Carrie L. Okizaki Of Counsel 303.225.4229 carrie.okizaki@holtllc.com View Resume

Legal Experience

Ms. Okizaki has broad experience in representing design professionals, owners, developers, design/builders, general contractors and subcontractors in all stages of the construction process, including entity formation, contract negotiation and drafting, contract administration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. This representation has included defense and/or prosecution of multi-million dollar professional liability claims, delay, impact and acceleration claims, mechanic’s lien foreclosures, and construction defect claims.

Over the last several years, Ms. Okizaki has focused on providing legal and consulting services to energy-industry clients and has aided regulated utility, independent power provider and EPC contractor clients with respect to multi-billion dollar new-build and environmental fossil fuel, clean energy and nuclear projects. This assistance includes developing contracting strategies, review and development of Requests for Proposals, contract negotiation, analysis and resolution of contractor claims, commercial risk assessments, project controls advice and providing general advice on day-to-day legal and commercial issues as they arise.

Ms. Okizaki began her career in Denver at Ireland Stapleton Prior & Pascoe, P.C. She worked at The Holt Group’s predecessor firm, Holt & Stalder, LLC until 2005. Ms. Okizaki re-joined The Holt Group LLC in December 2011 as Of Counsel. Prior to her return she was a partner at Schiff Hardin, LLP, an Am Law 200 law firm based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Education

• J.D. University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, CO, 2000
• B.A. Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 1996

Professional Licenses

• Attorney at Law, Colorado, 2000
• Attorney at Law, Illinois, 2005

Court Admissions

• Supreme Court of Colorado
• United States District Court for the District of Colorado
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Professional Associations and Activities

• American Bar Association
  
  • Member, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
• Colorado Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association

Publications and Speaking Engagements

CONSTRUCTION CHECKLISTS: A GUIDE TO FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED CONSTRUCTION ISSUES (Co-editor) American Bar Association (2008).

THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS BOOK: HOW TO FIND COMMON GROUND IN NEGOTIATING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT CLAUSES, Chapters 17 ("Fee Structures"), 18 ("Reimbursable Expenses"), 22 ("Defining the Scope of Basic Versus Additional Services"), 23 ("Authorization for Performance of Additional Services"), 27 ("Redesign Costs"), 28 ("Value Engineering"), and 29 ("Design Delegation") American Bar Association (2004, updated 2008).

DESIGN PROFESSIONAL AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER LAW, Chapter 8 (“Considerations for Subconsultant and Subcontract Agreements for Design Professionals and Construction Managers”) (co-authored with L. Tyrone Holt) American Bar Association (2007)

“Developing and Utilizing Special Expertise in the Modern Paralegal” ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference (Houston, TX), April , 2003 (co-presented with L. T. Holt, Ireland, Stapleton, Pryor & Pascoe, P.C., Connie Brown, Vinson & Elkins, LLP, Brian K. Bates and Richard J. Tyler, Jones Walker).

Legal Limitations On Allocating Risk Through Indemnification Agreements (American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry/TIPS Fidelity & Surety Committee, 2002 Joint Winter Meeting, New York, NY), January 24, 2002 (paper co-authored with L. Tyrone Holt) American Bar Association (2002).

Construction Litigation In Colorado – Basic Issues of Design Professional Liability (Lorman Educational Seminars, Inc., Denver, CO), June 26, 2002 (paper co-authored with L. Tyrone Holt).

“What Are You?”: Hapa-Girl and Multiracial Identity, 71 COLO. L. REV. 463 (2000), reprinted in MIXED RACE AMERICA AND THE LAW, 127-129, (Kevin R. Johnson, ed. 2003).