Ross J. Altman is Senior Counsel at Laurie & Brennan, LLP, in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law, with an emphasis on project delivery methodology, transaction structure, and project administration. He is a member of the American College of Construction Lawyers (Board of Governors 2014 – 2017 and Past Chair of the Documents Committee) and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law. He has been recognized by Chambers USA as a Senior Statesperson for Construction. Mr. Altman received his BS from the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning and his JD from The George Washington University Law School.
Gregory R. Andre is a Partner in the Real Estate Group of K&L Gates, LLP, in Chicago, with more than 30 years of extensive experience in commercial real estate law, including design and construction contracts, land use and development, leasing and sale-leasebacks, acquisitions and sales, real estate and construction, dispute resolution, and other matters involving properties located throughout the United States. He earned his B.S. magna cum laude from Boston College and his J.D. with honors from George Washington University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review.
Jeremy S. Baker is the Founder ofBaker Law Group LLC in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys (SOICA) and Liaison to the AIA’s Contract Documents Committee, and he taught an elective construction law course as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Mr. Baker received his BA with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his JD from the Tulane University Law School.
Tina M. Bird is a Partner at Freeborn & Peters LLP in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice on construction and real estate. She is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys and the Construction Lawyers Society of America and has been recognized by Illinois Leading Lawyers and Super Lawyers. Ms. Bird earned her B.S. with highest honors and her J.D. with honors from the University of Florida.
Thomas R. Carey is a solo practitioner in Evanston, where he focuses his practice on environmental and regulatory law, including federal and state enforcement action defense. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and an author of numerous articles and publications. Mr. Carey received his B.S. from Oakland University, his M.S. from the University of Michigan, and his J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was a member of the National Moot Court Team.
Jennifer B. Cromheecke is an associate at Bryce Downey & Lenkov LLC in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on general litigation. Ms. Cromheecke received her A.B. cum laude from Dartmouth College and her J.D. cum laude from Tulane University Law School.
Katelin J. Eastman is an associate at Robbins Schwartz in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on labor and employment law. She received the Daily Journal California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award in Appellate Practice in March 2016. Ms. Eastman received her B.A. summa cum laude from Gonzaga University, her M.D.R. from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, and her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law, where she wrote for the law review.
Scott R. Fradin is a Principal and Cochair of the firm’s Construction Group at Much Shelist, P.C., in Chicago. He is also a licensed architect. Fradlin is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, a member and Past President of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and a Past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Construction Law and Mechanics Lien Subcommittee. He has been recognized by Chambers USA and the Leading Lawyers Network as a top Illinois lawyer in the area of construction law and has been named one of the top real estate attorneys in the Midwest by Midwest Real Estate News. Fradin received his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. Order of the Coif with high honors from Chicago-Kent Chicago of Law.
David M. Lewin is a Principal at Lewin Verveniotis Law Group in Chicago, focusing on construction litigation and insurance coverage. He received his BA with honors from Loyola University Chicago and his JD from the DePaul University College of Law.
John-Paul Lujan is a Partner at Harris Winick Harris LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law/litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the American Institute of Architects, and he is admitted to practice in Illinois, New York, and Texas. He has lectured and written on various design and construction law issues. Mr. Lujan received his BS and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his JD from the DePaul University College of Law.
Lauren Lukoff is a Partner at Deutsch, Levy & Engel, Chartered, in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in construction and banking law. She is a member of the Chicago and DuPage County Bar Associations. Ms. Lukoff received her B.A. from Claremont-McKenna College and her J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Paul M. Lurie is a Partner at Schiff Hardin LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction arbitration and mediation. He is a Master Mediator and member of the Large Complex Case Panel of the American Arbitration Association, a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators. Mr. Lurie received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Amanda Schermer MacVey is a Partner at Venable LLP in Chicago and Washington, DC, where she focuses her practice on construction. She is a LEED Green Associate and a member of Greenbuild’s 2025 Advisory Board and the Building Performance Improvement Board of Montgomery County, Maryland. She was recognized by The Legal 500 for Construction in 2016, 2019, and 2021 – 2024. Ms. MacVey received her BS from the University of Illinois, her JD cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law, and her Professional Certificate in Sustainability from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Margery Newman is Of Counsel to Downey & Lenkov LLC in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in construction law and business law. She has served on the American Bar Association Forum Committee on the Construction Industry; the Chicago Bar Association Committees on Real Property, Construction Issues, Mechanics Liens, and Real Estate Litigation; and the Illinois State Bar Association Construction Law Committee and Real Estate Law Section Council. She is also a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. She has authored numerous articles and lectured extensively on the construction industry and was an adjunct professor of construction law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Ms. Newman received her BA from Brooklyn College, her M.A. from Roosevelt University, and her JD with high distinction from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where she was on the law review.
