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List of Forms by Chapter
Chapter 1 — Responsibilities and Liabilities of Architects and Engineers for Construction Failures
II. [1.2] The Role of the Architect/Engineer in the Construction Process
III. Theories of Liability
IV. Defenses
V. Claims
Chapter 2 — Claims Against General Contractors
IV. The Obligations of the General Contractor
V. Theories of Liability for Defective Construction Claims
Chapter 3 — Subcontractor Claims
II. Subcontractor Breach
III. General Contractor Breach
Chapter 4 — Claims Against Sureties
III. Bid Bonds
IV. Performance Bonds
V. Payment Bonds
VI. Surety Liability
Chapter 5 — Claims Against Construction Lenders
Chapter 6 — Claims Arising out of Construction Accidents
II. [6.2] Personal Injury Claims
III. [6.36] Property Loss Claims
Chapter 7 — Claims Involving Termination or Suspension
II. [7.2] Termination
III. [7.28] Suspension
Chapter 8 — Claims for Disruption/Loss of Productivity
II. [8.2] Establishing Entitlement to Disruption Claim
III. [8.8] Establishment and Quantification of Inefficiency and Other Impact Claims
Chapter 9 — Claims for Acceleration and Delay
II. [9.2] Delay
IV. [9.15] Remedies and Damages
Chapter 10 — Insurance Coverage for Construction Defect Claims
III. [10.3] Claims Covered by the Typical Commercial General Liability Policy
IV. The Duty To Defend
V. [10.21] Typical Exclusions Applicable to Construction Damages Claims
VI. [10.26] Additional Insured Coverage
VII. The Targeted Tender Rule and Other/Excess Insurance Clauses
Chapter 11 — Scope Changes and Differing Site Conditions
I. Scope Changes
II. Differing Site Conditions
Chapter 12 — Representing the Owner
II. [12.2] The Owner
IV. Investigating the Claim: The Expert; Spoliation; Notice; Memorializing the Evidence
V. [12.16] The Nature of the Claim
VI. [12.49] Targeting Defendants and Understanding the Construction Delivery System
VII. [12.60] Ascertaining and Triggering Insurance Coverage
X. Pleading the Claim
Chapter 13 — Sources of Evidence (Discovery)
I. Discovery Strategy and Planning
III. [13.5] Interrogatories
V. Depositions
VII. Other Discovery Methods
VIII. [13.19] Expert Witness Discovery
IX. [13.35] Resolving Discovery Disputes
XIII. [13.42] Consider Limited Discovery
XIV. Discovery and Duties Before the Lawsuit
XV. Appendix
Chapter 14 — Working with Experts/Consultants
II. Retention
III. Forum Rules for the Admissibility of Expert Testimony
V. Expert Discovery and Disclosure
VIII. [14.22] Preservation of Notes, Reports, and Opinions
Chapter 15 — Special Defenses to Construction Claims
I. Introduction
II. Defenses Arising from Statute
III. Defenses Arising from Common Law
IV. Defenses Arising from Contract
V. [15.59] Shifting Risk to Another
VI. Defenses to Particular Statutory Claims
Chapter 16 — The Owner’s Recovery of Damages
II. The Evidence of Damages
III. [16.9] Damages Arising from Contractor’s Breach of Contract
IV. Recovery of Design Defect Damages Against the Design Professional
V. Contractual Limitation on Damages
VI. Defenses to Damage Claims
Chapter 17 — Contractors’ and Subcontractors’ Damages
II. Contract Theories, Clauses Authorizing Damages, and Limitations
III. Tort Theories and Limitations
IV. Overview of Damages Calculations
V. Types of Recoverable Costs
VI. [17.81] Attorneys’ Fees and Claim-Preparation Costs
VII. Other Sources of Remedies and Damages
VIII. Restitution
Chapter 18 — Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees, Costs, and Expenses
II. Shifting the Burden — Exceptions to the American Rule
Chapter 19 — Nonbinding Alternatives to Court Litigation for Resolving Construction Disputes
I. [19.1] Introduction
II. [19.11] Mediation
III. [19.18] Alternatives to Traditional Mediation
Chapter 20 — Arbitration
I. [20.1] Introduction
II. [20.8] Arbitration: A Statutorily Enforced Agreement
III. [20.17] Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements
IV. [20.32] Arbitration Proceedings
V. [20.48] Confirming, Vacating, and Correcting Awards Anna C. Avendaño is Of Counsel at Perkins Coie LLP in San Francisco, California, where she concentrates her practice in construction law. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star (2020 – 2024) and by Best Lawyers as One to Watch for Commercial Litigation, Litigation — Construction, Litigation — Real Estate, and Real Estate Law (2021 – 2025). Ms. Avendaño received her BA and BS from the University of Missouri–Columbia and her JD from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Jeremy S. Baker is the Founding Attorney at Baker Law Group LLC in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He has been an adjunct professor of construction law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (2016 – 2018), is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and is a liaison to the AIA Contract Documents Committee (2016 – present). Mr. Baker received his BA with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his JD cum laude from the Tulane University Law School.
Tina M. Bird is a Partner at Thompson Coburn 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 BS with highest honors and her JD with honors from the University of Florida.
Diana Z. Bowman is a Partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on construction law. She has been recognized as a Recommended Construction Attorney by The Legal 500 United States, is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, and is a Chambers Ranked Construction Lawyer. Ms. Bowman received her BA with honors from DePaul University; her JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society; and her LLM in real estate from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Jeffrey B. Charkow is a Partner at Harris Winick Harris LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in construction litigation. He was a law clerk to the Honorable Carol E. Jackson of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer, and is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Top Rated Litigator (2022). Mr. Charkow received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his J.D., Order of the Coif, from Washington University School of Law.
