Our Lawyers

Donald R. Cruver, Founder/Of Counsel

Don Cruver’s four decade career in the global engineering and construction industries has included (1) private law practice (as the Firm’s founder and former managing partner), (2) senior legal and management positions in the United States and abroad with leading international engineering and construction organizations, and (3) the regional presidency of a major construction claims and project management consulting firm. Throughout this period he has regularly dealt with the complex commercial transactions and compliance issues inherent in international engineering and construction operations, and served as a senior advisor to, and lead negotiator for, executive managements, corporate boards and founding entrepreneurs. He has also served as an officer and director of corporate subsidiaries, as well as a director of non-profit community service organizations. Don received his undergraduate degree in government from Wesleyan University and his law degree from New York University School of Law. He has also done postgraduate work in corporate law at New York University School of Law, in international and comparative law at London School of Economics, in international business management at Boston University School of Management, and is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s advanced management program.

A holder of the highest peer review rating (AV), Don is an active member of the Texas and American bar associations, and has also been an active member of the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Houston bar associations. He has also served as an author and lecturer for the American Bar Association, the Rice Global E&C Forum, the Houston Bar Association, the American Institute of Architects, the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association, the Houston World Trade Association, the Society for Marketing Professional Services, Professional Education Systems, Matthew Bender legal publishers, and Wiley Law Publications. Don’s chapter on “Petroleum and Petrochemical Projects” in Wiley’s Project Formbook is a basic industry reference, and his book Complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, published by the American Bar Association, remains a basic resource for those doing business in the international marketplace.

Don has lived abroad, has on-the-ground project experience in 70 countries, and has also served as an executive consultant, testifying expert witness, mediator and project neutral in connection with large, complex engineering, procurement and construction projects.

• 1989 – Pennsylvania
• 1975 – Texas
• 1973 – U.S. Supreme Court
• 1968 – District of Columbia
• 1968 – U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
• 1968 – U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia

• Drafting and negotiation of engineering, procurement, construction and other project-related contracts
• Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Export Administration Act compliance
• Business formation outside the United States
• Construction claims
• Purchase and/or sale of engineering and construction businesses
• Drafting and negotiation of project-related licensing and technology contracts
• Corporate law

• 1981 – Graduate, University of Chicago Advanced Management Program
• 1972-74 – Boston University School of Management
• 1970-71 – London School of Economics and Political Science
• 1968 – New York University School of Law Graduate Division
• 1967 – J.D., New York University School of Law
• 1963 – B.A., Wesleyan University

• Member, State Bar of Texas
• Member, American Bar Association, Business Law and Construction Law Sections