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Spencer D. O’Dwyer

Senior Counsel

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Spencer’s practice is focused primarily on commercial litigation and professional liability cases involving construction, business, and contract disputes. His professional liability practice includes the defense of design firms, as well as individual architects and engineers, in civil lawsuits and disciplinary proceedings before professional licensing boards. Spencer also has experience representing design firms in collection matters in connection with claims for substantial unpaid fees for professional services rendered.

Prior to joining GRSM, Spencer worked 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. Spencer has an established track record of obtaining favorable results for clients through settlement, judgment, and arbitral award, including multiple successes arbitrating commercial cases from inception through evidentiary hearing before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

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, including coverage disputes, on behalf of his clients. Spencer has experience drafting a wide variety of contractual agreements, including design services agreements, shareholders’ agreements and note purchase agreements.  Finally, Spencer has experience handling both domestic probate and foreign estate proceedings, including will contests.

  • Obtaining a total of $2.75M from a rental car company and delivery company in settlement of a wrongful death case involving a fatal rear end collision on an interstate highway.
  • Obtaining an $800,000 settlement in a personal injury case involving a slip-and-fall at a D.C. restaurant resulting in serious bodily injuries.
  • Obtaining dismissal of a negligence case brought against a multinational home improvement retail corporation upon successfully arguing a motion to dismiss in a case involving the alleged defective installation of an appliance resulting in a gas leak.
  • Obtaining dismissal upon a motion to dismiss of a wrongful discharge case brought against a non-profit organization that provides advocacy and support for persons with disabilities.
  • Obtaining a $500,000 settlement in favor of an architecture firm for unpaid professional services fees.
  • Obtaining a $375,000 FINRA arbitral award against a brokerage firm in favor of a financial advisor in a breach of contract case.
  • 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. townhouse.
  • Obtaining a mutual dismissal on behalf of a residential homeowner sued by a general contractor for $385,000 in unpaid fees under a custom home construction contract.
  • 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 an AAA arbitral award in favor of a D.C. government contractor in a case involving the breach of a non-competition agreement.

Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland

Memberships

  • Maryland Bar Association
  • D.C. Defense Lawyers Association

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
  • B.S., Worcester State University

Honors

  • Super Lawyers® Rising Stars distinction in Business, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation: Defense, General Litigation, Professional Liability: Defense (2022-2024)