Richard W. Pearse is a Shareholder in Vedder Price’s Corporate Group in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in infrastructure construction and finance. He was recommended by Legal 500 United States Guide in Real Estate and Construction (including Construction Litigation (2012, 2015, 2016), was ranked in Chambers USA in the Illinois construction category (2009 – 2016), and is a member of the American Bar Association and of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. Mr. Pearse received his B.A. from Boston University, his M.A. from the University of Chicago, and his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Paul Peterson was a Vice President and Senior Underwriter for Fidelity National Family of Title Insurance Companies, having joined Chicago Title Insurance Company in 1971. He specialized in mechanics lien underwriting, mechanics lien workouts and claims, and financial analysis. He chaired the group that revised the Illinois mechanics lien coverage for lenders in 2010. Mr. Peterson received the Illinois Land Title President’s Award for his work in the passage of the bonding statute that is now §38.1 of the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act. He currently is a sole practitioner doing some consulting. Mr. Peterson is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, a former chair of the CLE subcommittee of the Illinois State Bar Association Construction Law Section Council, a member of the ISBA Real Estate Law Section Council, a past president of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and a former chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Mechanics’ Lien Subcommittee. Mr. Peterson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Kenneth M. Roberts is a Partner and Chair of the Construction Law Group at Venable LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in construction and the energy industry. He received the James P. Groton Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Resolution from the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in 2024. He has been recognized by Chambers USA for construction in Illinois from 2006 to 2025 and by Best Lawyers in America for Construction Law (2008, 2009, 2012 – 2014, 2016 – 2024) and as Lawyer of the Year for Construction Law in their Real Estate & Infrastructure Issue (2023 – 2024). Mr. Roberts received his BGS with honors and his JD with distinction from the University of Iowa.
Werner A. Sabo is Of Counsel to Downey & Lenkov LLC in Chicago, where he concentrates in construction law, copyrights, arbitrations, and mediations. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and of the Association of Licensed Architects. He is also a Founding Member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. Mr. Sabo received his BA from Northwestern University and his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Kevin R. Sido practicesconstruction law, mediation, and arbitration at the Law Offices of Kevin R. Sido in Chicago. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys and is a panelist for the American Arbitration Association Panel of Mediators and Arbitrators and the ADR Systems of America, LLC, Panel of Mediators and Arbitrators. He is a faculty member at the Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering graduate program. Mr. Sido earned his BA from the University of Illinois, where he received the Bronze Tablet Award and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, his JD from the University of Illinois College of Law, and a certificate from the Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University.
Eric L. Singer is a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in construction law and litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and he currently serves as a Professional Affiliate Director of AIA Chicago. Mr. Singer received his BA magna cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his JD from the University of Chicago Law School.
Stanley P. Sklar is a Principal at Dispute Resolution Services in Northbrook. In 2009, he was named Director of Arbitration Studies at the Center for Dispute Resolution, DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, and is an adjunct professor of commercial arbitration at DePaul University College of Law. Mr. Sklar writes extensively and presents seminars on construction-related topics. He is a Past President of the American College of Construction Attorneys, Past President of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and Past President of the College of Commercial Arbitrators. He is a recipient of the ABA Forum on Construction Industry Cornerstone Award for Lifetime Achievement in the field of construction law. He was former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Real Estate Committee, Construction Mechanics Lien Committee, and Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association Panel for Large Complex Commercial and Construction Disputes and of its National Construction Dispute Rules Committee and is an International Mediation Institute Certified Mediator. He is a former member of the American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry and is a Certified Arbitrator and Certified Mediator for the American Arbitration Association and a member of its National Training Faculty for Commercial Arbitrators. Mr. Sklar received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Lorence H. Slutzky is the Principal at the Law Office of Lorence H. Slutzky, Ltd., in Glenview, where he concentrates in the law of architecture, engineering, procurement, and construction of the built environment. Mr. Slutzky is a fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and a founder, officer, and former president of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. He has acted in the capacity of an advisor, negotiator, litigator, mediator, and arbitrator and was for many years an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois Chicago’s School of Law’s postgraduate Center for Real Estate Law teaching construction law. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and recently retired from the Florida Bar, where he was certified as a Construction Specialist. Mr. Slutzky received his B.S. from Southern Illinois University, attended the University of Exeter, England, through William & Mary, and received his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Vickie Verveniotis is a Principal at Lewin Verveniotis Law Group in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on commercial litigation, insurance coverage, and condominium law. She received her BA with honors from Loyola University Chicago and her JD from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Justin L. Weisberg is a Shareholder at Buchalter, P.C., in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Construction Forum Division 2 (2024 – 2026), a former Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Construction Section (2020 – 2021), and a former Chair of ISBA’s Engineers Contract Documents Committee (2012 – 2013). Mr. Weisberg received his BSE from the University of Illinois Chicago and his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
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