Hollye C. Fisk, FAIA, NCARB, is one of the most sought after lawyers in Texas to counsel and defend design professionals. A licensed and former practicing architect who holds prestigious recognition as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, bestowed in 1991 for his service to the profession, Hollye is uniquely qualified with a dual understanding of both law and the construction industry.
Routinely called upon by architectural and engineering firms and professional liability insurance carriers alike, Hollye has mediated or tried/arbitrated all manner of claims for solo and small practitioners to six of the top ten architectural and engineering firms in the world and the largest steel supplier and the largest manufacturer of steel joists in the world over a 40-year legal career. He has obtained numerous defense verdicts in litigation and/or awards in arbitration and settlements in Texas and other states in State and Federal Court and in various foreign jurisdictions.
Hollye has handled cases spanning design and construction defect litigation, delay damage litigation, wrongful death and personal injury ranging from $10,000 to $120,000,000 and has represented design professionals from architects to engineers in all disciplines, including landscape architects, registered professional land surveyors, interior designers and registered accessibility specialists. His successes have earned him deep respect among peers and recognition by various rating groups including Super Lawyers® for more than a decade, an honor bestowed on only 5% of lawyers within the State of Texas. Clients appreciate Hollye’s straight-forward demeanor, innovative action and unique expertise.
A Houston native, Hollye comes from a family rooted in the construction industry as electrical contractors, beginning with the formation of Fisk Electric Company in Houston in 1913. However, Hollye decided to take a different approach and received his Bachelors Degree in Architecture with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970. He continued his work with an Austin architectural firm while attending law school at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1972 intending to pursue a career in real estate development; however, the economy forced a different plan. Hollye became a licensed attorney in the State of Texas in 1973 and a registered architect in the State of Texas in 1974 all while practicing architecture in Dallas. In 1976, Hollye switched from the practice of architecture to the full-time practice of law which he has pursued since that date. Hollye is a member of both the Dallas and Texas Bar Association Construction Law Section and the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry. In 2017, Hollye was among the first class of lawyers to be Board Certified in the newly-recognized specialty of Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
2017 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar – Legislative Updates and Panel Discussion
Texas Society of Architects’ 77th Annual Convention: Healthy Material and Product Transparency: Legal and Ethical Issues (2016)
North Texas Chapter Roof Consultants Institute: Minimizing Risk as a Design Professional – Liability in the Construction Phase (2016)
The Structural Engineers Association of Texas/North Central Texas Chapter: Panel Discussion – Special Inspections Enforcement in North Texas (International Building Code, Chapter 17 – Special Inspections and Tests) (2016)
GFF University: Case Study: Falling Ice – Super Bowl XLV (2016)
2016 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar – Legislative Updates and Panel Discussion
AIA Large Firm Roundtable Legal Committee Meeting: The Condominium Conundrum (2015)
DRI Construction Law Seminar: Panel Discussion – Words Matter: Learn about effective contract language and about contract negotiations between owner, contractor, and designer. (2015)
American Society of Civil Engineers – Dallas Chapter of the Geo-Institute – Technical Seminar: Geotechnical Practice for Expansive Soils in Texas Deep Seated Heave – Embraced or Ignored? (2015)
53rd Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys: Case Study: Falling Ice – Super Bowl XLV (2015)
2015 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: Legislative Updates and Panel Discussion
Texas Society of Architects 75th Annual Convention: Integrated Project Delivery: Concepts, Contracts and Cautions (2014)
Construction Law Foundation of Texas: The Basic Course in Texas Construction Law – Theories of Liability Against Architects and Engineers (2014)
Corgan Associates, Inc. E&O Seminar: The Latest Trends in Architectural Liability: War Stories and Lessons Learned (2014)
2014 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: Legislative Updates
Texas Society of Architects 74th Annual Convention: Lawyer’s Guide to Letter Proposals and Agreements (2013)
Design-Build Institute of America: Design-Build Conference and Expo Panel Discussion – Architects Confront Challenges of Design-Build Contracting (2013)
Texas A&M University College of Architecture: Legal and Contractual Implication of Integrated Project Delivery (2013)
2013 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar – Legislative Updates and War Stories
Texas Society of Professional Engineers: Professional Liability Lessons for Civil Engineers and the Impact of TBPE Rules (2013)
Tarrant County Bar Association, Construction Law Section: Who is Responsible/Liable for the Plans? (2012)
Texas Society of Architects 73rd Annual Convention: Managing the Architect- Consultant Relationship from Contracting through Claims (2012)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: Minimizing Engineering Liability Exposure – Understanding (and Minimizing) Professional Negligence Actions (2012)
Young Members Chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers – Dallas Post: Ethics for Engineers (2012)
25th Annual Construction Law Conference State Bar of Texas: Responsible Third Party Statute (2012)
Texas Society of Architects 72nd Annual Convention: Liability and Construction Administration: Law and Lessons Architects Must Know (2011)
24th Annual Construction Law Conference State Bar of Texas: The Impacts of Black + Vernooy Architects v. Smith (2011)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: – Legal Issues for Texas Architects and Landscape Architects – Understanding the Law of Sustainable Certifications and Green Design (2010)
2010 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: Recent Issues and War Stories and Is the Duty to Defend in an Indemnity a Big Deal?
