W. Alan Torrance, Jr.

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W. Alan Torrance, Jr.: Attorney with Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C.
Attorney Awards
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating
About Attorney Awards

Biography

W. Alan Torrance, Jr. is a shareholder and Marketing Director of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and Co-Chair of the Construction Law Group . He concentrates his practice in the areas of business torts and commercial litigation with a particular emphasis in construction and surety law.

His experience includes representation of owners, contractors, design professionals, suppliers, and sureties in private and publicly-funded projects. He has prosecuted mechanic’s lien claims in ten states and Canada and regularly prosecutes and defends claims for contract funds, change orders, labor inefficiencies, delays, and other direct and indirect costs. In addition, he frequently prepares and revises contracts for domestic and international projects. He has served as both an arbitrator and mediator of construction disputes involving owners, design professionals, and contractors.

Mr. Torrance is Dickie McCamey’s Marketing Director overseeing more than 190 lawyers throughout 10 states and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee.

Professional Accomplishments

•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2002
•The Best Lawyers in America : 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Construction Law for Pittsburgh
•The Best Lawyers in America since 2009: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation - Construction
•Pennsylvania Super Lawyers 2011-2024

Speaking Engagements

•“Understanding Mechanic’s Liens” (Speaker), The DMC Report Podcast Series, 2/14/2024
•“Indemnitors’ Affirmative Claims and Defenses in Relation to the Surety’s Rights of Indemnity” (Speaker); Surety Claims Institute Annual Meeting; Cambridge, Maryland; 6/23/2023
•“Effective Use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) at Mediation and at Trial” (Speaker); Eastern Bond Claims Review; 5/22/2023
•“The Tragedy in Surfside” (Speaker), Construction Law Podcast, The DMC Report Podcast Series, 7/13/2021
•“Builder Legal Update: The New Mechanic’s Lien Statute & the Recent Biltrite Decision” (Co-Presenter); Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh; 4/24/2007

Publications

•“Exculpatory Clauses: Will Pennsylvania Courts Permit Owners to Convert Terminations for Default into Terminations for Convenience? ” (Co-Author), BreakingGround magazine, March/April 2023, pp. 50-51
•“The Surety’s Guide to ‘BIM’ - An Overview and Considerations for the Surety” (Contributing Author), Eastern Bond Claims Review, May 2023
•“ Assignability of Statutory Bad Faith Claims: Pennsylvania Rulings May Have Far-Reaching Consequences ” (Co-Author), Claims Management magazine, Dec. 2014, Issue 12, Vol. 3, 2014 Bad Faith Supplement, p. S-4
•“ Legal Fundamentals in a Growing Economy ” (Author), BreakingGround magazine, July/Aug. 2013, pp. 37-38
•“ Design-Build Procurement in Pennsylvania? - Sometimes ” (Author), BreakingGround magazine, Jan./Feb. 2012, pp. 37-39

Publications

•“Exculpatory Clauses: Will Pennsylvania Courts Permit Owners to Convert Terminations for Default into Terminations for Convenience? ” (Co-Author), BreakingGround magazine, March/April 2023, pp. 50-51
•“The Surety’s Guide to ‘BIM’ - An Overview and Considerations for the Surety” (Contributing Author), Eastern Bond Claims Review, May 2023
•“ Assignability of Statutory Bad Faith Claims: Pennsylvania Rulings May Have Far-Reaching Consequences ” (Co-Author), Claims Management magazine, Dec. 2014, Issue 12, Vol. 3, 2014 Bad Faith Supplement, p. S-4
•“ Legal Fundamentals in a Growing Economy ” (Author), BreakingGround magazine, July/Aug. 2013, pp. 37-38
•“ Design-Build Procurement in Pennsylvania? - Sometimes ” (Author), BreakingGround magazine, Jan./Feb. 2012, pp. 37-39

Articles

1/11/2023 Articles

GESA: The Intersection of Pennsylvania’s Separations and Guaranteed Energy Savings Acts

12/19/2014 Articles

Bad Faith: Are Statutory Bad Faith Claims Assignable in the Context of Third Party Tort Claims?

