Star for 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, by Super Lawyers, as published in Los Angeles Magazine
Recognized among the Top Construction Lawyers in California by Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA)
Nominated and Select as Pathfinder Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
CALI and Witkin Awards for Highest Marks in Legal Writing & Research, Advanced Legal Research, and Negotiation and Settlement
Best Brief Award, Moot Court
Bar Admissions
State Bar of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Southern California
J.D., Cum Laude, University of California, Hastings College of the Law
Professional Background
Construction Counsel of California, PC – 2020 to present
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP – 2016 to 2020
K&L Gates LLP – 2013 to 2016
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Extern to Hon. Carlos T. Bea – 2012
California Supreme Court, Extern to Hon. Ming W. Chin – 2011
S.J. Amoroso Construction Company, Inc. – 2006 to 2009
Representative Matters
Represented general contractor in dispute against engineering firm arising out of design-build joint venture agreement regarding construction of heavy civil project (freeway expansion).
Represented publicly traded EPC contractor in payment dispute with developer on public land regarding construction and operation of solar power system.
Represented general contractor in dispute against Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) arising out of construction of elementary school.
Represented general contractor in dispute against electrical subcontractor involving delay and impact claims arising out of construction of a middle school for Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
Represented bridge builder in dispute with local county involving construction methods and delay events.
Represented HVAC subcontractor in bringing mechanic’s lien and breach of contract claims against building tenant and building owner.
Represented developer of multi-family residential apartment complex (over 250 units) in disputes with neighboring developer and general contractor, including orchestration of early contractor termination for default and breach and susequent favorable settlement of mechanic’s lien and breach of contract claims.
Represented foreign contractor regarding claims against the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, resulting in $12.5 million settlement for contractor on the eve of trial.
Represented homeowner against general contractor and subcontractors regarding delays and defects to high-end luxury home construction.
Credentials
Community Involvement
Board Member, Associate Board, Project Youth OCBF, 2017 to present
Board Member, Libertas College Preparatory Charter School, 2015 to 2016
Professional Memberships
California Lawyers Association
American Bar Association (ABA), Forum on Construction Law
Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA), Top Construction Lawyers
Associated General Contractors of California (AGC of California)
Diversity Law Institute
Trial Law Institute