Scott Cahalan is a part time lecturer in the School of Building Construction, where he currently teaches Real Estate Development Law and previously taught Design and Construction Law. Scott has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering from Iowa State University.  Scott is also a partner and practicing attorney in the Construction Law Section of the law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP in Atlanta.  Scott’s practice generally consists of drafting and negotiating all types of design and construction contracts, providing advice during the construction process, and resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, and litigation.  Before law school, Scott worked as an engineer at Green Construction, Inc. a general contractor that specialized in heavy, highway, and industrial construction projects. He has experience in estimating, scheduling, cost accounting, and project management.

Statement of Teaching Interest:

Scott teaches design law, construction law, and real estate development law.  Scott has been a construction attorney for more than 30 years.  Before becoming a lawyer, Scott worked for 6 years as a project engineer with an Engineering News Record top 50 general contractor on a wide range of infrastructure projects, including water and wastewater treatment facilities, dams, and a large zinc mining facility. 

Statement of Research Interest:

Scott is a frequent author and speaker on legal issues important to the construction industry.

List of Recent Scholarly Work:

Implied Contract Obligations: Owner’s Implied Warranty of Design v. Contractor’s Implied Warranty of Inquiry, RInPrax” Law Journal on Industrial and Infrastructure Projects, (Verlag C.H. Beck GmbH & Co. 4/2025)

Constructive Changes, Underground Connection (Mar. 2025)

Clause for Concern: Unilateral Option Clauses in Arbitration Agreements, Underground Connection (Nov. 2024)

Beyond the Wall: A Contractor’s Right of Recovery for Acts of Government Depends on Public, Private and Contractual Concerns” Trust the Leaders 2, Vol. 5 (2021)

Degrees with Year of Award:

J.D. University of Georgia, 1994
B.S. (Construction Engineering) Iowa State University, 1984