Time & Materials (T&M) contracts offer unmatched flexibility when scope is unclear or work needs to start before final plans are in place. But they also invite disputes if pricing, scope, or documentation aren’t locked down.

At Elkhoury Law, I help contractors and owners structure, negotiate, and manage T&M contracts that preserve flexibility without giving up control—or profitability.

What is a Time & Materials Contract?

A Time & Materials (T&M) contract pays the contractor based on:

• Time (labor) – often hourly, by classification or crew

• Materials – at cost, sometimes with markup

T&M is commonly used when:

• The full scope isn’t known at the outset

• Fast-track mobilization is required

• Work is done on a small scale, or as a change order or repair

You’ll find T&M used in:

• Remediation and emergency work

• Tenant improvements and renovations

• Service agreements and punchlist completion

• Scope-adds on lump sum or GMP jobs

How Elkhoury Law Supports T&M Projects

I help clients build clear, enforceable T&M contracts that cover the details often left out—so payment disputes don’t pile up with the timesheets.

Contract Drafting & Negotiation

• Drafting standalone T&M agreements or T&M clauses for larger contracts

• Defining:

  • Billable labor categories and hourly rates

  • Markups, equipment charges, and exclusions

  • Materials pricing (at cost, plus %, or fixed unit)

  • Daily reporting, timecard requirements, and signoff protocols

  • Conversion clauses if scope becomes defined mid-project

• Risk allocation and risk-shifting

Project Oversight & Risk Management

• Advising clients on tracking and documentation best practices

• Helping preserve claims for unpaid T&M work

• Evaluating change orders priced on a T&M basis

• Monitoring payment compliance, lien deadlines, and audit risk

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

• Handling disputes involving:

  • Rejected invoices or unsigned timesheets

  • Labor rate disagreements or excessive markup claims

  • Materials delivery or usage disputes

  • T&M-to-lump sum conversion fights

• Representing clients in mediation, arbitration, or court

Why Work with Elkhoury Law on T&M Contracts?

Because in T&M, documentation is the contract. If the scope is fuzzy, your paperwork better not be. I help clients draft T&M contracts that hold up in the field and in a courtroom—and I know how to navigate the friction that comes with open-ended billing.

Whether you’re a GC managing emergency repairs or an owner reviewing padded invoices, I’ll help you get control of the clock and the contract.

T&M Projects Move Fast—So Should Your Legal Strategy

Elkhoury Law advises contractors, subcontractors, and owners across Texas on T&M agreements that get the job done and protect your margins.