SHW Architects: Risk Associated with Green Design and Construction (2010)
Texas Society of Architects 70th Annual Convention: Lessons for Contracting and Negotiating & Risks (2009)
Young Members Chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers – Dallas Post: Ethics for Professional Engineers (2009)
The Structural Engineers Association of Texas/North Central Texas Chapter: The Impact of TBPE Rules on Professional Liability: The Engineer as “Agent” (2009)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: Legal Issues for Texas Architects and Landscape Architects – Practicing Under the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct (2009)
22nd Annual Construction Law Conference State Bar of Texas: Multi-Party Property Damages Claims: Issues from the Perspective of Owner, General Contractor, Subcontractor and Design Professional – Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. Chapter 150 Licensed or Registered Professionals – Certificate of Merit (2009)
Texas Society of Architects 69th Annual Convention: Anatomy of a Lawsuit: The Substantive Chess Game (2008)
AIA/Quoin Leadership Forum – American Institute of Architects/Dallas and AGC/Dallas: Review of AIA Document A201 (2007) and Consensus Documents Owner/Contractor Agreement – General Conditions (2008)
6th Annual Building Science Expo – University of Texas at Arlington School of Architecture: “Architecture and Engineering: The Interface Between the Practice and the Law” (2008)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: Legal Issues for Texas Professional Engineers – Ethics for Professional Engineers (2008)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: Texas Law of Construction Defects and Failures – Defects and Deficiencies – Precursors to Failure (2007)
Texas Society of Architects 68th Annual Convention: Problem Projects/Problem Clients: The Contract (2007)
Structural Engineers Association of Texas – North Central Chapter: Analysis of Current Liability and Ethical Issues for Structural Engineers (2007)
American Institute of Architects Convention: Little Workshop of Horrors: An Indepth Analysis of Claims that Threaten Architects (Panel Discussion) (2007)
2007 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: 10 Things No Professional Services Contract Can Do Without
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: Practicing Architecture in Texas – The Architect’s License: A Privilege of Professional Responsibility (2006)
Texas Society of Architects 67th Annual Convention: Legal Issues and Common Pitfalls for Well-Meaning, but Naïve Architects (2006)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: Public Safety Laws & Issues for Architects, Engineers & Construction Professionals – Construction Site Safety Issues (2006)
2005 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: Architects, Engineers and Environmental Consultants – Mock Trial Presentation: Nancy Dribbler v. Precision Mechanical Engineers, Inc.
Texas Society of Architects Annual Convention: Ethical Considerations for Attorneys and Architects Providing Services in Connection with a Construction Project (2004)
Texas Society of Architects Annual Convention: Foundation Analysis and Recommendations = Informed Consent (2004)
2004 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: Tort Reform: How it Impacts Us All (Is it Just Smoke and Mirrors?)
17th Annual Construction Law Conference State Bar of Texas: Forum – Ethical Considerations for Attorneys and Architects Providing Services in Connection with a Construction Project (2004)
CNA Risk Management Seminar: Risk Management and the Design Professional – Contracts/Non-Standard Forms: Deal Breakers (2003)
HalfMoon LLC Seminars: General Contractor Safety Responsibility and Contractual Indemnity (2003)
2003 McLaughlin Brunson Loss Prevention/Risk Management Seminar: Mold Claims – A Primer
1999 DPIC – Loss Prevention Seminar: OSHA Liability and the Design Professional/CM
38th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys: What’s in a Title – OSHA Liability and the Design Professional (1999)
1998 North Texas Construction Expo – University of Texas at Arlington: Impact of A201 Modifications (in conjunction with B141)
American Institute of Steel Construction National Engineering Conference: “The Safety Factor” – Liability or Defense? (1995)
American Institute of Steel Construction National Engineering Conference: Allocation of Structural Design Responsibility (1995)
“Liability Alerts” – Texas Society of Architects
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