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Darren G. Rowles
Partner / Atlanta | Washington, D.C.Darren G. Rowles is a Partner in the Construction Practice, Energy Practice, and Entertainment and Sports Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
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Full Bio
Mr. Rowles represents clients in all aspects of civil and construction litigation, including depositions and discovery, motion practice, arbitration, and trial. He has significant experience drafting and reviewing design and construction contracts and providing advice in connection with contract administration and conflict avoidance for a wide array of construction projects. He also assists clients with environmental due diligence matters, particularly with respect to the redevelopment of environmentally impacted property.
Prior to law school, Mr. Rowles was an environmental/civil engineer at the United States Army Corps of Engineers, MWH, and Malcolm Pirnie (the Water Division of ARCADIS). His engineering experience includes providing design and construction management services for water and wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater collection systems and water distribution systems throughout the southeastern United States.
Mr. Rowles served as a founding officer of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. He also serves as counsel for the Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA), a construction trade association representing the underground utility construction industry. He has lectured on various topics, including changes to significant provisions in various industry form contracts as well as various project delivery methods, including design, bid, build; construction manager at risk; design-build; and integrated project delivery.
In addition to his Construction law practice, Mr. Rowles represents clients in the entertainment business, including producers and production companies in sports television and advertising. His experience includes negotiating agreements with partners, television networks, and broadcasters. Mr. Rowles is also experienced with the administration of such agreements, conflict avoidance, and the resolution of disputes.
Mr. Rowles received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Tulane University in 2001. In 2008, he received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia, where he was an Editorial Board Member and Notes Editor for the Journal of Intellectual Property Law.
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Bar Admissions
Georgia
Georgia State Courts -
Education
Undergraduate- Tulane University
Law School- University of Georgia
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Recognitions
Chambers USA, Construction - Georgia (2023, 2024, 2025)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Atlanta, Construction Law (2021-2026)
Georgia Trend - Legal Elite (2017)
Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Star Construction (2014-2019) -
Publications and Speaking Engagements
“Issues and Solutions in International Construction Contracting,” The American Journal of Construction Arbitration & ADR, Vol. 2, No. 1, May 2018.
“Open Discussion about Contracting,” Roundtable Discussion Leader, 2015 GUCA Annual Conference.
Publish Monthly Article on various legal topics for GUCA News Magazine (2014 – present).
“LEED Building Ordinances for Local Governments,” University of Georgia Land Use Clinic, Fall 2007.
“Don’t Crap Out with the Lien Law” Roundtable Discussion Leader, 2014 GUCA Annual Conference.
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SGR Publications
- New Law Reduces Retainage of Georgia Public Construction Projects
- A Century Later: Implied Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing Still Going Strong
- New York Introduces Joint and Several Liability for Prime Contractors and Subcontractors for Unpaid Wage Claims
- Ditch Your Old Lien Waiver Forms Owners and contractors in Georgia face new risks under new law
- Georgia Contractors Forfeit Contract Rights if Performing Work While Unlicensed
- Georgia Bar Construction Project
- Does Georgia’s Stay-at-Home Order Apply to Construction Projects?
- Georgia’s Court of Appeals Holds that Lien Waivers Waive Breach of Contract Claims
- Letter Agreements: Risks, Purpose, and What to Include
- House Bill 311 – Seeking Limitations on Sovereign Immunity
- Hands-Free Georgia Act and Restriction on Police Power to Obtain Cellphone Data
- Georgia’s New Distracted Driving Law
- Construction Contract Clauses: An Intro to Pay-if-Paid vs. Pay-when-Paid
- A Primer on Keeping and Maintaining a Good Daily Diary
- President Trump’s Buy American and Hire American Order
- The Importance of Retaining Evidence of Receipt
- Responding to False, Inaccurate, and Misleading Statements in Business Letters
- Constructive Change: A Claim by Any Other Name
- Is Your Company’s Drug Testing Policy Compliant with OSHA’s New Rules?
- Will a Duty to Inspect the Site Adversely Affect a Differing Site Conditions Claim?
- Differing Site Conditions: What Are They and Are You Protected?
- The Spearin Doctrine Cont’d: Some Important Nuances and Exceptions
- Contractors Bear the Burden for Costs to Repair
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium Fly-Through: Watch It
- The Spearin Doctrine: Determining Who Bears the Construction Risk of Design Errors
- AIA Additions and Deletions Report May Be More Important Than You Think
- Georgia Lien Law: How much time do I really have to file a Lien Action?
- Effective Immediately: Brand New Mississippi Lien Laws
- New Atlanta Falcons Stadium Approved by GWCC
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Press
- Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP’s Construction Group Receives Nationwide Ranking in Chambers USA 2025 Guide
- 42 Smith Gambrell Attorneys and 20 Practice Areas Recognized by Chambers USA 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 105 SGR Attorneys in 2025 Edition
- SGR’s Construction Group Receives Nationwide Ranking in Chambers USA 2024 Guide
- 42 SGR Attorneys and 19 SGR Practice Areas Recognized by Chambers USA 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America® Recognizes 102 SGR Attorneys in 2024 Edition
- Chambers USA Guide 2023 Recognizes 44 SGR Attorneys and 18 SGR Practice Areas Among the Best in the Country
- Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 91 SGR Attorneys in 2023 Edition
- Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 66 SGR Attorneys in 2022 Edition
- Smith, Gambrell & Russell Represents Ruby-Collins, Inc. in Acquisition of Southern Horizontal
- Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes 63 SGR Attorneys in 2021
- SGR Attorneys Named to 2019 Georgia Super Lawyers List
- Smith, Gambrell & Russell Elects 4 Attorneys to Partnership
- SGR Attorneys Named to 2017 Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists