Bradley L. Croft

Overview

Bradley Croft is President of the firm, Chair of the firm's Executive Committee, and Chair of the Litigation Department. He concentrates his practice on complex business matters in the areas of construction, real estate, partnership disputes, and general commercial law. In his 28 years as a trial attorney, Brad has represented clients in a wide variety of matters, including construction claims, general commercial disputes, partnership disputes, land use litigation and zoning appeals, employment matters, condominium cases, and tort claims. He has tried cases before judges, juries and arbitration panels in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Brad has argued and won appeals before the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Brad is a recognized leader among Massachusetts litigation and construction lawyers. He was named a “2022 Lawyer of the Year” by the editorial board of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly based on two landmark decisions he argued and won in 2022.  He has been named a Best Lawyer by Best Lawyers in America every year since 2014 and was selected as the 2015 Massachusetts Construction Lawyer of the Year, the only lawyer in Massachusetts to receive this honor. Brad served as co-chair of the Litigation Section of the Boston Bar Association, which has over 2,500 members, and was a past chair of the BBA Construction Law Committee and Steering Committees for both the litigation and real estate sections. Brad was named a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America and was the recipient of the 2021 Leaders in Law Global Award as the Massachusetts Construction Law Expert of the Year.

In his construction practice, Brad represents owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in all aspects of construction transactions and disputes. Brad’s clients rely on his experience and expertise to draft and negotiate all types of contracts relating to construction projects and to resolve construction and real estate disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation in state and federal courts. Recently, Brad secured a multi-million dollar judgment under the Massachusetts Prompt Payment Act, the first time that law was enforced by a Massachusetts court. He subsequently successfully argued the appeal and the case is now settled law in Massachusetts.

ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

• Boston Bar Association
  • Co-Chair, Litigation Section (2012 - 2014)
  • Chair, Construction Law Committee (2009 - 2012)
  • Member, Litigation Steering Committee (2009 - 2014)
  • Member, Real Estate Steering Committee (2009 - 2012)
• American Bar Association
  • ABA Forum on Construction Industry, Steering Committee Member Division 6, Construction Workplace Management and Human Resources (2009 - 2013)
  • Construction Law section
• Massachusetts Building Congress
• Construction Finance Management Association
• Swampscott Zoning Board of Appeals

HONORS & AWARDS

• Recognized by Boston Magazine as a Top Construction Lawyer (2024, 2023, 2022)
• Selected by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a 2022 Lawyer of the Year
• Construction Law Expert of the Year, Lawyer International's Legal 100 2022 Awards
• Construction Law Expert of the Year in Massachusetts, 2022 Lawyer Network Annual Awards
• 2015 Massachusetts Construction Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America
• Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2005
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers Top 100 List, 2023-2024
• Avvo, 10.0 “Superb” rating
• Named “Construction Law Expert of the Year in Massachusetts” for 2021 by Leaders in Law
• Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America

Publications

• The Prompt Payment Act: The High Stakes of Noncompliance, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, (July 2024)
• Massachusetts Prompt Payment Act: Why Every Owner and Contractor Should Pay Attention to the SJC’s Decision in Business Interiors v. Graycor, (June 2024)
• Appeals Court Issues Important Clarification of its Recent Prompt Payments Decision, (June 2022)
• RIW Construction Group Wins Appeal Under Massachusetts Prompt Repayment Act, (June 2022)
• Massachusetts Construction Projects: Full Steam Ahead?, (March 2020)
• 4 Ways Contractors Can “Stay Out of the Weeds” When Building a Cannabis Facility or Retail Store, (February 2017)
• 50 Ways to Leave Your Subcontractor, (February 2015)
• Quoted, front page article: Mass. Subcontractors Get Some Help with New Construction Law, Boston Business Journal (August 2014)
• Featured and quoted, front page article: Workers' Comp Amendment Creates Private Right of Action, Mass Lawyers Weekly (November 22, 2010)
• Prompt Pay Act: RIP Pay-If-Paid?, New England Real Estate Journal (October 2010)
• Featured and quoted: Legislation Promises Big Changes for Construction Bar, Clients, Mass Lawyers Weekly (August 30, 2010)
• Strategies to Help General Contractors Avoid Litigation, Mass Lawyers Journal (August 2010)
• How and When to Build Your Business, At Your Service (May 2010)
• Quoted, Construction case to impact lawsuits against developers in Massachusetts, Mass Lawyers Weekly (November 23, 2009)
• Quoted, "Non-client can't sue lawyer over bad deal" Mass Lawyers Weekly (November 2, 2009)
• Breaking up is hard to do: Terminating an under performing subcontractor isn't always simple, New England Real Estate Journal (October 30, 2009)
• Sense vs. Cents: What answer is the right answer?, New England Real Estate Journal (March 6, 2009)

Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, MCLE: Negotiating a Construction Contract (June 2024)
• Guest, Legal Judg(e)ments Podcast: The Golden Rule, Discussing Recent Cases Addressing the Massachusetts Prompt Payment Act (February 2024)
• Chair and Panelist, MCLE: Understanding & Negotiating Commercial Construction Contracts (November 2022)
• Panelist, MCLE: Construction Claims, Disputes & Litigation (May 2022)
• Panelist, MCLE: Negotiating a Construction Contract (June 2021)
• Panelist, Association of General Contractors of Massachusetts: Prompt Payment Act After Tocci v. IRIV (January 2021)
• Panelist, MCLE: Standard Form Construction Contracts (May 2017)
• Panelist and Chair, MCLE: The 25 Critical Cases Every Construction Lawyer Must Know (June 2016)
• Moderator, BISNOW: Construction Innovations & The Build Environment: Construction Trends Around the World & Boston’s Development Environment (March 2016)
• Panelist, MCLE: Top 25 Critical Cases Every Real Estate Litigation, Title, Land Use & Environmental Lawyer Must Know (February 2016)
• Presented, Strafford: Construction Contracts webinar (August 2015)
• Speaking, BISNOW: Boston Retail: The Impact of the Ground Floor & What Tenants Want (July 2015)
• Panelist, MCLE: The 25 Critical Cases that Every Real Estate Lawyer Should Know (February 2014)
• Co-Chair, BBA CLE: Ethical Witness Preparation: Drawing Difficult Lines (November 2013)
• Panelist, Real Estate Bar Association: Basics of Mechanics Liens (October 2012)
• Panelist, MCLE: Dirty, Defective & Problematic Properties & Buildings (September 2011)
• Chair and Panelist, MCLE: Lien Law & Prompt Pay Update 2011 (June 2011)
• Panelist, MCLE: Contract Disputes and Litigation (February 2011) Chair and
• Panelist, MCLE: Massachusetts New Prompt Pay Construction Law (October 2010)
• Moderator, Massachusetts Building Congress Program: Massachusetts Prompt Pay Law (September 23, 2010)
• Moderator, BBA Program: Recent Changes in Massachusetts Construction Law (September 2010)
• Co-moderator, BBA Program: Current Trends in Construction Mediation (February 24, 2009)