Multi Media

2/14/2024 Multi Media

Understanding Mechanic’s Liens

7/13/2021 Multi Media

The Tragedy in Surfside

Press Releases

8/21/2025 Press Releases

Joseph Golian and Alan Torrance Named 2026 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”

8/21/2025 Press Releases

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers in America Award Recipients

8/15/2024 Press Releases

Forty-Six Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers Award Recipients

5/17/2024 Press Releases

DMC’s 2024 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Selectees from Pennsylvania

8/17/2023 Press Releases

Forty-Four Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers Award Recipients

5/30/2023 Press Releases

DMC’s 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Selectees from Pennsylvania

8/25/2022 Press Releases

Forty-Three Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers List

8/25/2021 Press Releases

2022 Best Lawyers List includes 44 Attorneys from Dickie McCamey

5/26/2021 Press Releases

DMC’s 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Selectees

8/19/2020 Press Releases

Forty-Five Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote Lawyers Named to 2021 Best Lawyers list

8/15/2019 Press Releases

Forty-Two Dickie McCamey Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2020

5/9/2019 Press Releases

DMC’s 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Selectees

See more ›

Areas of Practice (5)

  • Commercial Law and Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Corporate and Transactional Services
  • Energy
  • Insurance Law and Litigation

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
American University / Economics Study - U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Market Analysis and Government Finance, Fall 1983; Washington & Jefferson College, B.A., Economics, 1984
Law School Attended:
University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, J.D., 1987
Year of First Admission:
1987
Admission:
Pennsylvania; United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Memberships:

Memberships

Allegheny County Bar Association
•American Bar Association (Fidelity & Surety Law Committee and Forum on Construction Law)
•Construction Lawyers Society of America
•National Bond Claims Association
•Surety Claims Institute

Reported Cases:
Representative Matters: Represented national contractor and development entity for resolution of claims arising from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's largest Public Private Partnership (P3) Project employed to replace over 500 aging bridges; Retained by four of the top ten construction contractors in Western Pennsylvania; Successfully prosecuted multimillion-dollar mechanic's lien claim against multibillion-dollar industrial facility; Represented a group of homeowners in a resort community to negotiate and facilitate multimillion-dollar repair of over two dozen properties due to water infiltration; Successfully defended labor inefficiency claim on project with 100% BIM requirement; On behalf of a national contractor, successfully prosecuted a multimillion-dollar recovery against an engineering firm arising from landslide at an electrical substation; Retained to represent contractor in the prosecution of claims in excess of $60 million arising from 300-mile pipeline project in West Virginia and Virginia; Represented ownership group in the successful negotiation and facilitation of construction of multimillion-dollar retaining wall subsequent to slope failure; Achieved multimillion-dollar settlement from the geotechnical engineers and contractor regarding the design and installation of a failed structural retaining wall and foundation on behalf of a Fortune 100 company as the owner of commercial property; Representation of surety in multimillion-dollar performance bond default arising from a publicly bid prison project; Prosecution of mechanics liens and claims for payment throughout the United States and Canada for a national roofing contractor; Obtained jury verdict in favor of a specialty contractor for labor inefficiency and delay costs, attorney's fees, interest, and penalty interest after a four-week jury trial; On behalf of a surety, successfully negotiated and resolved the affirmative claim for delay damages assigned by a defaulted contractor against the project owner arising from the construction of a major league baseball stadium; Negotiated delivery and installation of an industrial boiler system in an automobile manufacturing facility in Mexico; Representation of various bonding companies on all types of indemnity and bond claims arising from the issuance of performance, payment, and maintenance bonds, in addition to probate and miscellaneous bonds; Prosecution of bid protest resulting in award of publicly funded infrastructure project to client without a rebid; Successful defense and resolution of OSHA claims filed against a general contractor resulting from the death of a subcontractor's employee
ISLN:
903105307

Peer Reviews

5.0/5.0 (2 reviews)
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating Badge

  • Legal Knowledge

    5.0/5.0

  • Analytical Capability

    5.0/5.0

  • Judgment

    5.0/5.0

  • Communication

    5.0/5.0

  • Legal Experience

    5.0/5.0
Peer reviews submitted prior to 2008 are not displayed.

Client Reviews Write a Review

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Contact Information:

888-811-7144  Fax

www.dmclaw.com

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