Trippe Hawthorne advises on all phases of construction project planning, development, execution, and dispute resolution across the industrial, heavy, municipal and public works, commercial, and residential sectors. He brings proven skill to guiding clients through the public bidding and procurement process and advises on public and private works lien laws. Trippe has successfully negotiated and litigated construction projects that range from millions to billions of dollars in value.
Trippe is dedicated to guiding domestic and international businesses of all sizes through the legalities of construction risk and opportunity at every phase of development. From project inception, through dispute resolution and completion, Trippe serves as a one-stop outside legal advisor to construction industry players. He focuses on delivering an interactive, efficient approach to detecting problems early on and to identifying and mitigating the inherent risks in such initiatives. Having served as General Counsel to the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors, Trippe brings an insider’s perspective to advising on administrative law and occupational licensing. He is valued by clients and colleagues alike for being a collaborative, creative, practical, and common-sense advisor and advocate.
Notably, Trippe served as Special Advisor to the Louisiana Law Institute Security Devices Committee for its Private Works Act Revision Project and is currently on the Law Institute's ADR Committee, which is working on a project to revise the Louisiana Binding Arbitration Law. He is a frequent speaker on construction and design-related topics, such as industrial engineering, construction contracting and procurement, construction industry issues, heavily negotiated contract provisions, the Louisiana contractor's licensing law, and public bid disputes. Trippe also presents on ADR and the topic of diversity in the legal profession.
Trippe is a member of the Louisiana Law Institute ADR Committee. He is a Certified Mediator, serving as an arbitrator and mediator with Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions and listed in the Louisiana Civil Mediator's Registry, maintained by the Louisiana State Bar Association ADR Section. Trippe is on the Roster of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association. He is also a graduate of the NITA Advanced Trial Program and the Harvard Program on Negotiation Mediation Training.
Away from the office, Trippe enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters. He also likes participating in triathlons, working on bicycles, and supporting his church. Trippe has been honored with multiple awards for giving back to the community in which he lives and works.
- Representation of industrial, commercial, and public owners in all phases of construction project planning, development, contracting, procurement, contract administration, and dispute resolution.
- Representation of EPC, commercial, and municipal and public works general contractors for project bidding and proposals, contract negotiation, contract administration, and dispute resolution with public and private owners, subcontractors, suppliers, and others.
- Representation of owners, lenders, title insurance companies, contractors, material suppliers, and equipment lessors dealing with issues arising out of Louisiana’s contractor lien law, the Louisiana Private Works Act.
- Helping contractors comply with the Louisiana Public Bid Law when bidding on public projects and representing contractors in bid protests and disputes.
- Representation of contractors before the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors.
- Representation of industrial plant owners, equipment manufacturers, and engineers before the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board (LAPELS).
- Helping political subdivisions procure equipment and services in compliance with applicable procurement law.
- Representation of vendors and suppliers for state and local procurement submissions and protests.
Trippe earned his J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1995. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Baylor University in 1992. While in law school, Trippe was a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Kappa Phi.
