KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Burns & McDonnell Senior Vice President and General Counsel G. William (Bill) Quatman will retire from the company in mid-March. He will be succeeded as general counsel by Vice President Paul Odum of the Burns & McDonnell Legal Department.

“Bill has taken the general counsel role here to new heights, having built what is arguably the best in-house law practice of any design or construction firm in the U.S.,” says Burns & McDonnell Chairman and CEO Ray Kowalik. “We will miss his counsel.

“Fortunately, we have a great replacement already in-house in Paul Odum,” Kowalik adds. “I trust Paul completely. His ability to analyze situations and provide clear and concise counsel is extraordinary.”

Quatman joined Burns & McDonnell in 2008 following a long career in private practice, specializing in construction law. A licensed architect as well as an attorney, he has long been active in the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), serving on the board of directors and as national chairman in 2016. In 2020, Quatman received the DBIA Brunelleschi Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2018 he was one of 20 industry leaders named to the inaugural class of DBIA Fellows. Quatman also is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is a member of the AIA College of Fellows. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Architecture and received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Odum joined Burns & McDonnell in 2006 after a successful early career in private practice. Over the past 14 years, he has worked with each of the company’s 10 practice groups and all of its regional offices, finding solutions to a wide range of legal and business challenges. In his most recent role, Odum has managed a staff of eight lawyers responsible for contract negotiations and providing legal counsel for all Burns & McDonnell business units. Odum earned his JD degree in 1997 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. 

“Burns & McDonnell is truly a best place to work for a construction lawyer,” Odum says. “The business partnership between the legal team and our employee-owners will continue to be instrumental in putting contracts in place that make us and our clients successful.”

“I have been privileged to work for one of the top companies in the nation, and with some of the most talented men and women I have ever met,” Quatman says. “I know that Burns & McDonnell will continue to grow and succeed under the guidance of great leaders at all levels.”

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities with more than 55 offices, globally. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to be on Fortune’s 2020 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn how we are on call through it all.