Laurie Choi‘s construction practice is defined by forward momentum, from helping clients move projects ahead to resolving disputes efficiently and, in one example, shepherding 50 contracts for a single client in the past year.
Choi, a co-chair of Snell & Wilmer’s nationally recognized Construction Industry Practice Group, advises on contract drafting and negotiation, licensing and regulatory issues, active project support and high-stakes dispute resolution. In 2025, she was selected to join the American Arbitration Association’s construction panel.
“It’s really hard to draft a construction contract without understanding how things play out in the field,” Choi said. “You need to know where problems actually arise.”
Her ability to see both the front and back end of a project is linked to her path to the legal profession. Before entering law school, Choi earned a civil engineering degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and worked in wastewater treatment and later commercial construction. She obtained her contractor’s license in 2009, just as the construction market faltered.
Choi pivoted. “I thought I’d buy some time and go to law school,” she said with a smile. Now, construction and law have melded into her life’s work.
Soon after law school, Choi created a hybrid practice, weaving firm work with an in-house role at a major construction company. The dual exposure sharpened her understanding of how legal strategy intersects with business realities.
“Most of the time, clients are trying to keep projects moving and build something,” she said. “They’re not looking for perfection. They’re looking for solutions that make sense for where they are.”
While construction conflicts are complex, Choi sees them as “fundamentally solvable,” she said. “Most parties want to finish the project. It becomes a question of how to get there in a way that works for everyone.”
Choi has intentionally sought mentors across a variety of disciplines. She now pays that forward through a group of women construction attorneys in Denver. Referring to women in construction law, she said. “It’s a small field. Making those connections, and being available, really matters.”
Beyond her practice, Choi has served on nonprofit boards since early in her career, including The Park People, the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and Metro Caring. She is also a regional governor for the International Association of Korean Lawyers. “It’s important work,” she said. “I’m glad to contribute in a small way.”