Amy Joseph Coles

CO-CHAIR, PITTSBURGH OFFICE

Amy Joseph Coles is a Chambers-ranked construction and energy litigator who represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, oil and gas companies, pipeline companies, and other industry participants in complex disputes involving major infrastructure and industrial projects. She handles litigation and arbitration arising from engineering, procurement, and construction projects; power generation and gas processing facilities; construction contracts; project delays and disruptions; professional negligence; regulatory and permitting matters; and other commercial conflicts.

Amy has represented clients in state and federal courts and in arbitrations throughout the United States and abroad. Her experience includes disputes involving petrochemical processing facilities, power plants, air separation plants, natural gas processing facilities, and other large-scale construction and energy projects.

She has also represented banks, financial services providers, healthcare corporations, manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies in state and federal cases, as well as in arbitrations.

In all areas of her practice, Amy prides herself on superb client service and prioritizing her client’s practical needs and goals throughout the litigation process.

Construction and Energy Dispute Experience

• Engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) contract disputes
• Project delay, disruption, and cost claims
• Construction defects
• Professional negligence
• Regulatory, zoning, and permitting matters
• Power generation and gas processing projects
• Domestic and international arbitration

Thought Leadership

Amy frequently writes on litigation matters, including:

• Co-author, “Audit Provisions in Private Construction Contracts: Which Costs Are Subject to Audit, Who Bears the Expense of the Audit, and Who Has the Burden of Proof on Audit Claims?” Journal of the American College of Construction Lawyers, Summer 2012.
• Author, “Contractors Beware,” Building & Bonding: The Construction Group Newsletter, Fall 2008.
• Co-Author, Design-Build Deskbook, 4th Edition.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Court Rules HMO Compensation Formula and Data Are Confidential Trade Secrets,” Health Law Monitor, Fall 2002, Vol. VII.

Amy previously served as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Gary L. Lancaster of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. While in law school, she was the managing editor of the Journal of Law and Commerce.

• 2026, Construction Law, listed in Chambers USA
• 2027, Financial Services Regulation Law, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
• 2027, Litigation – Construction, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
• 2026–2027, Construction Law, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
• 2023–2027, Commercial Litigation, listed in Best Lawyers in America©
• 2025, “Woman of Influence,” listed in the Pittsburgh Business Times
• 2023, “20 People to Know in Law,” listed in the Pittsburgh Business Times
• 2013–2026, Pennsylvania “Super Lawyer” in Construction Litigation, listed in Super Lawyers
• 2007–2008, 2010–2012, “Pennsylvania Rising Star,” listed in Super Lawyers
• 2015, “Lawyer on the Fast Track,” listed in The Legal Intelligencer