Biography
D. Sean Nilsen has been a commercial litigator and corporate attorney representing fortune 500 corporations, regional and local companies and individuals throughout his legal career. He has successfully litigated many complex cases and concentrates his practice on construction and commercial litigation, with emphasis on contract disputes, government contracting, construction claims, fidelity and surety law, and commercial transactions.
Prior to the formation of Furman & Nilsen, Sean worked for Woodward, Hobson & Fulton (now Dinsmore & Shohl), a Louisville law firm, handling commercial and construction litigation and corporate matters. Prior to entering law school, Sean owned and operated a structural steel consulting and brokerage firm, working on contract negotiations, design, supply and the supervision of installation techniques for structural steel components used in commercial and industrial construction.
Sean is a 1988 graduate of Arizona State University and a 1992 graduate of the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Sean has lectured and published articles on such topics as recent developments in fidelity and surety law, differing site condition clauses of the Federal Acquisition regulations, construction claims and litigation, mechanics’ lien law, termination of federal contractors, design and construction contract defects, and ethical considerations in representing multiple clients in complex litigation. While in law school, Sean also published an article regarding the Age Discrimination and Employment Act.
Sean is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in Kentucky and Indiana as well as the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Seventh Circuit court of Appeals. Sean is a member of the Construction and Public Contract Law Section of the Kentucky Bar Association.
Sean is married to Kathleen and when he is not working, he enjoys spending time with her and their five children. They enjoy sports, outdoor activities and working with their youth church organizations.
Education
- Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
- J.D. – 1992
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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B.A. – 1988
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Bar Admissions
- Kentucky, 1992
- Indiana, 1995
- U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 1992
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 1995
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1995
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1995
Seminars and Publications
- Co-authored Combating “Rambo” Litigators – Practical and Effective How-to’s (National Business Institute, (2017)
- Co-authored Kentucky Construction Law (National Business Institute, 2003)
- Co-authored Construction Claims in Kentucky (Lorman Education Services, 2001)
- Co-authored Ethical Considerations in Multiparty Litigation (American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, 1999)
- Co-authored Construction Claims in Kentucky (Lorman Education Services, 1999)
- Co-authored Mechanics’ Lien Law and Strategies in Kentucky (National Business Institute, 1998)
- Authored Kentucky Chapter of A Fifty State Compendium on the Statutes and Case Law Concerning Indemnity, Statutes of Limitation and Repose, and Mechanical Liens (ALFA International, 1997)
- Co-authored Kentucky Construction Law, (Federal Publications, Inc., 1993)
- Authored Colleges, Universities and Mandatory Retirement: A New Age for an Old Topic (Journal of Law & Education, Jefferson Law Book Company, 1992)