Lawyers

The Team Approach to Essential Services – A Combination of Skills and Experience

A team approach to representation is fundamental to Shefsky & Froelich’s strategy for meeting our clients’ goals. The collective skills and experience brought to the table by our premier Real Estate, Corporate, construction and Banking practices put Shefsky & Froelich in a superior position to serve the needs of the construction industry.

In our construction practice, we provide essential legal services for all aspects of project development and construction, from negotiating the deal to final payment. We counsel our clients in matters relating to leasing and financing; contract negotiation and review; risk management; insurance and indemnity; zoning; regulatory compliance; resolution of construction–related disputes; corporate matters; tax planning, and succession planning.

A Full Spectrum of Clients and Projects

Shefsky & Froelich represents clients from all segments of the industry, including public bodies, private owners, developers, architects, contractors and suppliers, lenders and sureties. We have advised our clients on projects ranging in value from $20,000 to $2 billion, involving both new construction and major renovations. Our public projects have included the O’Hare Airport Modernization Program, the City of Chicago Lakefront Redevelopment Project, and defense of construction challenging the Soldier Field reconstruction project. Private projects include development and construction of numerous commercial, residential, hotel, restaurant, industrial, mixed-use and entertainment properties, locally and nationally.

Successful Management of Construction-Related Disputes

Shefsky & Froelich’s experience with construction-related disputes encompasses construction arising from contract negotiations; design and construction defects; change orders; undisclosed site conditions; delay, acceleration and abandonment claims; mechanics liens, property damage, and insurance coverage, including defense of title claims. Our attorneys manage complex construction-related matters in state and federal courts, through the American Arbitration Association, and in other alternative dispute resolution venues. We have been successful both in the pursuit of multi-million dollar recoveries and the defense of multi-million dollar claims. 

Recent matters of note include:

• Representation of owner in a design and construction defect case involving the failure of window and sky bridge systems throughout a 75,000 square foot steel and glass mixed use commercial property, resulting in full remediation of the defective conditions without additional cost to the owner;

• Representation of general contractor in a multi-million dollar payment dispute arising from a major renovation project involving extensive remediation of undisclosed site conditions, significant building code compliance issues, and owner-initiated changes;

• Representation of condominium developer in negotiations with regulatory authorities to resolve life-safety and risk management issues arising from non-compliant conditions on multi-unit residential property;

• Representation of major supplier of concrete and aggregate materials in bond construction on public construction project;

• Ongoing representation of subcontractors and suppliers in mechanics lien construction to recover payment for labor and materials furnished in the course of construction on commercial and residential properties.