Mayor Shirley Franklin and City Attorney Linda DiSantis announced today that the Atlanta law firms of Kilpatrick Stockton and Johnson & Freeman have been selected to assist the City Law Department on legal matters related to the $5.4 billion Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport expansion. The Hartsfield-Jackson Development Program (HDP) is a ten-year project that includes the construction of a fifth runway; a new international terminal; enhanced road and rail access; additional parking facilities and new rental car facilities.
Mayor Franklin said, “The expansion of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is critical for Atlanta, the southeast region and the airline industry as a whole. Kilpatrick Stockton and Johnson & Freeman will bring additional expertise to our team and help us ensure that this project meets all legal requirements and is successful.”
Linda DiSantis added, “We are looking forward to working closely with the construction lawyers at Kilpatrick Stockton and Johnson & Freeman to enhance the legal services provided to the city and the airport. Our goal is to provide expert advice and counsel throughout all phases of the project. Kilpatrick Stockton has considerable expertise in large public works construction projects, including the notable Boston Harbor project. They will add depth and resources to the internal Law Department resources. Johnson and Freeman will round out the team with their experience and resources.”
Ben DeCosta, the Aviation General Manager, said, "The engagement of Kilpatrick Stockton and Johnson & Freeman is a critical step in ensuring the progress and success of one of the largest construction projects in the country. With an endeavor of this magnitude, we must address significant legal issues and I am pleased to have the resources and counsel of the Law Department and the City Attorney."
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP is a full-service law firm composed of more than 475 lawyers and serves clients around the world. The Construction Law and Public Contracts Practice Group of Kilpatrick Stockton is a nationally recognized team of attorneys with more than 100 years of experience in construction and public contracts law. The attorneys are leaders in dealing with complex construction matters throughout the United States and overseas. They focus exclusively on construction-related issues, the group has a vast amount of experience in virtually every type of construction project, including wastewater treatment plants, airports, tunnels, prisons, hospitals, office buildings, sports arenas, schools, hotels and resorts, power plants and industrial facilities.
Johnson & Freeman’s mission statement involves the representation of public entities in construction related matters. Ronald Freeman and Clarence Johnson have both devoted a substantial part of their professional careers to working for and representing public owners. They are committed to providing legal counsel on construction projects from the procurement phase through project closeout.