“At this point, we almost finish each other’s sentences. We know what’s possible and how to make it work.” – Colin O’Connell, Director of Business Development, VP

A True Partnership in Practice

When the Clune team talks about their relationship with Clark Hill Law, the trust and familiarity come across immediately. It’s the kind of rapport that only develops after years of solving problems together, showing up early to scope reviews and staying late to figure out how to phase a tricky furniture delivery.

Alongside design firm Partners by Design and ACRE Project Management, what began with one project in Chicago has grown into nine completed offices with several more underway. From San Francisco to Austin to Atlanta, each project reflects a shared commitment to transparency, quick thinking and the kind of trust that turns challenges into collective problem-solving instead of finger-pointing.

Law firm construction demands precision and consistency across every market. Sound attenuation between offices, seamless technology integration and attention to detail support the way legal teams work. What makes this partnership stand out is the trust built through repetition. Each new office benefits from lessons learned in the last, allowing the team to anticipate needs, streamline coordination and deliver the same quality nationwide without repeating the learning curve.

Early Collaboration Sets the Standard

The LA office was the turning point. After that build, Clark Hill began bringing Clune to projects outside their home market, proving the relationship could scale across state lines and office dynamics. Getting insight into how different subcontractors operate and how various states approach construction was pivotal to launching and finishing subsequent projects successfully.

Austin marked the next evolution. For the first time, Clune was brought in at design development, sitting down with Clark Hill leadership and Partners by Design architects before drawings were finalized. The team could flag long lead times on materials, offer constructability input on operable partitions and steer decisions that would impact the schedule months down the line.

Clune Insight: “Having constructability input from the beginning has benefited every project we’ve done with Clark Hill,” said Colin O’Connell. “We’re thinking through how operable partitions get framed, how shop drawings need to be done early to meet the schedule. That construction-minded approach makes a real difference.”

That early involvement became standard practice. On every subsequent project, Clune has been part of the conversation from the start, which means fewer surprises and more strategic decisions. By integrating a construction-minded approach with design, you can catch problems before they become expensive change orders.

But even with planning, construction throws curveballs. In Houston, furniture arrived a week early through a delivery miscommunication. Instead of panicking, the team phased the installation: five offices first, then the conference center, then the remaining spaces.

Walking into each new building means dealing with new engineers and property management teams. Clune is often the first point of contact, which means rolling with whatever comes along and representing the partnership well from day one. The constant across all nine projects is simple: pay attention to the details. What flexes is everything else.

Clune Insight: Our partnership thrives on a foundation of trust, transparency and consistency. We’ve built success together by learning from each previous project and applying those lessons to the next, making every new engagement more streamlined and successful. Ultimately, our success comes from treating the relationship as a true partnership, not just a project.” – Brandon Tolbertson, General Manager, VP, San Francisco

This piece is a part of our larger In Good Company Newsletter. To have new additions delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe HERE.

In Good Company: Discover how collaboration drives construction success. Stories, strategies and insights from projects nationwide.