The Texas Construction News staff writer
AUSTIN — Maynard Nexsen has announced that veteran construction attorney Benton “Ben” Wheatley has joined the firm’s Austin office as a shareholder in its Construction practice.
Wheatley, who brings decades of experience across the construction, engineering, and real estate sectors, is the fourth construction-focused attorney to join the firm’s Austin location within the last year. His addition is part of a strategic push to bolster Maynard Nexsen’s infrastructure capabilities both in Texas and on a national scale.
“Ben’s depth of experience and industry perspective make him an outstanding addition to our Construction team,” said Harper Heckman, shareholder and Chair of the Construction Group at Maynard Nexsen. “He understands the business realities our clients face and brings a strategic, practical approach to resolving complex construction and engineering challenges.”
Wheatley’s practice is centered on construction and engineering disputes and transactions. He frequently advises real estate investment trusts (REITs) and private equity firms on purchaser rights and fiduciary responsibilities, particularly concerning “problem” construction projects and passive limited partnership investments.
His technical expertise includes handling complex delay and impact claims, defective design disputes, and project workouts. Wheatley is also recognized for his work leading dispute resolution teams for large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) industrial projects through mediation, litigation, and arbitration.
Prior to joining Maynard Nexsen, Wheatley served as a partner at an international full-service law firm. His career also includes a tenure as Assistant General Counsel for a major international architectural and engineering firm. In that role, he managed project delivery issues across all 50 U.S. states and several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.
A board-certified specialist in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Wheatley was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law in Austin by Best Lawyers in America for 2024. He is also a widely published author and frequent speaker on topics ranging from project finance and force majeure to contractual liability.
Wheatley earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
