Meredith A. Jones-McKeown

Meredith Jones-McKeown is a trial attorney specializing in construction, environmental, government contracts and real estate litigation.

Areas of Practice

In 2011, Ms. Jones-McKeown was named a "Rising Star" by Northern California Super Lawyers.  Ms. Jones-McKeown has also been ranked by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as an "Up and Coming" Lawyer in California Construction, which noted: “[Meredith Jones-McKeown is an] up-and-comer, noted for her tenacity [and] an excellent command over the facts of a case as they apply to the law.”

Ms. Jones-McKeown litigates complex commercial matters, with particular emphasis on litigation arising out of private and public construction projects, real estate disputes, Proposition 65 and environmental clean-up actions.  She has successfully tried cases in state and federal court as well as private arbitration.

Education

• J.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2004
• B.A., Columbia College, Columbia University, 2000, cum laude

Clerkships

• Extern to the Honorable Susan Illston, United States District Court, Northern District of California

Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of California
• Ninth Circuit

Representative Matters

• Trial counsel in AAA arbitration representing general contractor in claims arising out of delayed construction project.  With more than $22 million in dispute, defeated respondent’s $16 million cross-claim and obtained victory (95% recovery) on behalf of claimant.  Obtained $1.5 million attorney’s fees award.
• Trial counsel representing manufacturer against CERCLA and NRDA claims in Superfund clean-up action in Oregon.
• Trial counsel in AAA arbitration arising out of termination for default by utility company of EPC contractor on project to construct a power generating facility in Alaska, resulting in favorable settlement during trial.
• Lead trial counsel representing owner in plaintiff-side disgorgement claim (B&P § 7031) against general contractor.  Obtained favorable settlement from insurance carrier immediately prior to ruling on motion for summary judgment.  Defeated all affirmative claims.
• Trial counsel in state court bench trial on multi-million dollar land use dispute, resulting in favorable settlement agreement mid-trial.
• Trial counsel representing public owner against general contractor’s $5 million claims.  Obtained terminating sanctions that fully disposed of claims based on general contractor's persistent discovery abuses.
• Represented manufacturers and retailers in Proposition 65 matters regarding products containing propoxur, cadmium, or other chemicals.

Honors

• Northern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2011