Profile
Claire Harbert focuses her practice primarily on construction law, general civil litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution, in which she represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, fabricators, and owners in disputes arising from commercial, civil, industrial, and government projects—including procurement issues and bid protests. A large portion of her practice is also focused on personal injury litigation and insurance defense. She also has experience in commercial litigation matters, including those related to contract disputes, nonpayment collection, and noncompete agreements.
Prior to joining Naman Howell Smith & Lee in 2022, Claire served as general counsel for a construction company in Houston, Texas and practiced construction litigation as outside counsel. Claire previously served as a judicial clerk to both Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and Judge W. Kent Walston in the 58th Judicial District Court of Jefferson County. Claire also worked for Baylor University to establish Baylor in Washington D.C. by coordinating university events, acting as a lobbying group liaison, reengaging alumni, and creating Baylor’s internship policy program.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Representation of owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and fabricators defending and prosecuting a variety of different matters including contract disputes, EPC disputes, defect claims, lien and bond claims, scheduling claims, and payment disputes
- Representation of companies and individuals in various litigation matters, including personal injury litigation, transportation litigation, and commercial litigation
- Representation of construction companies to draft, revise and negotiate master service agreements, AIA contracts, prime contracts, design-build contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders
- Representation of companies providing pre-litigation assistance and small business advice on various legal matters including risks, rights, responsibilities, and proposed solutions
- Secured summary judgments on behalf of several contractors and suppliers exceeding $1 million
- Obtained temporary restraining order on behalf a materials supplier
- Obtained summary lien removal with an award of attorneys’ fees on behalf of general contractor
- Defended company against breach of contract claims by obtaining an award of death penalty sanctions
- Represented clients on appeal in the Texas intermediate courts of appeal
- Assisted in representation of subcontractor in electronic and paper document-intensive EPC disputes involving highly technical issues of quality control/quality assurance and schedule delays, as well as liquidated damages
Affiliations
Civic & Professional
State Bar of Texas, Construction Law Section
Baylor Law School Mock Trial Coach, Adjunct Faculty
Texas Young Lawyers Association
McLennan County Young Lawyers Association
Houston Livestock and Rodeo, Steer Auction Committee
News & Insights
News
Publications
“Texas Lien Laws – Pitfalls, Ethical Dilemmas, and Updates” Jefferson County Bar Association, May 2022
“How TCRP Amendments Are Affecting You” AM Monthly Law Alert, September 2021
“Termination! Will it Really Get You What You Want? (Maybe We’d Better Talk First),” State Bar of Texas
Construction Law Section’s Basic Course in Construction Law, December 2020
“Getting Served on Facebook?” AM Monthly Law Alert, September 2020
“COVID-19 Update in the Texas Supreme Court” AM Monthly Law Alert, August 2020
“Texas Lien Law & Collections,” North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, Dallas, Texas, November 2020
“Texas Lien and Bond Claims,” Private Client Seminar, Houston, TX, January 2020
“Highway Improvement and Public Transportation Improvement Plans,” AM Monthly Law Alert, October 2019
“HISD Trustees, Construction Contracts and Vendor Involvement Focus of Investigation,” AM Monthly Law Alert,
August 2019
(Contributing Author) Recent Court Opinions Concerning Construction Law, The Change Order , State Bar of
Texas Construction Law Section, March 2019
“Termination! Will It Really Get You What You Want? (Maybe We’d Better Talk First),” State Bar of Texas
Construction Law Section Conference, February 2019
“Cybersecurity from the Inside Out,” AM Monthly Law Alert, October 2018
Capabilities
Admissions
- State Bar of Texas, 2018
Education
Baylor University School of Law, J.D., 2018
- Mock Trial
- Moot Court
- Inns of Court
Baylor University, B.A. in Political Science and Criminal Justice, 2014
- cum laude
- Order of Omega
- Moot Court
- Kappa Kappa Gamma