Timothy R. Conway is Of Counsel to Conway & Mrowiec Attorneys LLLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is a member the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law. Mr. Conway received his BA from DePaul University and his JD summa cum laude from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Lisa R. Curcio is Senior Mediator and Arbitrator at ADR Systems in Chicago, where she focuses on the mediation and arbitration of construction law cases. Ms. Curcio spent 15 years as a chancery judge, presiding over mechanics liens, construction contracts, and construction defect cases. She is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law. Ms. Curcio received her JD from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Ryanne B. Dent is a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on construction litigation and construction contracts. She is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, and the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, Chicago. She was a Judicial Extern for United States District Court Judge Ronald Guzman and Illinois Appellate Court Justice Mary K. Rochford. Ms. Dent received her BA magna cum laude from the University of Tampa and her JD summa cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law as valedictorian.
Jonathan D. Freilich is a Partner at Venable LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers and listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in Litigation — Construction. He received his BSE cum laude from the University of Michigan and his JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he was the recipient of the CALI Award for Legal Writing.
Lawrence S. Gosewisch is a Senior Partner at Adler Murphy & McQuillen LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in litigation and architects and engineers. He is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations. Mr. Gosewisch received his B.A. with high honors from Lewis University and his J.D. with honors from DePaul University College of Law.
Jeffrey L. Hamera is a Partner at Duane Morris LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and acts as Cochair of the CBA Construction Law and Mechanics Lien Subcommittee and a past member of the CBA Nominating Committee. Mr. Hamera received his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his JD cum laude from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Benjamin A. Johnston is General Counsel at Gurtz Electric Co. in Arlington Heights. He serves as Cochair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Construction Law and Mechanics Lien Subcommittee (2019 – 2022) and a former Chair of the Builders Association, Chicago Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. He has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer (2015 – 2019). Mr. Johnston received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Kevin L. Kolton is a Partner at Perkins Coie LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law, energy infrastructure, and clean energy. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys and a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America. He has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer (2008 – present) and ranked by Chambers USA as one of America’s Leading Construction Lawyers. Mr. Kolton received his BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his JD magna cum laude from South Texas College of Law Houston.
Samuel H. Levine is Of Counsel to Downey & Lenkov LLC in Chicago with a focus on construction, real estate litigation, and loan enforcement and defense. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and the Illinois State Bar Association’s Commercial, Banking, Collections and Bankruptcy Section Council (Past Chair) and Construction Section Council (Past Chair and current Newsletter Editor). Mr. Levine received his BA from Washington University in St. Louis and his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Virgil R. Montgomery is a Partner at Venable LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is a member of the American, Illinois State, and Ohio State Bar Associations. Mr. Montgomery received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Steven D. Mroczkowski is a Shareholder at Buchalter, PC, in Chicago, where he concentrates in construction law. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, member and Past Chair of the Illinois State Barn Association’s Construction Law Section Council, and a member of the Chicago Bar Association. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Construction Litigation (2020 – 2025), Creditor Debtor Rights (2025), and Business Litigation (2025). He received his JD from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List and received the Dean’s Distinguished Public Service Award.
John S. Mrowiec is a General Partner at Conway & Mrowiec Attorneys LLLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction litigation and contracts. He has been named the Chicago Lawyer of the Year in Construction Law in 2014 and in Construction Litigation in 2019 and 2025 by Best Lawyers. Mr. Mrowiec received his BA cum laude from Northern Illinois University and his JD from DePaul University College of Law, where he served as the Lead Articles & Notes Editor for the DePaul Law Review.
Douglas J. Palandech is a Senior Partner at Foran Glennon Palandech Ponzi & Rudloff PC in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on construction law. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. Mr. Palandech earned his B.A. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Texas and his J.D. cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Michael D. Pisano is a Partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on construction litigation and contracts. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, the Justinian Society of Lawyers, and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law. Mr. Pisano received his JD magna cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
Dennis J. Powers is a Partner at DLA Piper LLP (US) in Chicago, where he focuses on construction law and real estate and commercial litigation. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, and has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer as the result of research projects conducted jointly by Law & Politics and Chicago magazines. He is also listed in Leading Lawyers for Construction Law and is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations and the Construction Law Forum. Mr. Powers received his J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.
Kenneth M. Roberts is a Partner at Venable LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates in construction law. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America, and President of the Executive Board of Directors of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation. Mr. Roberts received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Iowa and his JD with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law and has done postgraduate studies at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Management Institute.
Heidi Hennig Rowe is a Partner at Venable LLP in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on construction law. She is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, Chambers USA ranked, and an Illinois Leading Lawyer. Ms. Rowe received her BA magna cum laude from Valparaiso University and her JD with high honors, Order of the Coif, from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
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’s Forum on the Construction Industry and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. He is also Professional Affiliate Director of the American Institute of Architects Chicago. Mr. Singer received his BA magna cum laude from the University of Illinois, Phi Beta Kappa, and his JD from the University of Chicago Law School.
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.
Adam C. Toosley is a Partner at Thompson Coburn LLP in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on business litigation. He has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer and a Super Lawyer in both Illinois and Michigan. Mr. Toosley received his BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his JD from the University of Illinois College 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.
Jeffrey H. Winick is a Partner at Harris Winick Harris LLP in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in construction transactions and litigation. He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys and the Chicago Committee on High Rise Buildings and has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer (2009 – present). Mr. Winick received his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Iowa and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
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