Robert Beale Thum has 40 years’ experience in construction Alternative Dispute Resolution, serving as Arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s Mega-Projects, Large Complex Disputes and National Construction Panels, and the California Office of Administrative Hearings’ Public Works Contract Arbitration Panel. As an Arbitrator or Court-Appointed Neutral, he has heard cases involving rail, highways, bridges, dams/reservoirs, power plants, airports, military facilities and base housing, manufacturing/industrial plants, natural disaster recovery projects, hotels and destination resorts, hospitals and long-term nursing facilities, college campuses, shopping centers, and product distribution centers. He has also served as Early Neutral Evaluator and Discovery Master in complex litigation matters.
Prior to becoming a full-time neutral, Mr. Thum practiced construction law for five decades as partner in prominent national and international law firms. He drafted and negotiated design and construction contracts for a wide variety of public and private projects, including infrastructure, industrial, energy, health facilities, museums, commercial and residential developments. As an advocate, he prosecuted or defended major claims involving delay and acceleration; loss of productivity; cardinal change and contract abandonment; total cost and jury verdict damages; liability and damage caps; prejudgment interest and prompt pay penalties; defective or incomplete design; non-conforming work and repair; differing site/changed conditions; scope changes; defective or late owner-furnished property; failures of supervision and management; force majeure; default and convenience terminations; waiver of consequential damages; recovery of economic loss; cost/contract audits; bid protests; contractor's license; pay-if and pay-when paid clauses; no-damages-for-delay clauses; subcontractor pass-through claims; surety bonds and take-overs; false claims and truth in negotiating claims; and fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, and negligence.
Mr. Thum is a Fellow in the American College of Construction Lawyers, and has been recognized for excellence by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, U.S. News and World Report, Super Lawyers and Engineering News Record. He is located in the greater Los Angeles area, but hears cases throughout California and the United States.
As of March 1, 2025, Mr. Thum is hearing cases involving California high speed rail; natural gas production plants; medical centers and skilled nursing facilities; grade separation/bridge project; university science complex; and luxury resort renovation in Hawaii, among others.