- Admitted, Louisiana, 1995
- Texas, 2015
- United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- United States Court of Claims
- Baton Rouge Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Board of Directors, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Louisiana State Law Institute Council
- AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- "Best Lawyer," The Best Lawyers in America, 2025
- “Citizen Lawyer Award,” Louisiana State Bar Association, 2019
- Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America, 2019
- Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers, 2018
- “Crystal Gavel Award,” Louisiana State Bar Association, 2010
- “Forty Under 40,” Baton Rouge Business Report, 2008
- “Hall of Fame,” LSU Law Center, 1995
- Private Works, LSU Law and LSBA Construction Law in Louisiana Seminar, September 20, 2024
- Lease Work Letters (Part One): When the Landlord Performs the Work, ALI CLE's The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, July 2024
- Lease Work Letters, Part Two: When the Tenant Performs the Work, ABA Probate & Property Magazine, July/August 2023
- Lease Work Letters, Part One: When the Landlord Performs the Work, ABA Probate & Property Magazine, May/June 2023
- Negotiating Work Letters for Commercial Leases, ALI/ACREL CLE, May 23, 2023
- Work Letters: It's a Lease. It's a Construction Contract. No – It's a Work Letter, ACREL Annual Meeting, October 21, 2022, Chicago, IL
- When Bad Things Happen to Good Projects, ABA RPTE/ACREL eCLE Webinar, March 16, 2022
- The Consequences of Stopping Construction, ACREL Annual Meeting, October 22, 2021, Nashville, TN
- Good as Gold or Fool’s Gold – What Does It Mean to an Owner for a Contractor to be Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?, Louisiana Law Blog, September 2, 2021, and August 2021 ACREL News and Notes
- Designated Responsible Engineers, Louisiana Law Blog, May 20, 2021
- Louisiana Lien Waivers and Clear Lien Certificates – What Good are They to Owners? Louisiana Law Blog, August 20, 2020
- Representing the Industrial Client in the Aftermath of Catastrophic Construction and Design Failures, CLSA International Conference, September 12, 2019, Colorado Springs, CO
- Bill to Revise and Update the Louisiana Private Works Act Passes out of the House of Representatives, Louisiana Law Blog, May 9, 2019
- Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors Updated Rules, Louisiana Law Blog, February 15, 2019
- Recent Developments in the Louisiana Public Bid Law, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, August 24, 2017
- Practice Note: Compelling and Staying Arbitration in Louisiana, Practical Law, 2017
- Practice Note: Enforcing Arbitration Awards in Louisiana, Practical Law, October 24, 2016
- Heavily Negotiated Contract Provisions, Kean Miller Business Briefing Seminar, March 18, 2016
- Recent Developments in Private Works Act, Louisiana Bankers Association Bank Counsel Annual Conference, December 10, 2015
- Heavily Negotiated Contract Provisions, Louisiana Engineering Society, September 25, 2015
- International Arbitration, Interlaw Americas Meeting, February 2014
- Louisiana Private Works Act, National Association of Credit Management Conference, March 14, 2013
- ADR and Mediation: The Next Generation of Dispute Resolution Techniques, Kean Miller Outside Insights, December 6, 2012
- ADR and Mediation: The Next Generation of Dispute Resolution Techniques, Association of Corporate Counsel, October 12, 2012
- The Uniform Public Bid Form and Recent Developments in the Public Bid Law, Kean Miller Construction Seminar, December 3, 2010
- Louisiana’s Contractor Licensing Law, Construction Law in Louisiana, LSU Center of Continuing Professional Development, September 24, 2010
- Louisiana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, Certified Continuing Education Provider, Louisiana State Contractor’s Licensing Board
- Board of Directors, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, 2018-Present
- Board of Directors, Front Yard Bikes, 2023-Present
- Board of Directors; Secretary 2015-Present, Burden Foundation, 2013-Present
- Former Member, Board of Directors; Vice-Chair 2014-2015, Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum, 2009-Present
- Founder and Director of Open Air Bike Repair, Open Air Ministries, 2007-Present
- Founding Director and Board of Directors, Vice Chair, Friends of Open Air Ministries of Baton Rouge, 2012-Present
- Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, 2009-Present
- Board of Directors, 2022-Present; Secretary 2023; Rotary Club of Baton Rouge Foundation
- Former Member, Board of Advisors 2005-2008; President 2008; “Edward D. Grant Volunteerism Award 2008,” A.C. Lewis YMCA
- Former Member, National Leadership Board, Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Endurance, 2006-2010
- Governing Board 2012-2014 (Chair 2014); Deacon and Sunday School Teacher; Sanctuary Choir; Grace Rising Ensemble; Men’s Celebration Quartet, University Baptist Church
- Founder and Race Director, YMCA Rouge Runner Kids Running, 2006-2010